Ingredients
-
-
1/2 cup tomato juice or 1/2 cup V8 vegetable juice
-
1/2 package active dry yeast
-
1 1/4-1 1/2 cups flour
-
1 teaspoon dried oregano
-
1 tablespoon olive oil
-
7/8 ounce package pepperoni slice, cut slices in half
-
1 clove garlic, minced
-
1/2-3/4 cup crumbled pre-cooked hot Italian sausage (about 1 link)
-
1/2 lb lean ground beef
-
1 teaspoon dried oregano
-
-
2 tablespoons minced onions
-
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Combine tomato juice, yeast and 3/4 cup of the flour in a large bowl.
- Mix well then add oil, salt, and oregano, then gradually add the remaining 3/4 cup or so of flour.
- Work into a soft dough, then knead for 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean towel in a warm place until doubled in size (about an hour).
- Begin preparing filling while you wait for dough to rise, see below.
- When dough has risen, divide it into 2 even balls and let rest another 15 minutes.
- Pat out dough balls into 2 crusts, each about 1/8 inch thick.
- To prepare filling: Brown the pepperoni a little in an ungreased non-stick skillet; add onion, garlic, pre-cooked and crumbled Italian sausage and ground beef.
- Cook together until ground beef is thoroughly cooked; pour off excess grease, then add oregano and tomato paste; stir to combine thoroughly and cook another 10 minutes.
- Add salt or pepper to taste and set aside to let cool for filling the calzone.
- To assemble the calzone: Spread filling on one half of the prepared crust; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese and top with the other prepared crust and press down firmly along the edges with the tines of a fork to seal.
- Slash top crust with a knife as you would a pie, then bake on a lightly oiled pizza pan in a 450 degree oven 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned.
- Alternatively, you could make two separate calzones instead of one large one.