World of Food Craft: Broccoli stuffed stromboli

This week I made a delicious,vegetarian meal of broccoli, onions and cheese wrapped up in a hearty pizza crust: a.k.a. a Stromboli. According to my research a stromboli is Italian bread dough rolled into a square, stuffed with vegetables, meats and cheeses and rolled up into a sort of turnover. A stromboli looks like a calzone, only it is much larger and longer. Apparently this creation only really came about as a culinary delight a short while ago, as there are disputing theories as to when the stromboli came into actual existence, it is thought that it originated on the east coast of America during the 1950's.

My first interaction with a stromboli was at my father's house when I was about sixteen-years old. He made one stuffed with all sorts of yummy cheeses and vegetables. He served it with red sauce on the side. In the years since I first had that yummy stromboli at my father's house, I have created my own versions. This is such a versatile recipe, one could really stuff anything into the pizza dough and have it come out simply delicious! In any case this is my version, a much quicker one than is traditional because I used my quick pizza dough recipe, which requires no rising time. The entire meal can be completed in under 45 minutes.

Broccoli stuffed Stromboli

(Serves 4-6)

Quick Pizza Dough

1 package instant or fast rising yeast

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 cup very warm water

1 tsp. salt

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Stuffing

3-4 crowns of broccoli, chopped

1 large vidalia onion

1-2 cups of shredded jack cheese

Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees F. Next clean your broccoli, chop it into bite sized pieces and steam until tender. During this time you also want to be sauteing the onions, which should be chopped up, until tender and slightly translucent.

While the vegetables are going, begin to make your dough. In a large bowl combine the fast-acting yeast, sugar, and water. Let the mixture sit for about 2 minutes. Add the oil, salt, and flour. Mix the dough until it is manageable by hand, then continue by kneading the dough for another couple of minutes. When the dough feels well kneaded and firm sprinkle some flour on a clean counter top, take a rolling pin and begin to roll out the dough into a rectangular shape:

When the dough is ready move it onto a large pizza pan:

At this time the broccoli and onions should be finished. Combine the vegetables and mix them well with some salt to taste. Grate your cheese now as well. Then sprinkle about half of the cheese on the bottom of the dough before pouring the entire broccoli and onion mixture onto it.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the vegetable mixture. Now it is time to fold! Take the left side of excess dough and pull it over and on top of the fillings: