Whole Wheat Veggie Calzones
As we wrap up the week with our portable food ideas, I couldn’t let it go without sharing a portable dinner! There have been so many times when we need to take our dinner with us – baseball games, road trips, the water park, etc. A portable dinner for us needs to have these components:
- It needs to taste OK cold or at room temperature.
- You have to be able to eat it without a fork and spoon.
- It doesn’t need to be kept in a cooler to prevent spoiling (no meat!)
- and my kids have to like it!
We have a few go-to, to-go meals like this (lol). Our veggie burritos here and these whole wheat calzones!
You definitely need to make these ahead of time. But once baked, keep wrapped in the fridge till you are ready to go. You can also freeze these after they are baked, but then you will need to re-bake them when you want to bring them somewhere.
To make the calzones, first make some pizza dough. Pizza dough is much quicker than traditional bread dough. We only let it rise about 30 minutes. You don’t need to let it rise longer than that, as you don’t want a super thick and fluffy dough.
Then, we took some veggies (we chose peppers and zucchini, because that is what is in our garden right now), and we pulsed them in a food processor. Using HALF of the zucchini, and half of each pepper, and 1/2 cup mushrooms, we got 1 1/2 cups of veggies.
Then we stirred 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese into the veggies.
With our dough and veggies ready to go, we scooped a small amount of marinara sauce and a scoop of veggies on each flattened out ball of dough. We folded the dough over and crimped the edges. Then, using a pastry brush and egg whites, we brushed the top of the calzone before baking.
Then we baked our calzones at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. We made mini calzones, so 10 minutes was all that was necessary!
Calzones make it easy to get those veggies in for dinner! I like chopping them up super small this way, so it’s easier for little ones to eat. Print the recipe below, and have some on hand for that next super busy day that you need to pull them out in a pinch.
Related post: Spinach Calzones!
Whole Wheat Veggie Calzones
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon yeast, active dry
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
- 1 1/2 cup flour, whole wheat
Filling
- 1 cup spaghetti or marinara sauce
- 1/2 medium zucchini
- 1/2 medium bell pepper, green
- 1/2 medium bell pepper, yellow
- 1/2 cup, pieces or slices mushrooms, white
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
Toppings
- 1 large egg white
Instructions
- Combine yeast, sugar and warm water and let set for 5 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients and then add yeast mixture. Let dough rise, in a warm place, for about 30-45 minutes.
- In the meantime, peel zucchini if desired, and de-seed bell peppers. Put zucchini, bell peppers and mushrooms in a food processor or blender and pulse until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese into the veggies.
- Roll out a small portion of the dough at a time, for mini calzones we use a golf ball size. Roll or press out. Fill middle with filling: thin layer marinara sauce, and a scoop of veggies. Fold calzone in half and then crimp edges with a fork. Set on baking tray.
- Whisk 1 egg white in a small bowl. With a pastry brush, brush the top of the calzone.
- Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. Test to make sure dough is done baking by tapping on it. It should sound hollow.
- Let cool slightly and serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
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Natalie Monson
I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.
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These sound amazing! Is there anything that I can substitute for the egg white? My son has an egg allergy.
This looks delicious! My husband cannot eat eggs though. Could I substitute butter on top instead, or not brush anything on top? I wasn’t sure what the egg white was for. Is it just to make it look nice and glossy? Or slightly crispy? Thanks for letting me know! I love your helpful website!
That Looks amazing. Do I cook the veggies first ? O just purée them raw.
Can you make this with gluten-free flours?
If so, what would you suggest?
Thanks so much!
These look awesome! My kids love pizza so I can see these being an great portable option. Thanks!
Ground flax seed is a good binder instead of eggs
Woo this looks wonderful and I just got my pastry wheat flour and oat flour, can’t wait to try these!!! Thanks
Chia gel works as well. http://www.realfoodallergyfree.com/2011/05/chia-egg-replacementsubstitute/
My mother made these when I was a kid. She made them with a blend of shredded carrots, brocalli and cauliflower and Added mozzarella. They are incredible!
