Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (2024)

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Published by Izzy

on Apr 11, 2021, Updated Nov 19, 2023

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Easy Panzerotti (or Panzarotti) is an Italian savory turnover like a mini pizza pocket and it’s super easy to make at home! A pizza dough crust is filled with all the classic toppings – pepperoni, cheese, and your choice of sauce. These semi-circular pockets are then baked or deep-fried to golden perfection. If this sounds like something you might like, check out this authentic recipe.

Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (2)

You can easily customize your own by adding your favoritetoppings and fillings. They’re a great portable meal, and reheat very well forsnacks or meal prep!

Nowadays, there are so many ways to get your pizza fix. Other than calling up your fave delivery spot, you can make Pizza Cone and Pizza Rolls at home. But have you ever wondered what other ways they enjoy pizza in Italy?

What is Panzerotti?

Panzerotti comes from the Puglia region of Italy, and is a fried sandwich-sized tart stuffed with cheese, tomato sauce and any of your favorite pizza fillings. You may recognize it as the inspiration behind the beloved frozen food Hot Pockets.

Also called Panzarotti, Panzerotti is sometimes called “pizza fritta” meaning “fried pizza”. It was initially a popular street food in Italy, but soon made its way into restaurants across the country. These handy little half-moons have everything you crave about pizza in a smaller, self-contained turnover. This recipe is a fun way to get the whole family involved in making a meal everyone will love.

Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (3)

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Pizza Dough
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Tomatoes
  • Dried Oregano
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Small Pepperoni

How to Make Panzerotti

Step 1: Make the Dough

Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (4)
  • Whisk together yeast, sugar and warmwater in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  • Mix together flour and salt. Add oil,yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until the doughjust begins to come together. Let thedough rise for about 30 minutes.

Step 2: Make Panzerotti

Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (5)
  • In a medium mixing bowl, mix together tomatoes, cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  • When the dough is ready. Divide it into 6 portions and roll each piece into a circle about 6 inches in diameter.
  • Add about 2 tablespoons of filling and 3-4 pepperoni.
  • Brush the edges of the dough with water and fold the dough to create a semi circle.
  • Pinch the edges to seal the pocket. Repeat the process for the rest of the dough.
  • Pour oil (about 1 inch) into a deep skillet and heat the oil to 350°.
  • Once hot, add a few panzerotti pockets to the skillet. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, turning every minute until both sides are golden brown.
  • Use a slotted spoon to remove panzerotti and transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (6)

Tips & Tricks for an Authentic Panzerotti Recipe

  • Don’t overstuff your Panzerotti. As tempting as it may be to get in all the toppings possible, too many fillings might cause your Panzerotti to burst when frying.
  • Pinch firmly. Make sure that everything is sealed inside tightly! Sometimes using a fork can help, and it also leaves a nice design along the edges.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan. If your Panzerottis are squished together during cooking, they won’t get a chance to cook evenly on all sides.
  • Rest cooked Panzerotti on a paper towel. You’ll want to absorb the grease before eating.

Difference Between Panzerotti and Calzone

The most obvious difference between a Panzerotti and Calzoneis the size, but they’re also cooked differently too. A Calzone is a pizzafolded in half, and it’s usually baked or fried. Often, it’s served withmarinara for dipping. A Panzerotti is a convenient handheld size and isdeep-fried.

Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (7)

Difference Between Panzerotti and Pizza

A Panzerotti has all of the delicious ingredients of Pizza, in a smaller handheld tart. While Pizza slices are also handheld, the toppings can sometimes fall off, or the slice can be too big to hold with one hand.

Are Panzerotti Bites Baked or Fried?

Panzerottis are traditionally fried. There are certainlybaked recipes to give you the same Panzerotti feel with much less oil, butthey’re never going to taste quite asgood as the classic fried version.

Leftovers

Let the panzerotti cool down to room temperature and then put them in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator and they’ll last up to 3 days.

To freeze panzerotti, you can place them in a freezer-friendly bag labeled with the date. It’ll last for 1 month.

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Best Panzerotti Recipe

By: Izzy

Easy Panzerotti (or Panzarotti) is an Italian savory turnover like a mini pizza pocket and it’s super easy to make at home! A pizza dough crust is filled with all the classic toppings – pepperoni, cheese, and your choice of sauce. These semi-circular pockets are then baked or deep-fried to golden perfection. If this sounds like something you might like (how can it not?), check out this authentic recipe.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Resting Time: 30 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

Servings: 6 pieces

Pin RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

Pizza Dough:

  • 1/2 cup warm water, (110-120°F)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 pack yeast
  • 1 ¼ cups bread flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, (plus more for frying)

For the Filling:

  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 3/4 cup crushed tomato
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 24 small pepperoni

Instructions

Make the Dough

  • Whisk together yeast, sugar and warm water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

  • Mix together flour and salt. Add oil, yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until the dough just begins to come together. Let the dough rise for about 30 minutes or until it doubles in size.

Make the Filling

  • While the dough is rising, you can make the panzerotti filling.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, mix together tomatoes, cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Make Panzerotti

  • After the dough is ready, divide it into 6 pieces.

  • Press down the ball with your palm. Use a rolling pin to roll each piece into a circle about 6 inches in diameter.

  • Add about 2 tablespoons of filling and 3-4 pepperoni to each piece.

  • Brush the edges of the dough with water and fold the dough to create a semi-circle.

  • Pinch the edges to seal the pocket. Repeat the process for the rest of the dough.

