Vegan Calzones

Vegan Calzones are also known as the Pizza pockets. These mouthwatering and satisfying plant-based pizza pockets are a fantastic substitute for traditional pizza. The calzones are filled with zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, and seasonings. They are suitable as a light meal, a snack, or even a major entree. You can use a broad range of fillings to have these Vegan Calzones like vegan cheese, tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and different veggies. You can enjoy the tasty pizza pockets with different sauces. Let’s prepare the tasty pizza pockets with the steps (discussed below).

STATS:

• Course: Main, Entree
• Cuisine: American, Italian
• Diet: Vegan, Dairy-free
• Total Time: Forty minutes
• Preparation Time: Twenty-five minutes
• Cook Time: Fifteen minutes

EQUIPMENT:

• One bowl (to soak the cashews)
• Food blender
• One spatula
• Baking tray or Pizza pan
• Big stainless skillet
• One sharp knife
• Rolling pin
• One fork
• Cooking brush
• Serving tray

INGREDIENTS

• Pizza dough 1 batch, approx. 450 to 500 g
• Vegan-friendly pizza sauce 1 cup
• Sliced sweet or yellow onion 1
• Large and sliced zucchini 1
• Sliced mushrooms 8 oz.
• Baby spinach 2 cups
• Crushed garlic cloves 2
• Salt, to taste

For Cheesy Cashew Cream

• Raw cashews 3/4 cup
• Nutritional yeast 2 tbsp
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• Water 1/2 cup

INGREDIENT NOTES:

Cashews:

• Ensure the cashews used to create the sauce are unroasted, raw, and unsalted.

Nutritional yeast:

• It gives the calzones a slightly cheesy taste.

Lemon juice:

• You can use a tiny amount of apple cider vinegar instead of juice.

Pizza dough:

• I opted for the dough that consists of all-purpose flour, but you may use any pizza crust for this recipe. You can also create these calzones with homemade pizza dough.

Pizza sauce:

• Go for any sauce (marinara/other tomato sauce). You can reduce your time by using store-bought red sauce. Homemade pizza sauce also works well.

Dried oregano:

• Try this recipe with different herbs such as parsley, basil, Italian mix, or thyme to add extra flavor to the vegetables.

Garlic:

• Adapt the quantity of garlic to your preferences.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preparation of Cheesy Cashew Cream:

1. Place raw cashews in warm water for twelve to seventeen minutes or in frigid water for several hours.
2. After that, drain its water and pour it into a food blender.
3. Incorporate the water, salt, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast.
4. Process it at a high speed.
5. Then, wipe down the blender’s sides with the help of the spatula. Leave aside.

Preparation of Calzones:

1. Warm the empty oven to 425 degrees.
2. Next, fit a parchment paper into a baking tray.
3. Spread over oil with a brush to avoid burning.
4. You may also go for the pizza pan.
5. Next, pour a little bit of oil into a big stainless skillet.
6. Now, add a hint of salt and sliced onions to a warm oil.
7. Simmer it for three to five minutes.
8. After they begin to lose moisture, add the herbs, crushed garlic, and sliced zucchini.
9. Simmer for an additional five minutes.
10. Subsequently, add the baby spinach and simmer for about three minutes.
11. Turn off the flame.

Assembling:

1. Sprinkle the cleaned surface with flour(dry).
2. Now separate the dough(pizza) into four portions(same size) by placing it on the sprinkled surface.
3. Then, use a rolling cutter or your hands to make the dough into four circles.
4. Next, spread pizza sauce over the first circle of dough.
5. Then, add the second layer of the sauteed vegetables.
6. Next, drizzle one full spoonful of cashew cream over the vegetables.
7. Now, cover the filled dough with the help of its opposite side.
8. Secure its ends with a fork/your fingers.
9. Through this method, we will prepare four calzones.

Baking:

1. Shift prepared calzones to a baking tray.
2. Mist the upper layer of calzones with plant-based milk or oil through a brush.
3. Bake it for thirteen to seventeen minutes until crunchy and dull golden.
4. After baking, set aside the tray for nine to thirteen minutes.
5. The tasty and crunchy Vegan Calzones are all set.
6. Place it on a beautiful small tray.
7. Enjoy with any sauce to dip in.

VARIATIONS:

There are many ways to alter the dish’s recipe ingredients. Some of the ideas are listed below.

Vegetables:

• You can add a variety of vegetables like green peas, broccoli, Spanish pisto, Kale, Cherry tomatoes, Black olives, marinated artichokes, red pepper, eggplant, cauliflower, or other leafy vegetables.

DIPPING VARIATIONS

Additionally, you can replace the cashew cream with any cheesy vegan sauce or items, including:

• Ricotta
• Walnut pesto
• Tofu feta cheese
• Mascarpone
• Mozzarella.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• Serve the tasty calzones with other dipping sauces such as cashew mayo or Vegan ranch.
• Enjoy it with edamame crunch salad or kale crunch salad.
• Squash(creamy) & soup(red pepper) also work with this recipe.
• Pair pizza pockets with vegan shawarma.
• Serve it with a creamy vegan mac and cheese.
• You can enjoy these pockets with vegan tofu tenders, vegan nuggets, or fries.

TIPS:

• Use high-quality and vegan-friendly pizza dough that contains no animal products.
• Don’t overfill the calzone. Leave a small space near the edges to keep the filling from sneaking out while baking.
• Select vegan-friendly and new nutritional yeast.
• Try this recipe with different sauces.
• Adapt the oven time according to the specifications of your oven and the desired level of cooking.

STORAGE INFORMATION:

Refrigerator:

• You can store the baked calzones in a tightly closed vessel and refrigerate them for four to six days.

Freezer:

• This dish can also be frozen. You can save the baked or unbaked calzones for a longer period. However, I prefer to store baked calzones rather than unbaked due to their delicate texture. Shift the baked calzones to an airtight dish and freeze it for ninety to one-thirty days.

Reheating:

• I suggest reheating in the oven at four hundred (400) degrees for a few minutes or until well heated. A small toaster oven is also ideal. Another option is to reheat in the microwave for twenty to thirty seconds at a time.

FAQs:

What are some common fillings for calzones?

• Common fillings include roasted veggies, vegan cheese, tofu, seitan, or tempeh.
  

Can I change the calzone fillings to accommodate any dietary restrictions?

• Yes, calzones can be modified to accommodate different dietary needs such as soy or gluten-free.

How can I prepare pizza dough at home?

• Add the flour, yeast, lukewarm war, and salt to a bowl. Knead the dough, then set it aside for several hours until the size of the dough increases.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION/SERVING:

Per Serving 1 calzone
Total Quantity 4 calzones
Total Calories 461 kcal
Carbohydrates 71 g
Dietary Fiber 7 g
Protein 18 g
Sugar 3 g
Total Fat 15 g
Sodium 1318 mg
Iron 6 mg