@Sabina and Alisha- Yes, I would just use butter.. The egg white is just there to make it crispy and glossy.
But Marissa and Marlena have a good idea too!
@Paola- no cooking- we just put them in raw.
@Jan- I would follow a recipe specifically for gluten free pizza dough. Here is one for you:
http://minimalistbaker.com/the-best-gluten-free-pizza-crust-sauce/
Thanks for this link. Would you recommend doung the intial cook cycle prior to making the dough pockets? GF dough is usually really sticky but maybe it would hold together to form the pockets without the inital cook…thoughts?
I’m not sure how that works Jessica. I would try to follow the recipe here and not cook prior to making the pocket. I don’t know if you could make a pocket with a dough that is cooked already.???? Sorry I can’t be more help.
You can just brush the top of these calzones, with some milk, if you like. We have egg allergies as well and we always skip the eggwash part and only use a milk wash. Works out fine 🙂
thank you Amy!!
Thank you! 🙂
Can we just not add yeast and bake the veggies in rolled tortilla? I apologize if my question is too basic. Want to avoid yeast..Thanks
very yummy !! i tried it yesterday for my 21 months son he loved it 🙂 I add kalamata olives to the filling instead of salt since my son loves them! The only thing is i crimp the edges with a fork but they all opened up! not sure what i did wrong!!
Sure Sai!
They were probably just too full Areen- use less filling next time, or make your dough circles bigger.
Can i replace yeast with baking powder?
Can i replace yeast with baking powder?
Can i replace yeast with baking powder?
Can i replace yeast with baking powder?
The yeast is important for letting the dough rise Sal.
Going to make these tomorrow! Have you ever frozen them?
Yes Monica- they freeze and reheat just fine.
Thanks!
Hi,
I’m keen to try these for my two boys! Do a bake the whole batch and then freeze those I’m not going use. Or can I freeze them before baking?
Thanks
Jo
I made them!!! I can’t thank you enough!!! They were great!!!! My two boys 3 and 5 loved them and my husband (who doesn’t like mushrooms) ate 2 🙂 they even looked like your photos! I’m impressed! I love your recipes and ideas. Thank you x 🙂
Awesome Jo!! Thanks for checking back in. Yes you bake them all and then freeze them.
Glad they worked out.
Can you put fruit in three? If so, what works best: fresh, frozen or preserves? Looking forward to making these!
Sure you could Lauren! In fact, some cream cheese and fruit together might be amazing!
Hi, can we make this in ready biscuit dough when running short of time..
You can Alpa!
Which other veggies do you suggest? I would like for my husband to taste them as well but he’s allergic to mushrooms. Thank you in advance!
Any veggies you like on pizza would be great in a calzone. Leave out the mushrooms and add onions!
Can I use the quick rise yeast?
Hello, these sound great, however I have a yeast question (I’m in the UK). How much is 1 pkg yeast? Does “1 Tablespoon of yeast” mean fresh yeast or quick yeast? Thanks, Sam
@Gill- yes, I’ve used instant many times. @sam I’ve used both. If you proof the yeast, it should rise enough.
Made these for my daughter and she devoured them. As a special one, made one with plain mozzarella and not to mention that was the favourite!
I used a milk wash on top and slathered some butter before giving it to her.
Hi there! About how many mini calzones would you say this recipe makes?
Thanks!
Hi Melanie! It should make about 6-8 mini calzones.
I think I failed on the dough! I followed instructions, but it didn’t rise. Or I don’t think it did?? Any tips on what the dough should look like when it’s ready? (I did make them from store-bought dough–so far, a hit:). But would like them to be more homemade!).
Kate! Pizza dough shouldn’t rise much at all. It just turns into bread if it does! So, a low rise is ideal!
Ah! Okay; thanks–maybe it **did** rise. Will try again this weekend. Thanks for great recipes.
Can you premake and refrigerate?
Yes! You can also freeze them. 🙂