Puff pastry calzone (with ham and ricotta filling)

This puff pastry calzone with ham and ricotta filling is quick and easy to make. This ham and cheese pastry puffs recipe is always a big hit

This puff pastry calzone recipe is a great way to use up leftover ham and cheese. In addition, this recipe is ideal when you have unexpected guests. Because the pie comes together in no time and you’ll have it in the oven in 5 minutes!

I really like puff pastry as a pie crust. Its unique slightly crispy texture combines perfectly with a variety of fillings. And if you add shredded cheese, which melts during baking, you will get a real gastronomic masterpiece!

I usually use this recipe to make one big puff pastry calzone or pie. However, the size and shape depend only on your preferences and imagination. You can make savory turnovers with ham and ricotta filling (to do this, cut the pastry into small squares, place the filling over half of each square, then fold the pastry across diagonally to form triangles).  You can also bake mini calzones or rectangles – you’ll get portable baked sandwiches with a savory filling!

Whatever you make: puff pastry calzone, pie, ham and cheese pockets, savory turnovers, squares, or rectangles…in any case, success is guaranteed. After all, this ham and cheese pastry puffs recipe has only advantages. The pie is:

• so simple and quick to make
• pleasantly flaky and puffy
• packed with a delicious filling
• irresistibly good

Useful tips

Although this puff pastry calzone recipe is very easy, let me give you some tips for the perfect result:

• You can use a frozen store-bought or homemade puff pastry.
• If you use a frozen one, thaw it in the fridge overnight.
• Take the pastry out of the fridge only when you have all the ingredients for the filling ready. The longer you keep it at room temperature, the harder it will be to work with it later – it will get too soft.
• Dry our ricotta or cottage cheese – place it in a strainer to remove the excess liquid.
• You can use any cheese for this recipe: processed cheese slices, cheddar, provolone, ementaller, Swiss, or Gruyere… the main thing is that it melts well.
• I like to add freshly shredded cheese to the filling (it melts better, and its flavor is the best). However, you can use pre-shredded cheese as well.

Fillings for puff pastry calzone

My husband and sons like anything ham and cheese, so I most often use these ingredients as a filling for this pie. But you can freely experiment with this recipe and change the filling to your liking. Here are some delicious ideas:

• Toasted bacon, shredded cheese, and egg, lightly beaten with a fork. Mix everything together.
• Cooked chicken meat, sauteed mushrooms (never add raw mushrooms to the filling, because they will release excess liquid that will spoil the whole recipe), and shredded cheese.
• Boiled broccoli, ham, shredded cheese, and egg (beaten with a fork).

Let’s take a look at what we need to make this simple recipe.

Ingredients

• 300g (10oz) frozen puff pastry (one rectangular sheet)
• 300g (10oz) cottage cheese or ricotta
• 150g (5oz) shredded cheese or processed cheese slices
• 150g (5oz) sliced ham
• salt and ground black pepper (a pinch)
• 1 egg

How to make savory puff pastry calzone

Roll the puff pastry into a 33x30cm (12×10 inch) rectangle or oval. Place half of the cottage cheese or ricotta on half of the rectangle (or oval). Make sure to leave the edges clean.

Top with shredded cheese or processed cheese slices (break them into small pieces). Place the ham on top of the cheese (cut it into thin slices)

Top with the rest of the cottage cheese or ricotta. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the other half of the rectangle over the filling and crimp the edges well. Brush the top and edges of the pie with beaten egg. Prick the surface of the calzone with a fork

Bake for 30 minutes at 180C (350F). Bon Appetit!

How to serve this puff pastry calzone

This puff pastry pie with ham and ricotta filling is delicious on its own. Therefore, you can serve it without anything, or with a salad or a vegetable side dish. I love this pie alongside a roasted beets and feta salad or some crispy baked asparagus.

This ham and cheese pastry puffs recipe is perfect for breakfast, a quick lunch, or dinner. In addition, it’s an original appetizer and snack (it’s perfect for a school lunch box too).

The best thing is to serve the pie as soon as possible after baking, while it is still warm enough. It is then that the crust will be perfectly crispy, and the ham and cheese filling will have an unsurpassed flavor and texture. Although, I often keep this dish in the refrigerator for the next day – don’t forget to reheat it in the oven before serving.

FAQ

I hope this puff pastry calzone with ham and ricotta filling will complement your collection of simple recipes and become your favorite. Bon Appetit!

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