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    Home » Recipes » Pizza

    Italian Deep Fried Calzone Panzerotti Recipe

    Published: Oct 21, 2022 · Modified: Mar 28, 2025. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Recipe Jump to Video
    Panzerotti pin
    Panzerotti pin

    Fried Calzone, called Italian Panzerotti (or Panzarotti), are turnover pizza dough folded in half moon shapes with the filling inside. While the Calzone is large and baked, a Panzerotto is a deep-fried hand pie. You can add any filling to this pizza pockets: the classics are tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaf, or ham, ricotta, and Parmesan, and sometimes also mushrooms and bacon. Panzerotto (singular) is smaller than regular calzone and can be eaten by hand, perfect for a street food party.

    Panzerotti cut in half on a cutting board
    Jump to:
    • Why deep-fried
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • How to serve it
    • Equipment
    • Variation
    • Top tips
    • FAQ
    • More of my favorite fried recipes
    • 📋Fried Calzone Panzerotto

    The name Panzerotto comes from the Italian name panza, which indicates a large belly.

    It is not because you will get a big belly if you eat too many of these (which is probably true), but it refers to the swelling of the dough due to the filling.

    Compared to the much larger Calzone, Panzerotto is smaller in size and deep fried.

    Panzerotti cut in half one over the other

    Why deep-fried

    It is a traditional dish originating after World War 2 in Naples. As most wooden ovens were destroyed during the war, Neapolitans fried their pizza instead of baking it.

    After the second world war, food was scarce. Many houses were destroyed, and wooden ovens to cook traditional pizza were limited.

    Some women started lighting up fires on the streets with large pans of frying oil and fried pizza dough to earn extra money.

    Pizza Fritta Montanara and Panzerotti started as cucina povera street foods and were very successful in all of Southern Italy.

    While pizza fritta is originally from Neaple, the Panzerotti recipe is originally from a small area of apulia on the Adriatic sea.

    Another recipe made with fried pizza dough are Crispelle: an Italian appetizer served at Christmas. Small fried pizza dough filled with anchovies, sun-dried tomatoes or ricotta.

    Italian Fried Dough Crispelle open in half to see the anchovy

    Ingredients

    The Panzerotti dough is the same as regular pizza base. You can make it from scratch or use store-bought pizza dough.

    If you have a bread machine, you can use it to make the pizza dough easily. You can find the instruction here: Authentic Italian pizza dough (bread machine)

    To make the pizza dough, you will need:

    • 3 cups flour (450 gr)
    • 1 cup lukewarm water (250 ml)
    • 1.5 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • 1 Package of yeast (½ tbsp)

    Tip: The best flour to use is All purpose in USA, Plain in UK, Type 0 in Italy, Type 55 in France.

    Sugar Salt and yeast in measurement containers

    Filling of panzerotti

    I am filling these panzerotti with ricotta cheese and ham.

    You can also fill them with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and a basil leaf.

    For more filling ideas, you can check the article: 10 Vegetarian Pizza toppings full of veggies

    I always use vegetable oil for deep frying as it has a higher burning temperature.

    vegetarian ingredients combination for pizza, risotto or pasta

    Instructions

    How to activate the yeast

    • Mix the yeast with ¼ cup of water.
    • Make sure the water is lukewarm.
    • Add ½ teaspoon of sugar
    • Let it rest until it becomes foamy
    yeast mixed with water and foam on top

    Mixing the pizza dough

    Once the yeast is activated, you can start making the dough:

    1. Strain the flour, sugar, and salt into a bowl, ensuring they are completely mixed.
    2. Make a ‘well’ in the center of the flour mix
    3. Combine all the wet ingredients: water and the frothy yeast mixture.
    4. Slowly pour them into the ‘well’ of the flour and mix them with the wet ingredients using your fingers.
    5. Once they are thoroughly mixed, you can either continue mixing the flour with your hands or put it into an electric mixer with a dough hook.
    6. Mix it until the dough becomes a smooth ball
    7. Shape it into a smooth ball and place it in an oiled large bowl with a wet towel to rest. Let it rise for 1.5 hours.
    8. Let the dough rest overnight (or at least 8 hours) in the fridge covered with cling film before making your pizza

    Hint: the pizza dough should rest overnight; if not, the pizza will keep rising in your stomach, making you bloated and thirsty!

    Step by step how to make pizza dough by hands

    Preparing the small balls

    1. The next day, bring the dough to room temperature and divide the dough into balls. They should be around 2 oz - 60 gr
    2. Place them on a lightly floured surface, cover them with a kitchen cloth and let them rest for 30 minutes
    dough divided into small balls

    How to make the panzerotto

    1. Roll flat the dough balls in the shape of a small pizza
    2. Add in the center of each circle ½ tablespoon of ricotta cheese
    3. 1 teaspoon of Parmesan
    4. ½ slice of ham
    Filling and making the panzerotti
    1. Fold the dough into half-moon shape, making sure all the air is removed
    2. Tighten the edges
    3. Fry in hot oil, turning it on both sides until golden brown
    4. Lay the fry panzerotti on a paper towel to absorb the oil
    5. Hint: the secret to a perfect panzerotti is to remove all the air before frying it

    Hint: the secret to a perfect panzerotti is to remove all the air before frying it.

    Frying the panzerotti

    How to serve it

    Both fried pizza and Panzerotto should be served warm.

    They can be prepared in advance and warmed up in the oven before serving.

    They are perfect for buffet parties as they can be eaten by hand.

    fried pizza and panzerotti

    Equipment

    I recommend using a deep fryer, especially if you are entertaining.

    The basket makes the frying process so much easier and you can fry large quantities for big parties.

    I use this deep fryer that is easy to use and clean.

    Deep fryer

    Variation

    You can change the filling of the Panzerotti with your favorite ingredients.

