Vegetarian Recipe #20: Green Calzones

You know what grows like freaking weeds in the summer? Squash. It's coming out of my ears all summer long. 

Find a way to combine them with cheese and I'm pretty much sold. Enter these calzones. Delicious, delicious calzones.

Green Calzones
(adapted from Healthy Food for Living)


Makes 4 calzones

1/2 batch of pizza dough (I use this one)
3-4 T pesto (you'll probably want to make your own if possible and do little or no oil because otherwise the oil will soak the bottom of your calzone)
1 grated squash (I've used zucchini and yellow squash and a combination of them both all with success)
1 cup packed greens (spinach, chard, etc - if you're using a tougher green like kale, give it a little steam first)
1 cup ricotta cheese
Salt and pepper
1 cup shredded or sliced cheese (I like mozzarella or monterey jack or a combo of the two)

Dipping sauce (I like ranch, Bart likes marinara)


Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 

In a mixing bowl, combine squash, greens, and ricotta cheese; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Divide your dough into four equal portions. Roll each one out into a circle, about six inches wide or so.

Spread a thin layer of pesto on half of the circle (leave an un-pesto-ed rim around the edge). Scoop a quarter of the squash mixture on top of the pesto half of the dough. Top with a quarter of the sliced or shredded cheese. Fold the plain side of the dough circle over the top of the cheese, crimp the dough edges with a fork and then prick the top a couple of times too.

Repeat with remaining dough, pesto, filling, and cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool for a few minutes before serving with dipping sauces.