Spinach Calzones with Homemade Marinara Sauce

There are a variety of things you can make with pizza dough, (other than pizza of course). One of those variations is calzones. A calzone is just a pizza turned over.

However, like pizza, there are many ways you can prepare calzones.

In my opinion, nothing is better than a calzone stuffed with spinach, ricotta cheese, and ham. Well, maybe there is one thing better- A HOMEMADE spinach, ricotta cheese, and ham calzone.

In my family, we never buy pizza. We buy pizza dough and make our own. It has brought some of the fondest memories in our kitchen.
~
Friday night was pizza night. I made the calzones, and Mama made the marinara sauce.

Today I'm guest posting on Living the Gourmet.

Yes, Lady Gourmet taught Little Gourmet Girl well! 😉
NOTE: This recipe made two calzones.
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes (or until golden)

Easy Spinach Calzones
(By Tammy)

2 prepared pizza doughs
2 packages of spinach (10 ounces each)
1 medium-large onion, finely chopped
5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 cup ricotta cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup mozzarella, shredded
About 8-10 slices of deli ham, cut into long strips
Salt & Pepper to taste
Approximately 4 tablespoons Olive Oil
Dashes of Living the Gourmet Dry Herb Rub

In an large skillet on medium low heat, drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Add onion and sauté until tender and golden. Then add garlic and spinach, sautéing until large clumps are broken up. Add the dashes of salt and pepper.

Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool. Once cool enough, stir in ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, and ham.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare 2 cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper and sprinkling the paper with cornmeal. Set aside.

Flour the pizza dough and work the dough using your fists into a large circle, do not roll the dough out, about 12 inch circles. Fill one half side with spinach mixture and fold over. Press the edges with a fork to seal the calzone.

Transfer the dough onto the cookie sheets. Rub each calzone with a tablespoon of olive oil and bake for 25 minutes or until golden.

While calzones are baking, prepare marinara sauce, which my Mom shall now tell you how to prepare!

xx,
Tammy
Homemade Marinara Sauce
(By Catherine)

Ingredients:

29 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
5 cloves of garlic - chopped
1 yellow onion - sliced
Healthy handful of fresh basil
Dashes of fresh ground black pepper
Pinch of sugar
Dashes of sea salt
Dashes of oregano
Drizzles of Olive Oil

Heat a large frying pan with a drizzle of olive oil and add the basil, garlic and sliced onions. Heat until the onion is clear. Add the crushed tomato and the spices and the pinch of sugar. Simmer on low for about 25-30 minutes.

This is a quick and easy to make sauce and so delicious!

With love & blessings,
Catherine