    If you want some inspiration, you can find some classic Italian combinations of veggies and cheese in the article: 10 Vegetarian Pizza toppings full of veggies

    vegetarian ingredients combination for pizza, risotto or pasta

    Top tips

    • The pizza dough should rest overnight
    • They can be eaten immediately (which we usually do) or warmed up before serving
    • The secret to a perfect panzerotti is ensuring all the air is taken out before frying it.
    Panzerotti opened on a wooden board

    FAQ

    Who invented fried calzone?

    Fried Calzone started as street food after the second world war. Many houses were destroyed, and wooden ovens to cook traditional pizza were limited. Some women started lighting up fires on the streets with large pans of frying oil and fried pizza dough to earn extra money.

    What is the difference between calzone and panzerotti?

    Calzone is a large pizza folded in half with the filling inside and baked in a wooden oven like a regular pizza. Panzerotti is also a turnover but smaller in size, and it is deep-fried instead of baked

    More of my favorite fried recipes

    If you are craving fried food, you may want to check out these other recipes:

    • Eggplant meatballs
      Italian Eggplant Meatballs (Polpette di Melanzane)
    • fried mozzarella
      Italian Deep Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks And Balls
    • fried custard in a bowl one cut in half
      Italian Deep Fried Custard -Crema Fritta
    • Fried stuffed olives
      Fried Stuffed Olives Recipe (Authentic Olive Ascolane)

    For more pizza recipes, check out the category: Pizza

    • pizza bianca Romana
      White Pizza Bianca Romana To Make At Home
    • 10 Vegetarian Pizza Toppings
      10 Italian Favorite Vegetarian Pizza Toppings
    • Fried pizza Montanara with tomato sauce and mozzarella
      Pizza Fritta Montanara Fried Pizza Dough
    • Pizzette Italian pizza bites
      Pizzette Recipe Mini Italian Pizza Bites

    If you are making the Fried Calzone Panzerotto, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, or sign up to my newsletter.

    Fried Pizza, fried calzone Panzerotti

    📋Fried Calzone Panzerotto

    5 from 1 vote
    Laura Tobin
    Servings 8 people
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 9 hours hrs
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe
    Fried Calzone, called Panzerotti (or Panzarotti), is a turnover pizza dough folded with the filling inside. While the Calzone is baked, the Panzerotto is deep-fried. You can add any filling you like: the classics are tomato, mozzarella, and basil, or ham, ricotta, and Parmesan, and sometimes also mushrooms and bacon. Panzerotto (singular) is smaller than regular calzone and can be eaten by hand, perfect for a street food party.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Bread machine
    • Deep Fryer
    • Mini Measuring Set
    • Measuring mugs
    • Silicone Pastry Mat
    • All-Clad Sauce Pan 3-Quart

    Ingredients
     

    Dough

    • 3 cup Caputo flour 00 if you can find Manitoba, Type 55, All purpose, Plain, Type 0
    • 1 cup lukewarm water
    • 1 package yeast 2 tsp
    • 1.5 teaspoon salt
    • 0.5 teaspoon caster sugar to activate the yeast
    • vegetable oil for frying

    For the topping:

    • 1 cup homemade tomato sauce
    • 2 cup fresh mozzarella (fior di latte o bufala)
    • 1 clove peeled garlic cloves
    • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
    • 10 fresh basil leaves
    • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

    For the Panzerotti filling

    • 1 cup ricotta
    • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
    • 3 slices cooked ham

    Instructions
     

    Making the dough

    • To activate the yeast, mix it with water. The water should be lukewarm or at room temperature. Add ½ teaspoon of sugar, and let it rest until it becomes foamy.
      1 cup lukewarm water, 1 package yeast, 0.5 teaspoon caster sugar
    • In the meantime, strain the flour along with the sugar and the salt into a bowl, ensuring they are completely mixed. Make a ‘well’ in the centre of the flour mix.
      3 cup Caputo flour 00, 1.5 teaspoon salt
    • Slowly pour the yeast and water mixture in the ‘well’ of the flour and mix it with the wet ingredients gradually, using your fingers.
    • Once they are thoroughly mixed continue mixing the flour with your hands until the dough becomes a ball that comes away easily from the side of the bowl.
    • Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it on a flat surface. Shape it into a smooth ball and place it into an oiled bowl covered with a wet towel to rest. Let it rise for 1.5 hours.
    • For the best result, let the dough rest in the fridge overnight, well-floured and wrapped in a plastic bag, otherwise it will crawl all over the fridge.
    • The next day, bring the dough to room temperature and divide the dough into balls. They should be around 2 oz - 60 gr. let it rest for 30 minutes

    Frying the panzerotto/calzone

    • Roll flat the dough balls in the shape of a small pizza
    • Add 1//2 tablespoon of ricotta, 1 teaspoon of parmesan and ½ slice of ham
      1 cup ricotta, ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan, 3 slices cooked ham
    • Fold the dough making sure all the air is removed and tight the edges
    • Fry in the oil, turning it on both sides
    • Lay on a paper towel to absorb the oil and serve still warm
    • Serve the panzerotti while still warm

    Video

    Notes

    • the pizza dough should rest overnight
    • They can be eaten immediately (which we did) or warmed up before serving
    • The secret for a perfect calzone is to make sure all the air is taken out before frying it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 402kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 21gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 1072mgPotassium: 251mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 559IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 331mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!
    important notes on ingredients

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      December 17, 2023 at 5:56 am

      Hi! Do you have any advice for getting all the air out before sealing/frying? I had a hard time with it!

      Reply
      • Laura

        December 17, 2023 at 6:51 am

        Hello, thank you for your comment. You need to push the dough against the filling starting from the folded part out to the borders. You can check the video for the visual part. Good luck

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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