Keto calzones are an excellent choice for a low-carb diet. These delightful pockets of goodness are made from soft, fluffy pizza dough and stuffed with rich tomato sauce, spicy pepperoni, and gooey mozzarella cheese. They’re portable, easy to make, and highly customizable, making them perfect for keto-friendly meals.

Ingredient needed

Creating the perfect keto calzone involves a few essential ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

Keto Pizza Crust: The foundation of any great calzone is its crust.

Egg: An egg wash is used to prevent the crust from burning and to give it a beautiful golden color.

Italian Seasoning: This blend of herbs adds a wonderful flavor to the crust. You can use a store-bought mix or make your own with dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

Low Carb Cheese: Mozzarella is the cheese of choice for its excellent melting properties, but you can use any low-carb cheese you like.

Pizza Sauce: Many store-bought sauces are loaded with sugar, so it’s best to make your own or find a brand with no added sugars.

Customizing Your Keto Calzone

One of the best things about calzones is their versatility. You can fill them with a variety of ingredients to keep your meals interesting. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Breakfast Calzone: Fill with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and shredded cheddar for a delicious morning treat.

Pesto Chicken Calzone: Combine pesto, shredded chicken, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella for a savory twist.

Italian Sausage Calzone: Use spicy Italian sausage, sautéed red onions, and sliced black olives for a hearty filling.

Keto Mexican Calzone: Fill with seasoned ground beef, salsa, and cheddar cheese for a flavorful fusion.

Tips and Tricks

The key to a successful keto calzone is handling the dough properly. Here are some tips to ensure your dough is easy to work with:

Keep Hands Wet: The dough can be quite sticky, so keep a bowl of water nearby to wet your hands as you work. This will make the dough easier to shape.

Use Parchment Paper: Parchment paper is incredibly useful for shaping and folding the dough. Place the dough on the paper, shape it, and use the paper to help fold the dough over itself.

Fixing Cracks: It’s normal for the dough to crack slightly. Simply use wet fingertips to smooth out any cracks and seal the edges.

How to Make

Here’s a detailed process to create your keto calzones from scratch:

Preparing the Dough: Begin by preheating your oven to 425°F (220°C). Prepare your keto pizza dough according to the recipe. Once the dough is ready, divide it into four equal portions and roll each portion into a ball.

Shaping the Dough: Place each dough ball on a piece of parchment paper. Use your wet hands to flatten each ball into a disc, roughly 6-8 inches in diameter. This will form the base of your calzone.

Adding the Filling: On one half of each dough disc, spread a layer of keto pizza sauce, leaving about an inch of space around the edges. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by your chosen fillings (e.g., pepperoni slices, cooked sausage, or vegetables).

Folding and Sealing: Using the parchment paper, fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Carefully peel back the parchment paper and press the edges of the dough together to seal the calzone. If the dough cracks, use your wet fingers to smooth and seal the cracks.

Preparing for Baking: Place the calzones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops with a whisked egg and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Baking: Bake the calzones in the preheated oven for 21-23 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.