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    Home » Pizza & Focaccia

    Best Panzerotti Recipe with Homemade Dough

    Published: Nov 13, 2023 · Modified: Jun 13, 2025 by Silvana Nava · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Panzerotti Pugliesi are a traditional Apulian dish that is widespread throughout southern Italy: golden, crispy, deep-fried Italian turnover with a tasty filling inside. Panzerotti are made with a leavened dough similar to pizza dough, stuffed and then fried. I chose the more classic and traditional tomato and mozzarella filling.

    But there are many other fillings, as we will see, all related to traditional Apulian cuisine. You can even experiment with different fillings, depending on the ingredients you prefer or have on hand.

    panzerotti recipe - 4

    Panzerotti are perfect for a dinner with friends or even for a party. Depending on the size and number of panzerotti you eat, you can even consider panzerotti a complete single dish, just like pizza!

    Panzerotti began as a humble dish made with leftover bread dough, but today they are a famous and appetizing street food.

    Making homemade panzerotti is not difficult. Of course, you have to respect the rising time of the dough and some tricks.

    To make them, we will need a few simple ingredients and you will see that they will be so good that they will go fast! So let's see how to make authentic homemade panzerotti pugliesi, step by step.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Variations
    • Origins
    • FAQ
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    panzerotti ingredients

    Prep Time: 30 min | Rising Time: about 3 Hours | Cook Time: 10 min | Servings: 4-6 people (about 8 Panzerotti)

    THE DOUGH

    • 250 g (2 ½ cups) of "00" flour
    • 250 g (2 ½ cups) of durum wheat remilled semolina flour
    • 300 g (1 ¼ cups) of water, at room temperature
    • 20 g (2 tablespoons) of extra virgin olive oil
    • 10 g (2 teaspoons) of fine salt
    • 7 g (1 ½ teaspoons) of active dry yeast.
    • 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar

    THE FILLING

    • 300 g (1 ½ cups) of tomato passata.
    • 60 g (2 tablespoons) of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
    • 350 g (12 oz) of  Pizza Mozzarella
    • fine salt to taste
    • 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

    FOR FRYING

    • 2 liter (~ 8 cups) of vegetable oil for frying such as peanut oil or sunflower oil

    Instructions

    Make the Dough

    panzerotti recipe step 1

    Step 1) - To prepare the authentic Pugliese recipe for panzerotti, first mix the powders in a bowl: the "00" flour, the semolina and the yeast. Mix and add the sugar to activate the rising process.

    panzerotti recipe step 2

    Step 2) - In another bowl, pour the water. Add the salt, extra virgin olive oil and mix until the salt is dissolved.

    PLEASE NOTE: The amount of water is only indicative. Much depends on the absorption of the flours used. Keep in mind that the dough should be firm but not hard and not sticky.

    Now add the powders ( flours+yeast+sugar) little by little.

    panzerotti recipe step 3

    Step 3) - Mix well to combine the ingredients, even with your hands. Then knead until you get a ball, homogeneous, elastic but not sticky.

    panzerotti recipe step 4

    Step 4) - Put the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Knead until the dough is nice and smooth. Form a ball and place in a floured bowl.

    panzerotti recipe step 5

    Step 5) - Make a cross on the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours in a TURNED OFF oven.

    Make the Filling

    panzerotti recipe step 6

    Step 6) - While the dough is rising, cut the mozzarella into cubes.

    PLEASE NOTE: It's best to use dry, firm pizza mozzarella. If you have fresh mozzarella in its whey, be sure to drain the liquid very well. After cutting the mozzarella into small pieces, put them in a sieve for about 30 minutes to release as much liquid as possible.

    Finally, in a bowl, add the mozzarella, the tomato passata, a pinch of salt and the grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

    panzerotti recipe step 7

    Step 7) - Add the oil, then mix with a spoon and put aside.

    Make Panzerotti

    panzerotti recipe step 8

    Step 8) - Once the dough has risen, place it on the lightly floured pastry board. Knead a little with your hands and shape into an loaf. Then cut the loaf into balls.

    panzerotti recipe step 9

    Step 9) - The balls should weigh about 80 grams ( 2.8 oz) each. You will get 8-10 pieces of dough. Place the well rounded balls of dough on a tray covered with a dish towel. Let them rise again at room temperature for about 1 hour.

    panzerotti recipe step 10

    Step 10) - At the end of this second rising, roll out the balls of dough with a rolling pin. Shape them into disks that are not too thin.

    panzerotti recipe step 11

    Step 11) - Place about two tablespoons of the filling in one half of the circle, about 3 cm (~1 inch) from the edge.

    To seal the panzerotti well, moisten the edges of the circle with a little water.

    panzerotti recipe step 12

    Step 12) - Fold the unseasoned part over the filled part to form a crescent.

