Super Easy Calzone on the BBQ

The very first time that I heard and learned that it is possible to have pizza on a camp was actually not during a camp.

But during a small boat sailing trip in the Netherlands, where we landed every night in another harbor. I was new in this student group, so I didn't know that there was a traditional fixed "meal plan".

First night: BBQ with meat and sausages and as dessert chocolate stuffed bananas.

Second night: Pasta with pesto tomato sauce and as dessert ice cream from the local ice cream shop

Third night: homemade pizza and as dessert grilled pineapple with honey.

… wait! Self-made pizza? In a harbour on an island without a kitchen? How does this even works? I mean we were with very small boat and there was no space for an oven or even a BBQ with a lid. And just laying the Pizza on the grill sounded like… a lot of ash on the food.

But they taught me that me that I was (mostly) wrong with my skepticism.

Yes, it is working!

Yes, it is really easy!

Yes, it tastes very good without any ash on it!

No, you don't need fancy supplies like a pizza oven or a BBQ with indirect heat.

But, it isn't a pizza -

It is a calzone…

Why didn't I think about this earlier? So simple. No further fancy equipment needed. Just the things you already (usually) have during a camp. Make your favorite pizza, fold it, wrap it and put it into the embers.

So many years on different camps and we never had pizza pockets from the campfire or bbq…

But since then my camp cooking life changed - and so will yours too :-)

You need:

• Ingredients for your favorite pizza recipe, pizza dough from the super market or 300g flour, 3 tbs Olive oil, 1pk of dry yeast, 1 ts salt, water
• Additional olive oil for brushing
• Your favorite tomato sauce ingredients, pizza sauce from the supermarket or Tomato puree, pepper, salt, dried oregano and dried basil
• Your favorite grated cheese
• Something to put in the calzone: in my case canned tuna and fresh onions

For the optional sweet version: Apple puree

• A big bowl for the dough
• A small bowl for the sauce
• A table spoon
• A measuring cup with flour and water units (or just guess very well)
• Paper to clean your fingers
• Aluminium foil
• Optional: Parchment paper
• A BBQ or embers of a campfire
• A little bit of time and patience

I have to admit that I'm not on holiday right now and I even don't have a backyard so that I could purport to be on a camp, but I wanted to show that everything is possible without having a full equipped kitchen. So I took all the ingredients and material to my balcony for the dough preparation (I really don't want to know what my neighbors thought seeing me kneading pizza dough on the balcony in the first floor… :-) )

If you are already outside: Start your fire or bbq to receive a nice embers when the dough is ready.

Prepare the dough:

1. Measure 300gr of flour
2. Add the dry yeast.
3. Add 1 ts of salt
4. Add 3 tbs Olive oil and stir with your spoon
5. Add more and more water and start to knead with your hand until you receive a smooth dough.
6. Let it rise.

Prepare the ingredients:

In my case that was very easy, I just opened the can of tuna and drained it. I also cut some an onion in very thin slices.

In case you prefer something different, just remember to cut it very thin, otherwise it will still be raw even if the outside of your calzone is ready.

Option 1:

1. Open the glass of your store bought tomato sauce.

Option 2:

1. Take 3 tbs of tomato puree and mix with water until you get a creamy paste
2. Add the salt, pepper and the spices.
3. Allow to stand for some time to re-hydrate the spices.

Actually
I thought I need to roll the dough with the wine bottle, that's why it is on pictures, but then I realized that it is easier to just form it by hand.

1. Divide the dough into four parts and take 1 part of it in your hands.
2. Knead it again and start to knead a pizza shape.
3. Lay it down on your aluminum foil.
4. #Spread the tomato sauce on the whole pizza (yes, in this state it's still a pizza) but avoid sauce on the rim
5. Spread your ingredients on one half of the pizza (it now starts to lose the pizza status)
6. Flip the empty side over and fold the rim (pizza status lost).
7. Spread some olive oil over both sides of the calzone to avoid it sticking on the aluminum foil
8. Fold the foil and set it on the BBQ.
9. Wait.

optional but hardly recommended: apple turnover from the BBQ

Btw: the steps are very similar to the calzone making ;-)

1. Take 1 part of the dough, divide into
2. Knead the dough and form it into a small pizza shape
3. Lay it down on your foil
4. Spread apple sauce on one half.
5. Flip the empty side over and fold the rim.
6. I used small pieces of parchment paper, but if you don't have it spread some oil on the sides and fold the foil around.
7. Set it next to your calzone on the BBQ.
8. Wait.

Now you just need to wait and regularly turn over your pockets, otherwise they will burn and taste very disappointing :-)

After approx. 30- 45 min you can take a small glimpse and if the dough looks good just cut it.

Be careful, it's very hot, especially the apple sauce…

Eat and enjoy where ever you are.