Guide to the Differences Between Stromboli and Calzone

A stromboli is an Italian-American dish made from pizza dough or bread dough that is topped with meats, cheeses, and sauce, then rolled into a spiral to create a cylindrical shape. It is stuffed with Italian meats typically used in sandwiches (like capicola and salami) and cheeses (like provolone) as well as veggies like bell peppers or spinach. Stromboli most likely originated in the 1950s in the United States and was probably named after the 1950 film Stromboli starring Ingrid Bergman and directed by Roberto Rossellini.

A calzone is a baked Italian dish made with a pizza crust folded into a semicircle and stuffed with fillings. The calzone originated in Naples, Italy, and comes from the Italian word ‘calze,’ meaning trousers or stockings. The name reflects the portability of the calzone, a dish intended to be eaten on the go.

Like stromboli, a calzone is a versatile vehicle for a wide range of ingredients. Classic calzone fillings include ricotta and mozzarella cheese, meats, and vegetables. Tomato sauce or marinara sauce is traditionally served on the side of the baked pocket.

Stromboli recipes and calzone recipes use very similar ingredients and baking methods. Any homemade pizza dough recipe provides the perfect canvas for either creation. Both are oven-baked on a baking sheet or pizza stone until golden brown. However, there are a few key differences you should know about before you order a calzone or stromboli at your local pizza parlor.

• Sealing techniques: Calzones are typically folded down the middle into a half-moon shape and sealed by pinching or crimping the dough at the seams. Stromboli dough is topped with ingredients, then rolled like a burrito with the ends folded over to seal them in with the seam side down.
• Fillings: Both calzones and stromboli are made with pizza toppings like meat, cheeses, and vegetables. However, calzones are typically made with ricotta cheese while stromboli is typically made with mozzarella to cut down on moisture. Stromboli will often incorporate meats typically used in sandwiches, like salami or ham, instead of the pepperoni or sausage used in calzones.
• Sauce: Marinara sauce or pizza sauce is typically served alongside or poured onto a calzone as a dipping sauce. As for stromboli, the sauce is usually spread onto the dough with all of the toppings and then rolled up into it.

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