Savory Italian Sausage Calzones with Spinach
These Savory Italian Sausage Calzones are a family favorite that combines the rich flavors of Italian sausage, creamy cottage cheese, and nutritious spinach, all wrapped up in a perfectly golden crust. This recipe allows for flexibility; feel free to customize the fillings to your taste—add mushrooms, bell peppers, or any other favorite veggies for extra flavor! This dish is perfect for busy weeknights, as it’s easy to prepare and can be frozen for later use. Even picky eaters will love these calzones, thanks to their delicious filling that masks any vegetables. Enjoy with warm pizza sauce for dipping, and savor each delectable bite!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
19
Ingredients
Ingredients
active dry yeast
1 (1/4 ounce) package (None)
water
1/2 cup (Warm (110-115 °F))
warm milk
3/4 cup (Warm (110-115 °F))
olive oil
2 tablespoons (None)
salt
1 1/2 teaspoons (None)
sugar
1 teaspoon (None)
flour
3-3 1/4 cups (Use a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour if desired)
bulk Italian sausage
1 lb (Cooked and crumbled)
frozen chopped spinach
10 ounces (Thawed and well drained)
low-fat small-curd cottage cheese
15 ounces (None)
grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (None)
fresh parsley
1 tablespoon (Minced)
pepper
1/8 teaspoon (None)
cornmeal
2 tablespoons (For sprinkling)
mushrooms
to taste (Sliced or chopped (optional))
onion
to taste (Chopped (optional))
additional olive oil or vegetable oil
for brushing (None)
garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon (None)
pizza sauce
1 1/2 cups (Warmed for serving)
Instructions
1
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water and milk (110-115 °F). Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes until it begins to froth.
2
Add olive oil, salt, sugar, and 2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture; beat until smooth.
3
Gradually incorporate additional flour, one cup at a time, until a soft dough forms.
4
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for approximately 6-8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5
Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, turning it once to grease the top. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
6
While the dough is rising, heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook the Italian sausage until no longer pink, breaking it into small pieces. Drain any excess fat.
7
Add the thawed and well-drained spinach, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, minced parsley, and pepper to the sausage. Stir until well combined. (Feel free to add optional ingredients like mushrooms or onions at this stage to enhance the filling).
8
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into six equal pieces.
9
On a floured surface, roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Spoon 2/3 cup of filling onto one half of each circle, leaving a border around the edge.
10
Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal tightly. Place the calzones on greased baking sheets that have been lightly sprinkled with cornmeal.
11
Brush the tops of the calzones lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt.
12
Bake in a preheated oven at 400 °F for 20-25 minutes, or until the calzones are golden brown.
13
Serve warm with heated pizza sauce on the side for dipping and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Savory Italian Sausage Calzones?
They are a family-friendly meal consisting of a yeast dough crust filled with cooked Italian sausage, cottage cheese, parmesan, and spinach, then baked until golden brown.
What type of sausage is used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1 pound of bulk Italian sausage, which should be cooked and crumbled before being added to the filling.
Can I use whole wheat flour for the calzone dough?
Yes, you can use a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour for the crust if desired.
How long does the calzone dough need to rise?
The dough should rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, which typically takes about 1 hour.
What is the correct temperature for the water and milk used with the yeast?
The water and milk should be warm, specifically between 110-115 °F, to properly activate the active dry yeast.
Can I add extra vegetables to the filling?
Absolutely. You can customize the filling by adding mushrooms, bell peppers, or chopped onions to your taste.
Are these calzones suitable for picky eaters?
Yes, the delicious filling of sausage and cheese helps mask the vegetables like spinach, making it a great option for kids or picky eaters.
How do you seal the calzones?
After placing the filling on half of the dough circle, fold the other half over and pinch the edges together tightly to seal the filling inside.
What should be served with Italian sausage calzones?
They are best served warm with a side of heated pizza sauce for dipping.
Can this recipe be frozen for later?
Yes, these calzones are easy to prepare and can be frozen for a quick meal on a busy weeknight.
How do I prepare the spinach for the filling?
You should use 10 ounces of frozen chopped spinach that has been completely thawed and squeezed well to drain all excess moisture.
At what temperature do you bake the calzones?
The calzones should be baked in a preheated oven at 400 °F.
How long do the calzones need to bake?
They typically bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
How do I ensure the crust is golden brown and flavorful?
Brush the tops of the calzones lightly with olive oil and sprinkle them with garlic salt before putting them in the oven.
What kind of cheese is in the filling?
The filling uses a combination of 15 ounces of low-fat small-curd cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese.
Why do I need cornmeal for the baking sheets?
Lightly sprinkling cornmeal on the greased baking sheets helps prevent the dough from sticking and adds a nice texture to the bottom of the crust.
How many calzones does this recipe make?
The dough is divided into six equal pieces, so this recipe yields six large calzones.
What texture should the dough have after kneading?
After kneading for 6-8 minutes, the dough should be smooth and elastic.
Can I add mushrooms to this recipe?
Yes, sliced or chopped mushrooms can be added to the filling mixture to enhance the flavor.
How do I know the Italian sausage is done cooking?
The sausage is cooked when it is no longer pink and has been broken into small crumbles.
What size should I roll the dough circles?
Each of the six pieces of dough should be rolled into an 8-inch circle on a floured surface.
How much filling should I put in each calzone?
Each calzone should be filled with approximately 2/3 cup of the sausage and cheese mixture.
What prep is needed for the parsley?
The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley that has been finely minced.
Do I need to drain the sausage after cooking?
Yes, you should drain any excess fat from the skillet after the sausage is cooked to prevent the filling from being too greasy.
Is sugar used in the dough recipe?
Yes, 1 teaspoon of sugar is added to the yeast mixture to help it develop and flavor the dough.
How do you activate the yeast?
Dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water and milk and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it begins to froth.
What seasoning is used in the filling?
The filling is seasoned with 1/8 teaspoon of pepper and the natural flavors of the parmesan cheese and Italian sausage.
Can I use vegetable oil instead of olive oil for brushing?
Yes, you can use either additional olive oil or vegetable oil to brush the tops of the calzones.
Should the pizza sauce be cold or warm?
The recipe recommends warming the 1 1/2 cups of pizza sauce before serving it as a dip.
What should I do after the dough has doubled in size?
Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air before dividing it into six pieces for rolling.