Puttanesca Pizza Pockets

HomeClinics & ProgramsELLICSR KitchenPuttanesca Pizza Pockets

Skill Level	Easy

Preparation Time	10 minutes (+ time for pizza dough)	Total Time	45 minutes
Servings	8	Cost Per Serving	$0.87

1	Pizza Dough (store bought or recipe below)
1/4 cup	Olives, pits removed and roughly chopped
1 tbsp	Capers, roughly chopped
2 cloves	Garlic, roughly chopped
1	Small Onion, roughly chopped
1	Small Zucchini, small dice
1 cup	Diced Canned Tomatoes
1 tbsp	Olive Oil
1 tsp	Dried Oregano
2 tbsp	Fresh Basil, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp	Chili Flakes (optional)
1/4 cup	Parmesan or Pecorino Cheese, grated
To taste	Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Pizza Dough

For the pizza dough, combine the yeast, sugar and warm water and let it sit for about 7 minutes until it doubles in volume. Pour flour and salt into a large bowl and make an indent in the middle of the mound. Pour in your yeast and olive oil. Slowly work the flour into the liquid until you form a ball of dough. Transfer to a smooth work surface and work the dough, folding it into itself for about 5 minutes (this will activate the gluten which is very important). Grease a bowl with olive oil, add the dough and cover a damp towel. Allow it to rest for about 1 hour at room temperature.
For the sauce, in a large pan over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add onions, garlic, oregano, and chili flakes and saute for about 5 minutes. Add your remaining ingredients (except the basil and cheese) and cook for another ten minutes). Add the basil at the end and allow to cool.
Roll the pizza dough out as thin as you can and use the bottom of a small glass to cut out circles. Add a little of the sauce, top with some grated cheese, and fold over pressing down to create a seal. Place these pockets on a baking tray lined with parchment and bake for about 10 minutes at 425 degrees F.

PDF link to nutrition facts table for Puttanesca Pizza Pockets

Store-bought pizza pockets often use relatively cheap, less nutritious ingredients such as refined (white) flour, hydrogenated oils and corn syrup. By making and freezing your own version, you can have quality ingredients packed with nutrients for quick meals or snacks on the go.
If you need to gain weight, add extra cheese, pesto and olive oil. If you’re trying to lose weight, go lighter on the cheese or use low fat ricotta and add extra vegetables.
Not only are olives rich in flavour, they are also a very good source of monounsaturated fat and a good source of iron and dietary fiber.
Capers are a flavour-packed ingredient that can help with loss of appetite and taste changes. In laboratory studies, capers have also been shown to protect healthy oils from being broken down during cooking. Capers also may help increase absorption of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.