This easy Stromboli recipe is a delicious appetizer that you will enjoy making. Crunchy outside with beautiful layers of oozing cheese, pizza topping, and seasonings inside will make you fall in love with this appetizer.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the onion and peppers until beginning to soften, about 4 - 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt and pepper and Italian seasoning and cook for another minute or two, then allow to cool on a plate.
Roll the pizza dough out into a large rectangle, about 9"x13". Line a baking sheet with baking paper, then transfer the dough to the baking sheet.
Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese down the middle of the rectangle, then lay the ham slices on top of the cheese, slightly overlapping them.
Spread the peppers and onions over the ham, then more mozzarella. Lay the salami slices on, then sprinkle on the parmesan.
Use scissors or a sharp knife to cut strips into the dough on either side of the filling, making them about 1 ½" wide. Criss-cross fold them tightly over the top decoratively - leaving small slits for air vents between them. Be sure to not cut all the way to the filling, but leave a little dough so the filling won't drip out.
When you get to the end, fold up the end flap first, then cross over it to seal it tight. If you don't want to do a 'braid' you can just fold the sides over tightly, seal them together, then cut small slits across the top, about 1 ½" apart.
Whisk the egg and 1 tablespoon water together, then brush over the top and sides of the bread.
Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes, until golden brown.
Serve with a good quality Italian pasta sauce for dipping.
Recipe Notes
If you cut the pizza dough all the way, the filling will drip out.
Is braiding dough pattern hard to follow? Alternatively, you can fold and seal the dough sides over tightly while slitting about 1 ½" across the top. Another way to make Stromboli pizza dough is by rolling it like a cinnamon roll.
Don't forget to line the parchment paper or non-stick cooking spray to save your Stromboli from sticking on the cookie sheet. Also, allow Stromboli to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before slicing and serving them.
Bake the dough in the lower half of your oven to get golden Stromboli crust with pepperoni and salami fillings cooked textbook perfect.
You can remove the extra grease from deli ham or other meats by tapping it with a paper towel before layering it inside frozen pizza dough. This way, the crust won't become soggy during baking.