Healthy Pizza Packets/ Veg Calzones

Pizzas are favourite to almost everyone.  I love them too though I made them once or twice in a month.  

For my love towards pizzas, I wanted to try pizza packets or calzones.  So I prepared my homemade pizza sauce and pizza dough specially for this recipe.  Then I made the stuffing with my choice of veggies and cheese.. and TADAA!!! got these yummilicious pizza packets.  I made them for the first time and they turned out to be delicious.  Pizza sauce, cheese and veggies were simply bursting out in every bite.  I loved it to the core.

The name sounds not-so-easy kindda dish but its surprisingly easy to make.  To make it a little healthy, I added whole wheat flour to the dough.  Above all, its a baked snack so no frying.  It also has less calories as I stir fried the veggies in just 3/4 tsp of oil  :D

Its a great party starter and kids will love it.  All in all its a must try. So don your aprons and get into the cooking.  Happy Cooking :)

                              

Makes - 6 packets

Ingredients:

For dough:

Whole wheat flour     -      1 cup

All purpose flour       -      1 cup

Instant dry yeast        -      1 1/2 tsp

Olive oil                    -      3 tbsp

Sugar                         -      2 tsp

Salt                            -      1/2 tsp

Lukewarm water       -      as required

For stuffing:

Homemade pizza sauce                           -  1 cup

Processed cheese (grated)                       -   1/2 cup

Cabbage (finely chopped)                       -  1 cup

Capsicum (finely cut lengthwise)           -   2 small

Sweet corns (Boiled)                              -   1/2 cup 

Onion (finely cut lengthwise)                -    1 small

Green beans (blanched)                         -    1/4 cup

Black pepper                                          -    1/4 tsp or to taste

Olive oil                                                 -    3/4 tsp

Salt                                                         -    o taste

Method:

• Dough- Take a large bowl and add in both the flours, salt, sugar and yeast.  Mix everything well.  Add oil and mix with the flour.  Add lukewarm water little by little and make a smooth dough.  Knead it well for 4-5 minutes.  Shift to an airtight container and leave it to rise for about 2 hours.

• For stuffing - Heat oil in a non stick pan.  Add chopped onions and fry for 2-3 minutes on high flame.  Add sweetcorn and beans.  Stir for 2-3 minutes.  Add cabbage and capsicum and stir for another 4-5 minutes.  Add black pepper and salt.  Stir for 1 minute and remove from the flame.  Set aside.

• Preheat oven at 180 degree.  Grease a baking tray and set aside.

• Take the raised dough and punch it down.  Pinch a lemon size ball from the dough and roll out a 1/4 inch round chapati. Evenly spread pizza sauce on half of the rolled chapati.  Spread the fried veggies on the sauce layer.  Finally top it with grated cheese and bring the other half of chapati over it.  Close it from all the corners well with water.  Make more pizza packets with remaining dough and stuffing likewise.  Arrange on the greased baking tray and bake for 15 minutes or till the top gets lightly brown.
• Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Notes:

1. In place of whole wheat flour, you can take 2 cups of all purpose flour.
2. Mozzarella cheese can also be used in place of processed cheese.
3. You can add your choice of veggies in the stuffing.
4. If you are using dry yeast then proof it first.  For that, take the lukewarm water and add in sugar.  Then add the dry yeast and cover it for 5-10 minutes .  After 10 minutes you will see the bubbles have formed.  Add that mixture to the flour and knead as given in the recipe.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

I am a pizza fan just like most of u :) I love making it from scratch so I prepare my pizza sauce as well as dough at home then I simply play around with the toppings.. its fun :D

I experimented with different ingredients and measurements for pizza sauce and after getting 2-3 not-so-perfect ones I finally got this pizza sauce and I am proud to say that its my very own no fail recipe :)

I am sure you will also like this sauce as it is so freshly falvourful with perfect taste and the best part is that it has NO PRESERVATIVES. Making anything at home gives you satisfaction of its being hygienic and fresh.  I love this sauce so much that I even use it for making pasta n noodles and they always come out super yummy. Of course it too makes my pizza taste delicious :D

This time I made Pizza Packets / Veg Calzones with this sauce and they turn out to be awesome.  I will share that recipe soon.  Till then you try this sauce n let me know the results. Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Tomato (big)	2 ½
Garlic	6 cloves (finely chopped)
Olive oil	1 tbsp
Onion (finely chopped)	3 tbsp
Freshly ground black pepper	¼ tsp
Red chilli flakes	¾ tsp
Origano	¼ tsp
Fresh basil leaves	5 (chopped)
Sugar	¾ tsp
Red chilli powder	1/8 tsp
Salt	¾ tsp or to taste

Makes: for one medium size pizza.

Method:

• Take the tomatoes and wash them thoroughly.  Dip them in hot water for about 10 minutes.  Take out and grate the tomatoes leaving the skin.  Discard the skin.  
• Heat oil in a non stick pan.  Add garlic and onion. Saute for 2-3 minutes.  Add dried origano and give a stir.  Add tomato pulp and cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring.  Add chilli flakes, chilli powder, crushed black pepper, salt and sugar.  Cook on medium heat till the tomato juice dries up and sauce becomes thick. At the end, add chopped basil leaves.  Give a stir and remove from flame.
• Let it cool.  Use as per requirement.
• Store in a dry glass jar or airtight container.  Keep refrigerated.

Notes:

1. With this recipe you would get a chunky pizza sauce. If you do not like chunks then after cooking the sauce, blend it and then use.
2. You can double or triple this recipe to make more sauce.
3. It can be used as a pasta sauce too.
4. If you are going to use this sauce for kids simply make it without red chilli powder and chilli flakes. 
5. If making in big quantity, here is a tip.  Make the sauce as per the recipe except adding the red chilli powder and chilli flakes.  Once done, take some sauce separately from the pan and add chilli powder and chilli flakes in the remaining sauce.  Add basil leaves in both the sauce and mix.  Sauce ready for kids.