How To Make Turkey Calzone with Step-By-Step Photos {Video Recipe}

I was challenged by Lean on Turkey to devise an exciting pizza or pasta recipe using fresh Turkey to feed four people for under £10. I went for the more unusual option of Calzone, which is essentially a folded pizza, which looks like a big pasty. Scroll down for step by step photos showing how to assemble the calzone and video of the recipe.

These turkey calzone, made with low-fat fresh turkey steaks, are surprisingly easy to make. I used shop bought pizza base mix but you can make your own pizza dough if you prefer. You could also swap the mushrooms and peppers for any vegetables you fancy.

This is a great recipe for kids to get involved with as kids love playing with dough. Let them get involved and make their own individual calzone filled with their favourite things. They're also great for a picnic as they are fairly portable.

Healthy Turkey Calzone

Serves: 4 adults
Time: 25 mins prep + 20 mins cooking
Cost: £1.98 per serving
Calories: 593 per serving

Ingredients

2 x 145g pizza base mix
2 tbsp olive oil for frying
1 red onion, halved and sliced
400g fresh turkey steaks, cut into strips against the grain
150g cherry tomatoes, halved
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 & 1/2 tbsp tomato puree
1 & 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp smoked paprika
Pinch chilli flakes (optional)
1 red pepper, sliced
150g mushrooms, sliced
145g half fat mozzarella, thinly sliced
60g mature cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
Handful of fresh basil (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 220 C / gas mark 7. Make both the pizza base mixes according to the instructions on the packet. Split the dough into 4 evenly sized pieces and roll each ball of dough into a circle. Place each circle of dough onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper and leave in a warm place while you make the filling. I leave mine on top of the hob while the oven preheats. It's not essential to use baking paper but it helps with the folding later on.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion until soft for a couple of minutes. Add the turkey and stir fry until browned for around four minutes. Then add all the remaining ingredients except the basil and cheeses and stir fry for a further 4-5 minutes over a medium to high heat. Stir the ingredients constantly at this stage. You want the vegetables to be just slightly soft and the mixture should be fairly dry with no juice in the bottom of the pan.
Brush the pizza dough lightly with olive oil leaving a 2-3cm border at the edge. Spread the turkey calzone filling evenly over one half of the dough and top with the cheese and basil leaves. Slide your hand under the baking paper and fold the other half of the dough over the top of the filling to make a half moon shape. Crimp the edges of the dough together by pressing down with your fingers. Fold over the crimped edge and press down again with your fingers. Make a couple of slits in the top of the dough to let out steam. Bake for around 20 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with salad if you like.

How to assemble your Turkey Calzone with step by step pictures:

Make both the pizza base mixes according to the instructions on the packet. Split the dough into 4 evenly sized pieces and roll each ball of dough into a circle. Place each circle of dough on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Keep in a warm place while you make your filling.

Brush the pizza dough lightly with olive oil leaving a 2-3cm border at the edge. Spread the turkey calzone filling evenly over one half of the dough and top with the cheese and basil leaves.