Sandwiches - Pizza Pouches
Pizza To Go!
Calzones, panzerotti, pizza pockets, pizza pouches, or stromboli. Whatever you want to call them, these little sandwiches of deliciousness are irresistible and easy to make.
Pizza
🍕
Pizza 🍕
Here is a recipe for the little pizza sandwiches that I call pizza pouches. They are half moon shaped pouches stuffed with all the goodness of pizza. You can make these ahead of time and take to work for lunch or have something quick to heat up and serve to the hungry kids.
You'll love them! I've made these ahead of time, wrapped them in tin foil and froze them, and then took them on a camping trip and reheated them on the grill. They were easy, quick, and fantastic!
Pizza
🍕
Pizza 🍕
Pizza Pouches
Have these items ready before assembling the pizza pouches:
The pizza dough – Use store bought dough (2 loaves) or biscuits (16 pieces) or follow the simple recipe for pizza dough.
The tomato sauce – You'll need about 2 cups. You use homemade tomato sauce or buy a jar of tomato sauce.
The beef filling – Cook the beef filling ahead of time and can refrigerate until ready to assemble. Follow the recipe provided.
The cheese filling – Have the cheese filling ready ahead of time. Follow the recipe provided.
Directions for when you have all the items and are ready to assemble the pizza pouches:
Divide each loaf of dough into 8 pieces. You should have 16 pieces total.
If you are using biscuit dough then separate the biscuits dough into serving sizes. You should have 16 pieces.
Roll out or press each piece of dough to flatten. Don’t make it too thin because you want it to be able to hold all the ingredients inside and seal it without ripping.
Now finally assemble and fill the pouches.
In the center of a rolled out piece of dough:
Load a little of the beef filling.
Top with a teaspoon of ricotta.
Then add a little of the shredded cheese mixture.
Spoon a little tomato sauce over the cheese.
Dab the edges with a little water or egg white with your finger or a small pastry brush.
Fold over the dough and seal the edges. Don't try to stretch the dough too much when you fold over.
You can use the tines of a fork to gently press and seal the edges.
Bake the pouches.
On a cookie or baking sheet, place pizza pockets about ½ to 1 inch apart.
Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Let it cool a little and serve. Enjoy!
Makes 16 pizza pouches.
Pizza
🍕
Pizza 🍕
The included recipes for the Pizza Pouches.
Please click on the recipe to expand and view the ingredients and directions.
-
For the pizza dough:
If you want to make your own dough. Here is a recipe that I use for my bread machine. I absolutely love my bread machine. I've made so many pizzas and dinner rolls with it.
Ingredients:
• 3/4 cup and 2 tbsp Water
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2 tsp Sugar
• 2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
Directions:
1. Add item in order in the bread machine. The salt should be initially separated from the yeast.
2. Put the machine on dough setting. It should only take about an hour to an hour and a half. This will make one pizza / loaf. So make two batches for the pizza pouches recipe.
• You can make the first set of dough into pouches ready for assembling while the second batch is being made. Or you keep the first batch in the refrigerator.
• Rub the ball of dough with a little flour and then wrap it in plastic wrap or in a zip lock bag while the other batch is being made.
• This dough can be made ahead of time, keep refrigerated or freeze them until you are ready to use it. Let it thaw and get to room temperature before rolling into pizza pouches.
-
For the Beef Filling:
Ingredients:
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 2 -3 Tbsp Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
• 1 small Onion – grated or finely chopped
• 2-3 Garlic Cloves – minced
• 1 tsp Italian Herb seasoning – (or 3/4 tsp Parsley and 1/4 tsp Basil)
• ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
• ½ tsp Salt
• 4 oz can Tomato Paste
• 2 cups Water
Optional - 1/2 cup grated Carrots - this is optional but adds a boost in vitamins and a little sweetness to take away the bitterness of the tomato paste. If you don't like onions then carrots is a good replacement on this recipe.
Directions:
1. Pour the oil in a large skillet. Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes.
2. Add the grated carrots (optional) and cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Add and cook the ground beef until there is no more pink. Drain all the fat.
4. Then add all the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high until it starts to bubble and then turn it down to simmer.
5. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
6. Then let it cool. This can be made and refrigerated ahead of time.
Please note:
If the mixture is getting too dry, you can a add a little water to loosen the beef mixture.
If the mixture is still too wet and soupy, then simmer a little longer to allow the liquid to evaporate. The mixture should be thick when it’s done.
-
For the Cheese Filling:
Ingredients:
• 8 oz or 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese - shredded
• 8 oz or 1 cup Sharp Provolone, or Cheddar, or other favorite flavorful cheese - shredded
• 4 oz Ricotta Cheese
• 1 Tbsp dried Parsley Flakes
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
Directions :
• Mix together all the cheeses and parsley.
• If it is easier for you, you can keep the ricotta cheese separate from the shredded cheese.
• Set them aside.
When you make these ahead and to reheat, here are some reheating methods and tips.
Cooked and cooled, the pizza pouches can be refrigerated up to a week and reheated when ready to eat. Wrap in plastic wrap or in zip lock bags and refrigerate until ready to eat.
You can reheat them up in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes or in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 375° for crispy crust.
They can be frozen individually in plastic wrap, tin foil, or zip lock bags for up to 3 months. Remove the wrap and reheat in microwave for about 4 minutes or bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 425° F
When wrapped in foil they can be reheated on a grill and then opened up for the last few minutes to crisp the crust and add some smoky flavor. The amount of time depends on the heat of the grill.
Pizza
🍕
Pizza 🍕
Additional Tips:
You can add to the beef filling:
Add some chopped green peppers, mushrooms, or spinach for additional flavors. Add about 1/4 cup chopped vegetables and cook with the beef.
Add little bit of spicy peppers like banana peppers, hot cherry peppers, jalapeño, etc. to give it a kick.
Add a little bit of bulk Italian sausage (or can remove the casing from Italian sausage links) to the beef and cook together.
You can make this without the meat …make it taste like what they call a white pizza. A great treat for the vegetarian in your family. Make with just the cheese and tomato sauce or maybe alfredo sauce instead. You can use any type of your favorite cheese. Add some chopped spinach, chopped artichokes, and chopped tomatoes to the cheese mixture. Then bake the pouches.
You can deep fry or pan fry, the assembled pouches in olive or peanut oil. Make sure the oil is already hot before you add the pouches to cook. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes each side until browned and crispy. Then place on paper towel to absorb excess oil. Be careful of the oozy hot cheese!
