Calzones are folded or stuffed pizza turnovers filled with cheese, meats, and other toppings. They can also be sweet and fried or baked. They are a popular finger food and gaining popularity in the US.
Sometimes known as calsones, calzones are essentially a folded or stuffed pizza turnover that is made with a pizza dough crust and filled with various types of cheeses, meats, and other traditional pizza toppings. Various types of calzones are produced in different parts of the world, from traditional cheese-filled recipes that are based on the same concept as stromboli.
As a popular baked sandwich, the calzone can be filled with a wide variety of foods. Many popular commercial versions of the calzone, such as hot pockets, focus on both traditional pizza ingredients as well as vegetable and cheese combinations. Homemade calzones often feature cheese blends as a base filler and are often paired with marinara or tomato sauce. For meats, many people like a mix of ground beef, sausage, and pepperoni. Other traditional pizza toppings, such as mushrooms or onions, are often included in the mix.
Sweet versions of calzones are also available. Made with a simple pizza crust, fillers can include stewed fruit blends, such as apples with cinnamon. Raisins, grapes, pineapples and cranberries can be used to create innovative calzones that can be served with whipped toppings or sprinkled with sugar.
There are also fried versions of calzones. The dough is filled with tomatoes, bacon, mozzarella and olives, then folded into a semi-circle, after pinching the edges of the dough to seal the ingredients, the calzone is deep fried until the outside is crispy.
Baked versions of calzones, with an emphasis on a blend of vegetables in the filling, are also popular in parts of the world, particularly Sicily. A popular combination is a filling made from potatoes, onions, broccoli and olives that is mixed with grated cheeses. After the calzone is sealed, the dish is placed in an oven and allowed to cook until the crust is golden brown.
Calzones are considered an excellent finger food, as it is not necessary to use any type of utensil to consume the food. Thanks to versions currently sold in several major pizza chains, calzones are gaining popularity in the United States as a new way to enjoy a diverse blend of fillers in a savory crust.
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