Lidia’s Pizza Rolls

Step 1

Bring the dough to room temperature and cut on a floured surface into four pieces. Cover with a towel while you prepare the filling.

Step 2

Cut the long stem ends from the broccoli rabe and discard leaving a few inches of stem, leaf and head.

Step 3

Place a steaming basket in a large pot and add water to the bottom of the steaming basket and bring to a boil. Add a little salt then add the broccoli rabe and steam for 5-10 minutes until tender. They will bake further in the pizza roll so try not to overcook. Drain, cool and coarsely chop into bite sized pieces. Set aside.

Step 4

In a large skillet or saute pan, cook the Italian sausage until browned, breaking into small pieces as you cook. Drain and discard the fat and set the sausage aside.

Step 5

In the same saute pan, add the olive oil and over medium heat, add the onion, leeks, garlic slices and red pepper flakes and cook 8-10 minutes until soft. Set aside.

Step 6

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 7

In a large bowl, combine prepared broccoli rabe, cooked Italian sausage, onion and leek mixture, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese.

Step 8

Flour your counter and cover two sheet trays with parchment paper.

Step 9

Roll each dough ball into approximately 12×8 rectangle. Does not have to be exact.

Step 10

Divide the filling between the four rolled out doughs, placing the filling in a line closest to the front and leave the side edges and rear edge free.

Step 11

Wet the sides and back of the dough about a half inch from the edges with a little water.

Step 12

Fold the dough closest to you over the filling. Then fold over each end towards the center. Then fold the whole thing over rolling it onto the back edge.

Step 13

Place two on each pan seam down. May need help lifting with a spatula.

Step 14

Brush the beaten egg over the top of two pizza rolls on one pan only and wait on the second. We are baking one pan at a time and don’t want the egg running down the sides and onto the parchment of the second pan.

Step 15

With scissors, make cut steam vents down the length of each of the two pizza rolls then bake just that one pan for 20-25 minutes until golden. (I also put mine under the broiler for a minute to get it extra brown on top)

Step 16

They are done when the filling is hot and bubbly and the crust golden brown.

Step 17

As soon as the first pan comes out of the oven, brush and cut the pizza rolls on the second pan and bake.

Step 18

Move all four to a cutting board and cut each into eight to ten thick slices with a sharp serrated knife. I was also careful not to let them fall apart so after using the serrated knife to cut through, I used a large sharp chef’s knife to push down into the bottom crust.

Step 19

Move the slices to a serving tray or board and serve. They are very moist so no need of any dipping sauce.