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Italian Calzones

Italian Calzones recipe image
These homemade Italian calzones are the ultimate comfort food, featuring a tender bread dough exterior that wraps around a hearty, flavorful filling. The combination of lean ground beef, earthy mushrooms, and crisp green peppers is seasoned with aromatic fennel, garlic, and a touch of crushed red pepper for a perfect balance of spice and savory depth. Each bite delivers a satisfying crunch followed by the warm, juicy interior. Ideal for a cozy family dinner or a fun weekend cooking project, these calzones bring restaurant-quality Italian flavor to your table.
Cooking Method:
Cuisine:
Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 10
Calories: 765.9
Description
These homemade Italian calzones are the ultimate comfort food, featuring a tender bread dough exterior that wraps around a hearty, flavorful filling. The combination of lean ground beef, earthy mushrooms, and crisp green peppers is seasoned with aromatic fennel, garlic, and a touch of crushed red pepper for a perfect balance of spice and savory depth. Each bite delivers a satisfying crunch followed by the warm, juicy interior. Ideal for a cozy family dinner or a fun weekend cooking project, these calzones bring restaurant-quality Italian flavor to your table.
Ingredients
  • White bread dough loaf, frozen
  • Lean ground beef, round
  • Mushrooms, chopped
  • Onion, finely chopped
  • Green bell pepper, chopped
  • Evaporated skim milk
  • Dry bread crumbs, fine
  • Dried oregano
  • Crushed red pepper
  • Fennel seed, crushed
  • Garlic, minced
  • Tomato sauce
  • Sugar
  • Salt
Directions
  1. 1
    Thaw the bread dough according to package directions until pliable.
  2. 2
    Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly coat a large baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray.
  3. 3
    In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the ground beef, mushrooms, onion, green bell pepper, evaporated skim milk, bread crumbs, oregano, crushed red pepper, fennel seed, and garlic.
  4. 4
    Cook the mixture, stirring frequently and crumbling the meat, until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
  5. 5
    Stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, and salt. Continue to cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
  6. 6
    Remove the skillet from heat and let the filling cool slightly to prevent the dough from becoming soggy.
  7. 7
    Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Keep the unused portions covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.
  8. 8
    On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough into a 1/8-inch thick circle, approximately 6 inches in diameter.
  9. 9
    Place the dough circle on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture onto one half of the circle.
  10. 10
    Moisten the edge of the dough with water using your finger. Fold the empty half of the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape.
  11. 11
    Press the edges firmly with a fork to seal the calzone completely. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
  12. 12
    Lightly coat the tops of the calzones with vegetable cooking spray.
  13. 13
    Bake for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and crisp.
  14. 14
    Remove from the oven and immediately coat with a little more cooking spray for a shiny finish. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 10 servings

Amount Per Serving
Calories 765.9kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16.9g26%
Saturated Fat 5.5g28%
Cholesterol 86.3mg29%
Sodium 2172.3mg91%
Total Carbohydrate 100.5g34%
Dietary Fiber 8.2g33%
Sugars 13.4g
Protein 51.6g104%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/italian-calzones/