Shrimp Calzone

 Above: Shrimp Calzones, Below: Extra shrimp filling

Close your eyes and picture stuffed,warm, crusty pizza dough. As you take a bite you get a mouthful of warm tomatoes, melted cheese....and something else...SHRIMP!

What an amazing surprise these shrimp calzones were.

They make an adorable appetizer or a fun main dish. I got this ingenious idea from Giada  De Laurentiis. In full disclosure, she made her own pizza dough, and I used store bought. 

The shrimp is cooked in tomatoes and olive oil, and marinated with classic Italian flavors. The recipe only calls for 1lb of shrimp but since I had 2lb I doubled the ingredients and used the 2nd half for extra shrimp side dish.

I never thought of shrimp as an ingredient for pizza but the simple flavors of the shellfish and the familiar seasoning of the tomatoes made a comforting and filling meal.

Cook time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:
2 tbl olive oil, plus extra for brushing
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup canned chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tbl chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Store-bought pizza dough
3 cups shredded mozzarella
1 large egg, beaten

Cooking:
1. Heat olive oil in saute pan. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes
2. Season shrimp in bowl with salt and pepper
3. Add tomatoes, wine, thyme, & parsley
4. Increase the heat until mixture is simmering and cook until liquid begins to evaporate, 7-10 minutes
5. Add shrimp to mixture, and cook until they start to turn pink,  about 3 minutes.
6. Take off the heat and set aside to cool, while you roll the pizza dough
7. Depending how large you would like your calzones divide pizza dough into 2,4,6 equal balls
8. Pound out dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick
9. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on dough then spoon shrimp mixture and top with desired amount of cheese (the more the better!)
10. Brush the end of the dough with egg wash
11. Fold over to make a pocket, pinch sides in a folding motion, or press down with fork.
12. Place parchment paper on 2 baking sheets, place the calzonse on top
13. Bake for 12-15 minutes
14. Brush with olive oil and serve!