Sarasotas Mini Beef Calzones Recipes

MINI CALZONES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle a baking sheet with the semolina and set aside.
• Lightly flour a work surface and roll the dough into a round that is about 12 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. Cut out 8 rounds with a 3 1/2- to 4-inch biscuit cutter or drinking glass. Dust with flour and cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap.
• Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Combine the cheese blend, ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmesan, scallions and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place 3 slices of the pepperoni on one half of each round of dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edges. Top each round with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
• Brush the egg wash around the edges of one dough round using your finger or a pastry brush. Gently fold the dough over the filling to enclose and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining dough rounds.
• Brush the tops of the calzones with the egg wash and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Place the calzones on the prepared baking sheet and bake on the middle rack until golden, 14 to 16 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through for even baking.
• While the calzones bake, heat the tomato sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat until bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl. Place the calzones on a platter with the sauce and serve immediately.

SARASOTA'S MINI BEEF CALZONES

Steps:

• Meat -- If you have left over meat, don't worry. If not, make sure to saute it ahead of time. Just use a little olive oil in a pan to saute on medium heat until done and then set to the side to drain and cool.
• Vegetables -- if you cooked your meat in that pan you may have a little oil left to saute your vegetables, if not -- add a little olive oil to cook your vegetables. Add them and saute 4-5 minutes until soft. Remember they won't cook much in the oven and you want most of the water cooked out of them. They also should be set to the side, drained and cooled. You don't want extra water in the calzone to make it soggy.
• Crust -- Just roll out your pizza dough. Pillsbury comes in a rectangle so roll out as flat as you can make it. Add a little flour to your counter top or cutting board so the dough doesn't stick. I like ro roll out with a rolling pin to get in even and spread out. It should be about 13x9, each can or 14 oz of dough. Then with a 6" bowl right from your kitchen cabinet -- press down on the crust to make as many calzones as possible. This recipe will make right about 8 for both rolls. Any left over crust, just add all together and press down again to maybe get one more calzone.
• Stuffing -- Add some of the cooled meat, then the vegetables and cheese. Now put a little water on your finger and moisten 1/2 the edge of each circle. Then fold the circle over to make a half circle. The water will just make it stick together good. Press together well to seal and then use a fork to press the edges down even more and make a nice decorative edge.
• Bake -- Brush a little olive oil if you want on the calzones to make a crisp crust (optional). Transfer the calzones to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and bake at 450 for about 15 minutes until golden brown. One batch I made took 20 the other 15 so, just keep an eye of them. Serve with a good Marinara.
• And remember, any mix of fillings, broccoli, ham, cheese; bacon, cheddar and onion; or chicken, spinach and mozzarella. Just think what is left in your fridge. Six dollars for pizza dough and marinara and you can make a great use of leftovers and with some soup in your freezer, you have a whole new dinner.

SHRIMP CALZONES

Steps:

• roll pizza crust into 18 x 10 inch rectangle.
• cut into 6 (6x5 inch) retangles.
• Combine tomato paste, water,and Italian seasoning.
• Spread evenly over retangles, leaving a 1/2 inch border.
• Arrange shrimp evenly over half of eaach rectangle.
• Brush edges of rectangles with water.
• Fold rectangles in half crosswise over shrimp, press edges together with a fork.
• Place calzones on a large baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
• Coat tops with cooking spray, and sprinkle evenly with parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until lightly browned.

SARASOTA'S SIMPLE PESTO SHRIMP CALZONES

Steps:

• Shrimp -- In a medium size saute pan, add the butter and bring to medium heat. Add in the onion and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes until tender but not soft. NOTE: At this point if you decide to add any other ingredients, such as peppers, mushrooms or olives, you can add them too. Saute 2-3 minutes until tender. Then add in the shrimp (seasoned with salt and pepper) and cook 1-2 minutes, as they will continue to cook in the calzone - I actually under cook the shrimp so they don't get tough. Immediately remove from the heat and transfer to a plate to cool.
• Filling -- Once the shrimp have cooled a couple of minutes, add to a medium size bowl along with the pesto, fontina, and mozzarella and lightly toss to combine.
• Pizza Dough -- Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and then roll into a 8-9" circles. I like to bake mine on either a pizza stone, or either a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprayed with a non-stick spray. Makes for an easy clean up.
• Lay your 4 pizza circles on the baking sheet or whatever you choose to use, and then add the shrimp filling on the crust, a little to the right or left of center. Then fold over the crust to make a half moon and to cover all the filling.
• Wet the edge of the pizza crust with a little water. I just use my finger and then press the top and bottom together. Now, you can use your fork or you can use your finger to press the edges together. I just squeeze them and make a little "Pie Crust" like technique. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just as long as the top and bottom is pressed together and sealed well.
• Brush the calzones with olive oil and sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the top. Make 3-4 thin cuts with a knife in the calzone so the steam can escape and the calzone can puff up and get golden brown.
• Bake -- Oven, middle shelf to 400 degrees. Bake for 25-35 minutes until golden brown. Make sure to let them cool about 5 minutes before serving.
• Marinara -- Simply heat some marinara in the microwave or stove top and serve with the calzones.
• Serve -- A nice crisp salad is all you need. Enjoy!

MINI CALZONES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium-size, heavy skillet. Add the sausage and cook until crumbled and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the arugula and cook until wilted. Turn off the heat and let cool for about 10 minutes. Add the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the Parmesan, the salt, and the pepper and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to a thin 20 by 12-inch rectangle. Cut the rectangle in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 8 equal rectangles.
• Spoon some of the topping onto 1 side of each rectangle. Using a pastry brush, brush the edges of the rectangle with egg wash. Close the rectangle of pizza dough over the topping. Use a fork to seal and crimp the edges. Place the calzones on the prepared baking sheet and brush the top of each with egg wash. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake until golden, 15 to 17 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the marinara sauce over low heat in a medium saucepan. Serve the hot calzones with the marinara sauce alongside for dipping.

GROUND BEEF AND MUSHROOM CALZONES

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast on warm water lt dissolve and float to top. Add olive oil and pepper and 2 C flour. Stir til smooth. Stir in remaining flour until kneadable. Knead til smooth. Let rise while making filling.
• Fry beef in skillet on med-high until no longer pink. Add mushrooms and fry a bit more. Add soup and water, reduce heat to med. and simmer until liquid is almost gone. **if you want to you can grate in a baked potato or add rice or other appropriate leftovers you may have** Add cheese and turn off heat. Let cool.
• Roll out dough and use a bowl or lid that is about 4" or whatever you choose to cut circles and put filling in and seal and put on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minute.

MINI CHEESE CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Unwrap the string cheese sticks and cut them in half crosswise. Open or unroll the bread-stick dough and separate it into 12 rectangles. Coil a rectangle of bread-stick dough around a piece of cheese stick as if you were wrapping it with yarn. Completely cover the cheese, tucking the dough ends under and pinching them to seal closed. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese. Place the dough-covered cheese on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake the mini calzones until they are golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove them from the baking sheet and serve at once with a bowl of marinara or pizza sauce for dunking.

ARAYES (MINI MEAT CALZONES)

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to gas mark 4/350F/180°C.
• In a large bowl, add in the minced lamb, with the chopped onion and tomato, crushed garlic, salt, spice mix, parsley, lemon juice and toasted pine nuts and mix well.
• Cut bread into quarters.
• Open up the quartered bread pieces and spread a heaped tablespoonful of meat mixture in a thin layer into one side of the bread and press down to close.
• Brush both sides of the bread with oil.
• Place on a baking tray and bake in the centre shelf of the oven for half an hour, turning once after 15 minutes.
• Serve warm with hummus.