    Press the edges of the panzerotti well, first with your fingers and then with the tines of a fork.

    Fry the Panzerotti

    panzerotti recipe step 13

    Step 13) - Heat the oil in a pot with high sides but not too large a diameter, so that you can fry a maximum of 2 panzerotti at a time, letting them float in the oil while cooking.

    Put a toothpick in the oil. When you see a lot of bubbles around it, the oil is ready to be used. Alternatively, you can use a kitchen thermometer. The correct temperature for frying is 175°C (350°F).

    Fry the panzerotti until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes. Turn the panzerotti several times during cooking with a wooden spoon or skimmer.

    When the Panzerotti Pugliesi are cooked and evenly browned, drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

    The Panzerotti are ready! Serve them hot.

    panzerotti recipe - 5

    YOU MUST ALSO TRY:

    • Quick Pizza Dough Recipe
    • How to Make Homemade Orecchiette
    • Bombette Pugliesi | Easy Italian Meat Rolls
    • Gnocco Fritto | Emilian Fried Puffy Bread
    • Parmigiano Balls Recipe (Italian Quick and Easy Appetizer)

    Storage

    As always with fried foods, I recommend that you eat the panzerotti immediately, freshly fried and still hot, with the filling still stringy.

    If you want, you can freeze the panzerotti raw, already stuffed, and then fry them while still frozen.

    Variations

    Stuffing

    There are many popular fillings related to the Apulian tradition. I will give you a hint of the most common ones.

    • HERBS: I have suggested the most classic and always delicious filling: mozzarella and tomato. If you like, you can add a fresh basil leaf or a pinch of dried oregano to your mozzarella and tomato panzerotti.
    • HAM PANZEROTTI: In the Taranto area, for example, panzerotto with mozzarella and ham is very common. With or without tomato.
    • PANZEROTTI WITH MEAT AND MOZZARELLA: Brown some minced meat in a pan with a little oil. Let it cool. Then add diced mozzarella, a beaten egg, grated Parmigiano Reggiano and a little salt.
    • PANZEROTTI WITH TURNIP TOPS: Cook the turnip tops and brown them in a pan with garlic and chili. Let them cool. Add the diced mozzarella. It's important to drain the water from the turnip greens well.
    • ONION PANZEROTTI: In a frying pan, fry one sliced onion and two anchovies in a little oil. Let it cool down. Then add the diced mozzarella and some stoned olives.
    • PANZEROTTI WITH RICOTTA: In a bowl, put the drained ricotta, an egg, a little salt and pepper and two tablespoons of grated Parmigiano.

    Cooking Method

    Frying in oil, preferably peanut oil, remains the best and most traditional cooking method.

    Remember to use a not too large pot and plenty of oil: the panzerotti should float in the oil while frying.

    BAKED PANZEROTTI: If you prefer a lighter dish, you can bake the panzerotti. The recipe is the same. Once you have sealed the edges of the panzerotti well, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 200°C (390°F) for about 15 minutes. I recommend brushing the panzerotti with egg yolk or olive oil or a little tomato passata before baking.

    panzerotti recipe - 3

    Origins

    Official tradition places the birth of panzerotti in Bari in the 16th century, at a time when the tomato was just beginning to appear on Italian tables and in Italian recipes.

    Legend has it that it was invented by chance by a housewife who wanted to make a crescent-shaped pasta filled with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

    It's believed that panzerotti, like many other traditional Italian dishes, were born in a humble context where nothing could be wasted.

    Thus, the ingenuity of some ancestors gave birth to a new recipe, the goodness of which later made it immortal.

    Today Panzerotti fritti are known in Italy and abroad as a typical Puglian fry.

    They are one of the most popular street foods. So much so that July 15th is celebrated as National Panzerotto Day.

    panzerotti recipe - 4

    FAQ

    What is the difference between Panzerotti and Calzone?

    Panzerotti and calzone are both original and typical preparations of the southern Italian regions (Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, but also widespread in Lazio).
    Both originate from the cucina povera. With the leftover bread or pizza dough, people made  a sort of hot-pocket stuffed with mozzarella and tomatoes or other ingredients.
    The recipe for calzone and panzerotti is similar, but there is a significant difference between panzerotti and calzone in the way they are cooked.
    If the stuffed turnover are fried, they are called panzerotti, but if they are baked, like pizza, they are called calzone.
    Panzerotti are generally smaller than calzone, but this depends on the area and its customs.

    What is the Best Flour for Panzerotti?

