Spinach and Red-Pepper Calzones

Recipe Photo: Spinach and Red-Pepper Calzones
Author
Katie Kambridge
Source of Recipe
Gourmet | April 2009
Serves/Makes/Yields
Makes 4 calzones
Recipe Description

No need to call your local pizza joint. Thanks to prepared dough and bottled roasted red peppers, making your own calzones can be easy and far more satisfying.

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons cornmeal

1 large onion, halved and sliced lengthwise

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

5 ounces baby spinach (8 packed cups)

4 bottled roasted red peppers, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into 1-inch pieces (1 cup)

12 oil-cured black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped (about 3 tablespoons)

1 pound store-bought pizza dough, thawed

1/2 pound smoked mozzarella, cut into 16 pieces

 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in lowest position. Sprinkle cornmeal on a large baking sheet.

Cook onion with 1/4 teaspoon salt in 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about

1 minute. Add spinach and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in red peppers, olives, and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 14-inch round, then cut into quarters. Roll out 1 quarter into an 8-inch square (keep remaining pieces covered) and arrange with a corner nearest you. Put one fourth of filling on lower half, leaving a 1-inch border, and top with 4 pieces of cheese. Fold dough over to enclose filling. Seal edges. Beginning in 1 corner, stretch sealed edge outward, pinching and rolling dough up over edge to resemble a rope, working your way around. Transfer to baking sheet. Make 3 more calzones in same manner. Cut 3 steam vents in top of each and brush with remaining tablespoon oil.

Bake until golden-brown, 13 to 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

Cooks' note:

Filling (without cheese) can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before using.

 

Type of Meal