All kids seem to love ham and pineapple pizzas, so the idea of folding this favourite over into a yummy little pizza pie like the ham and pineapple calzones below, is an absolute winner.

Ingredients

For the pizza dough

• 3 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 cup (250ml) lukewarm water
• 2 1/3 cups (400g) plain flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the filling

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
• 1 can cherry tomatoes or 1 punnet fresh cherry tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups pineapple pieces, drained
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 6 thick slices good quality ham, shredded or cut into strips

Ham and pineapple calzones

For the pizza dough; combine the yeast, sugar and water in a large bowl. Mix well then set aside for five minutes or until the mixture froths a little on the surface. Add the flour and salt and bring together into a sticky dough. Now either knead this together on a lightly floured surface or use an electric mixer with a dough hook. Either way, knead for five minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise in a nice warm spot for one hour.

Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced) and line two large baking trays with paper. Heat  olive oil in a frying pan over medium and cook the onion for five minutes or until soft. Add the tomatoes, lower the heat and cook for another five minutes.

To assemble; divide the dough into six or eight small balls (depending on how many calzones you would like and how big you’d like them to be. Roll one ball out to a circle about five millimetres thick, spread one half with the tomato sauce, leaving a good clear edge for sealing, then sprinkle with the ham, cheese and pineapple. Fold the other half of dough over the top and then seal by rolling the edges up over themselves to form a seal. Brush with a little extra olive oil then slice a couple of ‘steam vents’ in the top. Repeat with remaining dough balls and filling then bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Related pizza recipes

• Gluten free tomato and salami pizza
• Grilled pizza delight
• Noughts and crosses pizzas
• Party pizza
• Pizza fingers
• Pizza pinwheels
• Roast vegetable pizzas
• Sweet potato pizzas
• Pizza pops
• Turkish bread pizzas

Serving Suggestions

Note

• These freeze really well so consider making a double batch and popping some in the freezer for easy school lunches or week-night dinners.
• Calzones can be stuffed with pretty much any leftover meats and veggies floating round the fridge. Leftover casserole or curry is also a great filling and we all love the classic spinach and ricotta combination!
• You can leave your pizzas open and make Mini pita pizzas.
• Children will love these Noughts and crosses pizzas.
• These Pocket pizzas are easy and less mess.
• You can go down the vegetarian road with these Roast vegetable pizzas  and Sweet potato pizzas.
• These Rice cake pizzas are something different and fun for kids to make.
• This recipe was created by Sophie Hansen for Kidspot, New Zealand’s best recipe finder: You can follow Sophie on Local is Lovely, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.