One of the fun dinners we've had with the family is "build your own calzones". This is the first time though, that I decided to make homemade pizza dough for the occasion. It certainly isn't difficult to do, and it sure elevated things.
This is the Pizza/Calzone dough recipe that I used......
INGREDIENTS:
1 ¼ cup warm water, no hotter than 110 degrees F
1 Tbsp. honey
2 tsp. active dry yeast
3 cups all purpose flour
1 ½ tsp kosher salt (or 1 tsp table salt)
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided use
DIRECTIONS:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the lukewarm water with the honey and stir to incorporate. Stir the yeast into the water/honey until it begins to dissolve. Set aside until the yeast becomes foamy, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the flour, salt, and oil to the foamy yeast. Stir by hand with the dough hook of your mixer, or a dough whisk until a shaggy dough forms.
- Place the dough hook and bowl on the stand mixer and knead on medium speed until a smooth elastic dough forms, fully releasing from the bowl's sides. 4-5 minutes. Add a little flour as necessary if it's too sticky.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and drizzle olive oil into it. Place the dough back in the bowl and turn it to coat in the oil. Wrap with plastic wrap and allow the dough to double for one hour, in a draft free and warm area.
- Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and portion it out into 4 equal portions of dough. Form the dough into 4 round balls, place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the dough balls to proof once again for 30 minutes.
As for assembly.....using your fingers (or a rolling pin, if you prefer) spread the dough into an 8" circle.
Add pizza or marinara sauce, and filling options to half of the circle. Wet the entire edge of the circle with water. Fold over the empty side and secure the two edges together by pressing, crimping, or using a fork tine.
Cut 3 small slits in the top. Brush with an egg wash to allow for a golden brown finish. Place in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
Spread the top with melted garlic butter, and some parmesan. Serve with additional sauce for dipping.
Enjoy!