Home-made Calzone with Ricotta, Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients

for the dough (makes 2 large calzone of 4 smaller ones)

• 3 1/2 cups  00 type flour (or plain)

• 1/2 cup  wholemeal flour

• 1 teaspoon of dry yeast

• 1-1/4 cup  lukewarm water

• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar

• 2 teaspoons of slat flakes

• Extra-virgin olive oil, to grease the bowl and to drizzle on top.

How to

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Stand for 5 minutes or until frothy.

2. Place flour in a large mixing  bowl, add the yeasted water and mix for 1-2 minutes, then tip the dough onto a floured surface, add the salt and knead vigorously for 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Shape it into a ball.

3. As all flours tend to differ slightly, you may have to add a little more water of a little more flour in order to have the perfect dough. You want a soft, pliable dough, but not too sticky.

4. Rest the dough in an oiled bowl, covered with a tea-towel for 30 minutes, then lift it out, place it back onto a floured surface, stretch it with your hands and fold it into three and then back into a ball. Put the dough back in the bowl to rest for another 30 minutes, then stretch and fold again.

5. As tedious as this process sounds, this is paramount for obtaining a light, crispy and easy to digest base.

6. After the second stretch-and-fold, place the dough in a large oiled container fitted with  lid (like a Tupperware one). Place in the fridge (with the lid on) and slow-prove for a minimum of 6 hours, up to 36 hours.

7. When you are ready to make you pizza, take th enough of the fridge and place it in an oiled bowl and cover it with a tea-towel. Rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes.

8. Your dough is now ready to be stretched, topped, folded and baked.

For the filling

• 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, halved

• 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin oil + some for drizzling

• 2 tablespoons of white balsamic vinegar (or regular)

• 1 scant tablespoon of sugar

• 1 teaspoon of salt flakes

• 1 garlic clove, cut into half

• a little freshly ground white pepper

• 1 spring onion, chopped up

• 1 cups of full cream ricotta

• 1 cup of bocconcini

• freshly picked basil leaves

How to

1. Place the tomatoes, oil, vinegar, garlic, spring onion, pepper, salt and sugar in an oven tray lined with baking paper. Roast on a medium oven for 45 minutes or until the tomatoes are slightly blistered and juicy.

2. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

3. Increase the oven temperature to high. If baking using a baking stone, put in the oven to heat up now.

4. Roll the dough to the desired thickness ( I always prefer a thin base, but over to you and  your personal taste) and shape into two large (or 4 smaller) disks.

5. Fill one half of each disk with the roasted cherry tomatoes, 3-4 table spoons of ricotta, a few bocconcini and and basil leaves. Top with the other half of the disk and seal the edges by pinching them with your fingers. Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil, a tablespoon of the cherry tomato juices and a pinch of salt.

6. Place the calzones on baking paper. Dust the baking stone with corn flour and place the calzones with the baking paper on top of the stone. Bake for 15 minutes, then slide off the paper to allow the base to crisp up.

7. In not using a baking stone, simply line an oven tray with baking paper, place the calzones on top and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is bronzed and nicely puffed and the bottom is crispy.

8. Serve hot, with cold beer and a green salad.

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