    In my recipe I use a mixture, in equal parts, of "00" flour and semolina flour.
    But you can use only fine remilled durum wheat semolina. In fact, panzerotti made - in whole or in part - with semolina flour absorb less oil in frying than those made with "00" flour alone. They therefore turn out crispier, lighter and tastier.
    Some people, however, use only "00" flour. So if you cannot find fine remilled durum wheat semolina, you can use just 500 g (1.1 pound) of "00" flour.

    panzerotti recipe - 2

    Recipe Card

    STEP BY STEP PHOTOS ABOVE!Have a look at my step-by-step photo instructions, variations and tips. That way, you can get it perfect the first time you try it!
    panzerotti recipe

    Panzerotti Recipe

    Silvana Nava
    Panzerotti Pugliesi are a traditional Apulian dish that is widespread throughout southern Italy: golden, crispy, deep-fried Italian turnover with a tasty filling inside.
    Panzerotti are made with a leavened dough similar to pizza dough, stuffed and then fried. I chose the more classic and traditional tomato and mozzarella filling.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Leavening Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8 panzerotti
    Calories 2535 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    FOR THE DOUGH

    • 250 g flour - 2 ½ cups, "00"
    • 250 g semolina flour - 2 ½ cups
    • 300 g water - 1 ¼ cups, at room temperature
    • 20 g olive oil - 2 tablespoons, extra virgin
    • 10 g salt - 2 teaspoons
    • 7 g yeast. - 1 ½ teaspoons, active dry
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

    FOR THE FILLING

    • 300 g tomato passata - 1 ½ cups
    • 60 g Parmigiano Reggiano - 2 tablespoons, grated
    • 350 g Mozzarella - 12 oz, for Pizza
    • salt - to taste
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil - extra virgin

    FOR FRYING

    • 2 liter oil - ~ 8 cups, vegetable oil for frying such as peanut oil or sunflower oil

    Instructions
     

    The Dough

    • Mix the powders in a bowl: the "00" flour, the semolina and the yeast. Mix and add the sugar to activate the rising process.
    • In another bowl, pour the water. Add the salt, extra virgin olive oil and mix until the salt is dissolved. PLEASE NOTE: The amount of water is only indicative. Much depends on the absorption of the flours used. Keep in mind that the dough should be firm but not hard and not sticky.
    • Now add the powders ( flours+yeast+sugar) little by little.
    • Mix well to combine the ingredients, even with your hands. Then knead until you get a ball, homogeneous, elastic but not sticky.
    • Put the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Knead until the dough is nice and smooth. Form a ball and place in a floured bowl.
    • Make a cross on the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours in a TURNED OFF oven.

    The Filling

    • While the dough is rising, cut the mozzarella into cubes. PLEASE NOTE: It's best to use dry, firm pizza mozzarella. If you have fresh mozzarella in its whey, be sure to drain the liquid very well. After cutting the mozzarella into small pieces, put them in a sieve for about 30 minutes to release as much liquid as possible.
    • In a bowl, add the mozzarella, the tomato passata, a pinch of salt and the grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Add the oil, then mix with a spoon and put aside.

    Make Panzerotti

    • Once the dough has risen, place it on the lightly floured pastry board. Knead a little with your hands and shape into an loaf. Then cut the loaf into balls.
    • The balls should weigh about 80 grams ( 2.8 oz) each. You will get 8-10 pieces of dough. Place the well rounded balls of dough on a tray covered with a dish towel. Let them rise again at room temperature for about 1 hour.
    • At the end of this second rising, roll out the balls of dough with a rolling pin. Shape them into disks that are not too thin.
    • Place about two tablespoons of the filling in one half of the circle, about 3 cm (~1 inch) from the edge.
    • To seal the panzerotti well, moisten the edges of the circle with a little water. Fold the unseasoned part over the filled part to form a crescent. Press the edges of the panzerotti well, first with your fingers and then with the tines of a fork.

    Cook

    • Heat the oil in a pot with high sides but not too large a diameter, so that you can fry a maximum of 2 panzerotti at a time, letting them float in the oil while cooking. Put a toothpick in the oil. When you see a lot of bubbles around it, the oil is ready to be used. Alternatively, you can use a kitchen thermometer. The correct temperature for frying is 175°C (350°F).
    • Fry the panzerotti until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes. Turn the panzerotti several times during cooking with a wooden spoon or skimmer.
    • When the Panzerotti Pugliesi are cooked and evenly browned, drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil. The Panzerotti are ready! Serve them hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 2535kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 21gFat: 253gSaturated Fat: 24gPolyunsaturated Fat: 68gMonounsaturated Fat: 156gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 924mgPotassium: 322mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 515IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 410mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword homemade panzerotti, panzerotti recipe
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    CIAO! Barbara & Silvana here! We are the authors of these amazing Italian recipes. Living in Italy, they are part of our culture, tradition and everyday life. And we want to share them with you all, straight from Italy! Learn more about us! Read our story!

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