Party Size Sausage Calzone Recipes

SAUSAGE CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 F.
• Brown sausage in a small skillet in a drizzle of olive oil. Transfer the cooked crumbled sausage to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
• Combine sausage with ricotta, parsley, garlic, Parmigiano, nutmeg, pepper, and pimento. Roll out doughs and halve cross-wise. Place a dough rectangle on a nonstick cookie sheet. Use 1/2 cup mozzarella on half of each dough rectangle and pile a mound of filling on half of the total area. Fold dough over and pinch edges to seal. The result is a rectangular turnover.
• For half-moon shaped calzones, trim excess dough. Roll dough bits into strips, tie in knots and brush with garlic oil and cheese. Garlic knots are fun to dip at the table.
• Bake calzones 15 minutes or until golden all over. Serve calzones with warm tomato, marinara, or pizza sauce for dipping.
• Cook's Note: For an additional time saver, 2 packages precooked sausage crumbles, 8 ounces each, may be substituted for raw Italian sausage used in the above recipe.
• Add olive oil to medium saucepan over moderate heat. Add garlic and crushed pepper to the heated olive oil; when pepper snaps and garlic sizzles, stir in crushed tomatoes. Season sauce with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for five minutes and stir in parsley. Serve.
• Yield: 4 servings

ITALIAN SAUSAGE CALZONE

Steps:

• Unroll pizza dough onto an ungreased baking sheet; pat into a 14x11-in. rectangle. Spread pizza sauce over 1 long side of dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. , Layer the spinach, sausage, mushrooms and cheese over sauce. Fold dough over filling; pinch seams to seal. , Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Freeze option: Freeze cooled unsliced calzone in a freezer container. To use, place calzone on an ungreased baking sheet, cover with foil and reheat in a preheated 375° oven 10 minutes. Uncover; bake until heated through.

PARTY-SIZE SAUSAGE CALZONE

Steps:

• Cook sausage links according to package directions; drain, cut into 1/4 -inch slices and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine mozzarella, ricotta, egg, parsley and seasonings.
• On a lightly floured surface, cut dough in half.
• Roll each into a 12-inch circle.
• On two parchment-lined baking sheets, carefully place one dough round on each baking sheet.
• Spoon ½ cup of pizza sauce, half the cheese mixture and half of the sausage slices onto the lower half of each dough round, keep the outer ½ -inch edge of dough free of ingredients.
• With a pastry brush, moisten the outer ½ -inch of each dough round with water.
• Fold dough over filling and crimp edges firmly to seal.
• Bake at 350ºF for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cut each Calzone in half and serve with remaining pizza sauce.

PARTY SIZE SAUSAGE CALZONE

Steps:

• Cook sausage links according to package directions; drain, cut into 1/2-inch slices and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine mozzarella, ricotta, egg, parsley and seasonings.
• On a lightly floured surface, cut dough in half. Roll each into a 12-inch circle. On two parchment-lined baking sheets, carefully place one dough round on each baking sheet.
• Spoon 1/2 cup of pizza sauce, half the cheese mixture and half of the sausage slices onto the lower half of each dough round, keep the outer 1/2-inch of dough free of ingredients. With a pastry brush, moisten the outer 1/2-inch of each round with water. Fold dough over filling and crimp edges firmly to seal.
• Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cut each Calzone in half and serve with remaining pizza sauce.