Sausage And Basil Pizza Pockets: A Fun Alternative To Delivery

Blog

Ordering delivery pizza can be fun, but do you ever wish you could create similar cheese, saucy treats in your own home? With this recipe for pizza pockets, you certainly can. These handheld pizza pockets are like little calzones. Stuffed with fresh basil and Italian sausage, they're full of flavor and fun for dipping in additional sauce. Here's how to make them.

Ingredients:

• For the dough:
  • 1 1/3 cups warm water, at about 115 degrees F
  • 3 ¼ cups bread flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 packet rapid rise yeast
• To stuff the pockets:
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 ½ cups of your favorite jarred pizza sauce
  • ½ pound Italian sausage
  • 2 tablespoons onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 32 fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Making the dough and sausage:

To create your pizza dough, start by combining the water, sugar, and yeast. Stir, and let rest for 3 – 4 minutes. The yeast mixture should begin to foam. If it does not, this means your yeast is dead. You'll need to start again with a different packet of yeast.

Once the yeast mixture is frothy, add 2 cups of flour, the kosher salt, and the olive oil. Stir to combine, and then keep mixing by hand for 2 minutes. Then, slowly add in the remaining flour. Keep stirring until the flour is completely integrated into the dough. Then, turn the dough out into a floured surface. Knead by hand for about 5 minutes. The dough should become smooth and elastic.

Lightly oil a large, deep bowl, and place the dough inside of it. Then, cover the bowl and let the dough rise for about 20 minutes.

While the dough is rising, saute the sausage, onions, and garlic until the sausage is no longer pink. Set aside.

Once the dough has risen, divide it into 32 even portions.

Making the pockets:

Stretch each pocket into a 6-inch circle. Spoon about a tablespoon of sauce into the center of the pocket. Add about 2 tablespoons of mozzarella, a spoonful of sausage, and 2 basil leaves. Fold the dough over to make a half circle, and use your fingers to pinch the edge of the pocket closed.

When all of the pockets are stuffed, arrange them on a baking sheet. Brush them with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 – 18 minutes or until golden brown on top. Let cool slightly before serving.

15 December 2016