Spinach-Cheese Calzone

(Moosewood Cookbook, Revised Ed., Mollie Katzen)

This calzone recipe is a favorite of our family, especially our kids. You can make the excellent dough below, or you can make the filling, wrap it in tortillas, and warm the wraps in the oven.

Dough

1 cup wrist-temperature water

11/2 tsp. active dry yeast

1 Tb. honey or sugar

11/2 tsp. salt

21/2-3 cups flour

olive oil

Put the water in a medium-sized bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast and stir in the honey or sugar till everything dissolves.

            Use a whisk to stir in the salt and flour. When it gets too thick to whisk, mix with one floured hand. Knead in the bowl for about 5 minutes.

            Brush a little olive oil over the dough, cover the bowl, and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour). In the meantime, prepare the filling.

Spinach-Cheese Filling

1 Tb. olive oil                                          4-5 medium garlic cloves, minced

1 cup minced onion                               1 Tb. dried or 3 Tb. minced fresh basil

1 lb. spinach, stemmed and minced   1 lb. ricotta or cottage cheese

1/2 tsp. salt                                             2 cups packed grated mozzarella

lots of black pepper                              about 1/4 cup grated parmesan

            Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet.. Saute onion over medium heat until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, over high heat for several minutes till the spinach wilts. Stir in the garlic and basil and cook for about 2 more minutes.

            Put the cheeses in a medium-sized bowl. Add the spinach saute and mix well. Correct seasonings.

Assemble

            Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Oil a baking tray.

            Punch down the risen dough. Divide it into 6 equal sections and roll out on a floured surface into circles 1/4 inch thick.

            Put 1/2 to 3/4 cup of filling on one half of the circle, leaving a 1/2-inch rim. Use your fingers or a brush to moisten the rim with a little water. Fold over the empty side and crimp the edges with a fork. Use the fork to prick little holes here and there on the top surface.

            Put the completed calzones on the oiled tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned. Serve hot.