  • Pour oil (about 1 inch) into a deep skillet and heat the oil to 350°.

  • Once hot, add a few panzerotti pockets to the skillet. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, turning every minute until both sides are golden brown. (Make sure not to overcrowd the pan.)

  • Use a slotted spoon to remove panzerotti and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 452mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

Read More About Me

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Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Easy Homemade Panzerotti (Grandma’s Italian Panzerotti Recipe)? ›

PANZEROTTI Makes 12 Dough: 4 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour 10 oz warm Water ½ tsp Active Dry Yeast 1 tsp Sugar 2 tsp Salt 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil Oil for frying Filling: 3 cups Peeled Tomatoes, drained & chopped ½ tsp Black Pepper ½ tsp Salt ½ tsp Oregano ½ cup Pecorino Romano Cheese, grated 8 oz Whole Milk ...

What is panzerotti dough made of? ›

Make the dough: In a large bowl, mix together the two flours. Dissolve the yeast in some of the warm water, followed by the sugar. Dissolve the salt in the rest of the warm water. Add the yeast and sugar mixture to the flour, and slowly add the salt water whilst using your hands to bring the dough together.

What does panzerotti mean in Italian? ›

Panzerotto (the plural is panzerotti) is the Neapolitan term for a savory dough pouch that is filled and fried, traditionally in lard (though now in oil).

What is the difference between a calzone and a panzerotti? ›

Panzerotti are usually smaller and can be fried or baked. Calzones are usually larger than a panzerotti, and they can also be fried or baked. Fillings can be varied. Calzones usually are ricotta-based; panzerotti fillings are usually tomato, mozzarella or Pugliese cheese, and basil.

Is a panzerotti better baked or fried? ›

When we say fried, we don't mean state fair-style. In the Italian tradition, panzerotti are lightly and quickly, so you won't be left with the same belly bomb as, say, deep fried Snickers bars. If a baked pizza pocket is what you're after, then you'll probably want to scan the menu for a baked calzone.

Is panzerotti dough the same as pizza dough? ›

Panzerotti are tasty fried pockets of pizza dough stuffed with any variety of fillings.

What is the original panzerotti? ›

Panzerotti, kind of half-moon-shaped pasta shells, are simply filled with mozzarella and tomato, at least in the most authentic and traditional version, although, like many other recipes of this type, they have given way to numerous interpretations over time: with ham and mozzarella, with spinach and ricotta cheese, ...

What food is similar to panzerotti? ›

Like the Panzerotti, Calzones were originally intended to work as an all-in-one meal. They could be easily taken on-the-go. However, today most Calzone varieties are much larger. Unlike a Panzerotti, they come with marinara sauce on the side used for dipping.

What's the difference between a calzone and stromboli and a panzerotti? ›

Both stromboli and calzone are made from the same dough and use similar ingredients. However, the main difference between the two is how they are prepared. A calzone is rolled and baked, while a panzerotti is deep-fried.

What's the difference between a stromboli and a panzerotti? ›

Calzone and panzerotti are half-moon pizza turnovers, while stromboli is a long, rolled pizza. They all include traditional pizza ingredients like dough, tomato sauce, and cheese but differ in origin, cooking methods, shape, and size.

Do panzerottis have sauce inside? ›

Panzerotti are deep-fried pockets of dough filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce. These crisp golden pillows are best eaten whilst hot, but watch out for that first bite!

What is a Sicilian calzone called? ›

Schiacciata (calzone sicilian style)

What is a fried pizza called in Italy? ›

The Italian dish of pizza fritta ( pl. : pizze fritte) originated in Naples, and is usually made by frying a disc of pizza dough before applying toppings and serving. Alternatively, the fillings may be enclosed in a pocket of dough like a calzone, which is then fried.

What is the name of the pizza pocket in Italy? ›

Trapizzino: the iconic Italian pizza pocket

It is a white triangle-shaped pizza pocket closed on the sides and made with the same dough of soft wheat flour and yeast, stuffed with condiments of the Roman gastronomy and other cuisines, also international.

What is the Italian version of empanadas? ›

The panzerotto is to be found throughout southern Italy. In Naples it goes under the name of pizza fritta and in Salento calzone but his majesty the panzerotto reigns in Bari and the surrounding area. This is the version we shall be comparing with the Argentine empanada.

Is pizza dough the same as calzone dough? ›

Both are prepared with flour, water, salt, and yeast; that's the solution. In contrast, the eggs and olive oil used in most calzone dough give it a deeper flavor and a softer texture. Eggs and oil are not common ingredients in pizza dough, contributing to its crispiness and durability.

Is calzone just pizza dough? ›

A calzone is an Italian dish that features a circular piece of pizza or yeasted bread dough that's folded in half over a filling that includes ricotta, and often mozzarella and Parmesan, too, cured meats, vegetables and herbs, then sealed shut using a crimping technique.

What is MOD pizza dough made of? ›

Mega Dough uses our classic dough recipe with simple ingredients that you know and love: King Arthur Flour, sea salt, water, yeast — simple food for complex times. Now just more of it! You'll still get the same sauces, cheeses, toppings and finishing sauces.

What's the difference between a calzone and a Panuzzo? ›

"Calzone is made like a pizza and then folded. You put ingredients inside and then fold it. Pizza fritta is a calzone deep-fried," he says. "For a panuzzo, the dough puffs up in the oven (like bread) then you cut it all the way through, fill it up then put it back in the oven to melt the cheese," he says.

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