Bacon and Kale Simple Calzone

Add the bread mix to the bowl of your mixer, I used my Kenwood Chef Titanium.

Follow the instructions on the packet to make the bread dough. For me this was to add 350ml of water and mix. For the mixing I used my dough hook for approximately 2 minutes. After this time it became obvious that the dough was too wet.

It should be tacky but should not stick to your hands. I added a couple of tablespoons of plain flour and continued to mix. In total I added 5 tablespoons of flour and mixed for around 5 minutes.

I then finally added 1 tablespoon of rapeseed oil to complete the ingredients, I continued to mix for another minute until the dough started to form a ball. Lastly I removed it from the machine and pulled it into a boule shape.

To make the dough by hand
Add the bread mix to a bowl, follow the instructions on the packet. After you have mixed the ingredients together if the dough is too tacky add more flour (a couple of tablespoons at a time) the dough should be easy to handle. It should be a little tacky but it shouldn’t stick to your fingers. Pull the bread into a boule shape.

Most likely you will need to leave the dough to rest for 10 – 20 minutes.

Pre heat the oven to the hottest temperature (mine was 250oC).

To make the filling
in the meantime I started to prepare my ingredients. First chopping some chestnut mushrooms.

Then chopping the garlic. Which I first “smooshed” (not sure thats the technical term) with the flat of my knife, before slicing as finely as I could.

Now to cut curly kale – the easiest way is to fold it in half so the stalk is exposed, then score down the edge of the stalk.

This should separate the kale from the tough stalk. Then you should rip the kale into bite-sized pieces.

Cut in to small pieces and fry up the bacon in a pan, I left the rind on and omitted any oil, so the bacon cooked in it’s own fat at a medium high temperature.

Add the garlic and the mushrooms to the hot pan, and gently stir the bacon so it doesn’t stick.

Once the mushrooms are starting to brown up, add the kale on top. Don’t stir for a couple of minutes just let it steam cook.

Gently use a fishslice (or similar) to flip the bacon on top of the kale, ensuring the kale becomes evenly cooked.

If using add a generous pinch of chilli flakes. Stir to distribute evenly.

Take the frying pan off the heat.

Stretch out the dough on a baking sheet. To do this I turned the dough upside down and began to pull it across the sheet. By turning it upside down, the side on the baking sheet has been exposed to the air so it is slightly harder and less likely to stick to the sheet.

Spread the tomato paste – or if you have time tomato paste mixed with dried italian herbs.

Pour the topping onto one side of your calzone, ensuring a border to allow the calzone to close.

To fold the calzone, fold the uncovered side over the topping. To seal you need a pinching motion around the entire outside.

Bake the calzone in your oven for around 20 minutes, till golden brown and it sounds hollow when you tap it.

Voila! A simple calzone!