3 Cheese Tomato-Spinach Calzones with Pesto

Now, what is a Calzone? What is the difference between Calzones and Stromboli? Well, I will tell you....

Stromboli is rolled. Almost like Cinnamon Rolls, but pizza like. Stromboli does not typically have sauce inside the dough...you dip it in sauce. Now, Calzones are not rolled, but folded and they might have sauce inside. Calzones are individually proportioned and Stromboli you slice like cinnamon rolls. Does that help?

I love the pizza family. Italian food is amazing. Loved by so many. A favorite of so many. Growing up Lasagna was my favorite food.

I love to get creative with pizza's and calzones. Yes. What is not to love?

You could have a family night and "make your own Calzone night" Make the dough and have several toppings for your family to put inside their calzone. Make it fun and enjoyable to eat. Or not. Your choice.


On to the recipe:

For the dough, you will need Pizza Dough to make your dough. I added 2 Tb of Italian herbs to my dough for this recipe.

I am telling you. I use that dough A LOT! Learn how to make it. Master it. Love it.

Ingredients:

Fresh Pesto
Tomatoes (most juice and seeds removed)
Spinach, chopped
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Ricotta Cheese
Parmesan Cheese

First make your Pizza Dough and set aside.

Make an assembly line. Get everything ready. Set it out. Try to get most of the juice, seeds and liquid out of your tomatoes. *This will help to not make your calzones as juicy.

Chop Spinach and Tomatoes. 



Now, with your dough, it will make about 10-12 calzones. Or less if you want them larger.

Roll out 1 piece of dough into a circle. *If you want to divide your dough ahead of time, you can. I usually divide in half. Then half again etc.

On your rolled out circle, spread Pesto (not thick, it will be too saucy) on your dough. And do not spread pesto around the edges. *It will make it hard to fold and stick together.



Add your tomato and spinach. Spoon some ricotta over the spinach.

Now add some sliced mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese.





Fold in half. *You can use egg wash for glue. Just take an egg and beat it and mix it. Brush it around the edges. *Save the rest of the egg to brush on top of the calzones. Now, lift and pinch the edges together. Like this....



Repeat with the rest of the calzones. They will look like this when they are completed...

Place calzones on greased cookie sheet and brush with egg wash. Cook in oven at 400 degrees until browned. About 10-12 minutes. *I never know how long things cook for because a. I am always in the kitchen and keeping an eye on food in the oven and b. when it smells done, it is most likely done. and c. I do it so often, it is like I have a timer in my head. :)

Remove from oven. Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!