Gen's Spinach (or Swiss Chard or Kale) Calzone
Why I Love This Recipe
Many years ago, I created a vegan lasagna that uses a white tofu-based sauce... it became a hit amongst vegans and meat eaters. A few months later, I stumbled upon a calzone recipe from Moosewood Cookbook and I got an idea. Why not combine the white sauce, add greens, and stuff them in a calzone dough? It was a match made in heaven... or so we think! Try for yourself! There's a few steps and there's some waiting around for the dough to rise but it's actually a lot easier than it looks- especially if you have a stand mixer to make the dough! These are truly worth the effort! FYI, you can serve them with tomato sauce as a dipping sauce- our son loves it!
NOTE: This dough recipe makes for a great homemade pizza too!
Ingredients You'll Need
DOUGH:
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon sugar (or honey)
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
FILLING:
A bit of oil
1 bag fresh spinach (or 2-4 swiss chard or kale leaves), coarsely chopped
½ onion, chopped
½ block of firm tofu, diced (to make it easier for your blender)
Juice of ½ to 1 lemon (to taste)
½ tbsp sugar
About 1/3 cup olive oil
½ garlic clove
½ tsp sea salt
Directions
DOUGH:
Combine the yeast, sugar and water and set aside for 15 min (this is to proof the yeast. If not bubbles/foam form after 15 min, your yeast is not active).
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast/water mix. Using your stand mixer (or kneading by hand), mix all the ingredients, about 2 minutes if using a mixer or 10 if by hand, until you have a smooth and elastic dough, adding flour if necessary to keep from being sticky (to test: dough should come off a metal spoon easily). Form the dough into a ball. Rub 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil around the dough and on the sides of the mixing bowl. Cover the dough and let your dough stand until it doubles, about 60 min, in a warm draft-free spot (unheated oven is perfect for that). START THE FILLING while the dough rises- see steps below.
FILLING:
On medium high heat, heat up the oil. Add onions and mix until translucent. Add the spinach/swiss chard/kale. When wilted and deep green, turn heat off and remove from heat. Add a little salt, to taste.
In a blender, mix the tofu, lemon juice, sugar, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Add the tofu mix to the spinach/green mix.
ASSEMBLY:
Once the dough has doubled, punch down dough. Divide into six sections and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out in rounds 1/4 inch thick, using a rolling pin.
Fill with 1/4 cup filling, placing filling on one half of the circle, leaving a 1/2 inch rim.
Moisten the rim with a little water, fold the empty side over, and crimp the edges with a fork.
Prick here and there with a fork to allow steam to escape.
Bake on an oiled tray (or a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil) in a preheated 450 oven for 15-20 minutes or till crisp and lightly browned.
Optional: Brush each pastry with a little oil as it comes out of the oven.
