Did someone say panzerotti? You may be thinking, “Wait a minute, what is that?” Panzerotti is similar to a calzone in that it is pizza dough folded over and stuffed with toppings.
Calzones are typically bigger and served as a meal, whereas panzerottis are smaller and often served as appetizers. The word panzerotti is based on the word “panza,” a variation of Italian the word “pancia,” which loosely translates to tummy.
Panzerotti refers to the puffy swelling of the filling inside the dough, somewhat resembling a full tummy. Are you ready to sink your teeth into a panzerotti? Continue reading to discover some of our favorite panzerotti recipes.
1. Cheesy Spinach Panzerotti
This recipe is easy, delicious, and great as an appetizer or mid-day snack. You can make homemade dough, or if you’re low on time, simply use the premade dough. In either case, knead the dough, let it rise, and when ready, roll it out into eight equal portions.
Once you’re ready to roll out your dough, you should have already prepared a cheesy spinach filling mixture (mozzarella, parmesan, baby spinach, heavy cream, tomato puree, and oregano).
Roll each dough ball flat until they are ¼ inch thick. Put some filling in the center, add mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top, and fold the panzerotti in half. Pinch the edges with a fork to seal them then bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Fried Panzerotti
You’ll feel like an authentic Italian when you make this panzerotti recipe. Make sure to grab pasta flour (also known as semolina flour) for your homemade dough.
Semolina flour works well for making thicker, grainier pasta, which holds a lot of sauce. In our case, it will help you keep a tasty cheese and tomato filling inside the panzerotti.
As you let the dough rise, use this time to make your filling. Once the dough is ready, divide it into 10 equal pieces and flatten them into six-inch discs.
Put your filling in each disc, fold it in half, and crimp the edges to make a seal. Individually deep fry each panzerotti in a pot for two minutes, then let them drain on a paper towel.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
3. Easy Panzerotti Pizza Pockets
Deep-fried pizza pockets are ready to eat on the go… yes, please! There are two filling options in this recipe: tomato and cheese, or mortadella, mozzarella, and green onion.
Take note that the amounts for the ingredients listed for the fillings are enough for five servings but the dough recipe makes ten servings. Plan accordingly so you have enough filling for all of your dough.
Once your dough has risen, roll out 10 equal pieces and fill them. Lastly, fold them in half and seal the edges. Deep fry them in a pan until golden. Alternatively, you can bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
Get the full recipe and directions from Not Quite Nigella.
4. Vegetarian-Friendly Panzerotti (Mini Calzones)
We love how delicious and easy it is to make this panzerotti recipe. The filling ingredients include tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, fresh parsley, and salt.
The homemade dough part of this recipe can make up to 14 “mini calzone” servings. You’ll make your panzerotti dough and then make your filling as the dough is rising.
Separate your risen dough and roll them into circles (about ½ inch thick and five inches wide). Once flattened out, fill them, fold them, and fry them. Bellissimo!
Get the full recipe and directions from Tasty.
5. Ham and Cheese Mini Calzone (Panzerotti)
If you’re needing a grab-and-go meal for your family, this panzerotti recipe is for you! Rapid-rise yeast will be your friend when making the dough, as well as honey and all-purpose flour.
You’ll make this dough a little differently than the other dough recipes, due to the yeast, so pay close attention to the recipe details. Once your dough is ready, roll out your dough balls to ⅛ inch thick and 4 ½ inch wide circles.
Be sure to have marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a slice of ham for the filling. Fold the dough over and seal the edge and brush the outside with milk followed by a little marinara sauce and bake for 15 minutes.
Get the full recipe and directions from Real Housemoms.
6. Mini Vegan Calzones
These panzerottis are great because the entire recipe can be made from scratch. The author includes links to an easy five-minute pizza sauce, vegan mozzarella cheese, and vegan pepper jack cheese.
They also include olives in the filling, but there are tons of other veggies you can use in these panzerottis. Just sauté the raw vegetables first to make sure they’re thoroughly cooked.
Make your dough, knead it, and let it rise and make your sauce and prep all the filling ingredients while the dough is rising. Lastly, divide the dough into eight pieces and prepare them the same way as any other panzerotti.
Bake your vegan panzerottis in a 425-degree Fahrenheit oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Take them out and immediately brush the tops with olive oil and let them brown a little more in the oven before serving.
Get the full recipe and directions from Vegan Blueberry.
7. Gluten-Free Pizza Pockets
Making gluten-free recipes can be tricky at times, but this panzerotti recipe has made it a whole lot easier! For the dough, you will need a box of Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix, which also has a yeast packet included.
Another unique thing about this dough recipe is you’ll add one tablespoon of jalapeno salt-free seasoning. It will give your dough a nice flavor that other gluten-free recipes may not have.
Grab a jar of your favorite gluten-free pizza sauce, some mozzarella cheese, and other toppings of your choosing, and add it to 4 of the 8 rolled-out dough balls.
Use the remaining dough to seal the top (each pizza pocket uses two pieces of dough) then bake. Enjoy this delicious gluten-free version of panzerotti.
Get the full recipe and directions from Hy Vee.
There you have it! Whether you bake or fry your panzerotti (aka mini calzones), you are sure to brighten anyone’s day with some Italian goodness.
As we read in the beginning, panzerottis are symbolic of a full tummy. These recipes will start as full tummies and leave your tummies full and satisfied. Tell us about your favorite panzerotti combinations in the comments!
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Authentic Italian Stromboli Recipe post.
