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Golden fried Italian panzerotti on a wooden board, one split open showing mozzarella and tomato filling

Italian Panzerotti with Mozzarella

Soft leavened dough pockets filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce, sealed tight and fried until golden and blistered. A faithful take on the classic Pugliese street food.
Prep Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

Dough
  • 350 g 00 flour plus extra for dusting
  • 200 ml warm water about 38 C / 100 F
  • 5 g instant dry yeast
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp fine salt
  • 1 tsp sugar helps the yeast activate and aids browning
Filling
  • 200 g canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil for the sauce
  • 1 garlic clove peeled and lightly crushed
  • to taste fine salt
  • 200 g low-moisture mozzarella or drained fior di latte cut into small cubes or shredded
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Frying
  • 1 liter sunflower oil or other neutral vegetable oil with high smoke point

Method
 

Make the Dough
  1. Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and mix briefly.
  2. Add the olive oil and warm water. Mix with a fork until shaggy, then turn onto a lightly floured surface.
  3. Knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and springs back when pressed lightly.
  4. Shape into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and leave in a warm spot for 90 minutes until roughly doubled in size.
Make the Tomato Sauce
  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not coloured.
  2. Add the crushed tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens noticeably.
  3. Remove the garlic, stir in the oregano, and set aside to cool completely. The sauce must be cool before you fill the panzerotti.
Shape and Fill
  1. Drain the mozzarella cubes on paper towels for at least 30 minutes, pressing gently to remove surface moisture.
  2. Divide the risen dough into 12 equal pieces, about 45 g each. Roll each piece on a floured surface into a disc roughly 12 cm in diameter and 3 mm thick.
  3. Place 1 heaped tsp of tomato sauce on one half of each disc, leaving a 1.5 cm border clear. Scatter a small pile of mozzarella cubes over the sauce.
  4. Fold the empty half of the dough over the filling to form a half-moon. Press the edges together firmly with your fingers, then run a fork along the curve twice to seal tightly.
Fry
  1. Pour the sunflower oil into a deep, heavy saucepan and heat to 175-180 C / 347-356 F over medium-high heat. Use a thermometer for accuracy.
  2. Carefully lower 2-3 panzerotti into the oil using a slotted spoon. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, turning once, until they are deep golden brown and blistered on both sides.
  3. Lift them out with the slotted spoon and set on a wire rack. Let the oil return to temperature between batches before adding the next round.
  4. Serve immediately while the crust is still crisp and the mozzarella is molten inside.

Notes

Nutrition is estimated per 3 panzerotti and will vary depending on how much oil is absorbed during frying. Keeping the oil at a steady 175-180 C limits absorption significantly.