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What is Italian Pizza?

Cassie L. Damewood
Cassie L. Damewood

Italian pizza is customarily baked yeast bread topped with cheese, tomato sauce or tomatoes and herbs. Fancier versions commonly include a variety of fresh or canned toppings. It may be baked in a traditional wood-fired oven or a common kitchen oven powered by gas or electricity.

The crust of authentic Italian pizza is normally hand-tossed and thin. Over the years, different thicknesses of crust have been introduced. Italian pizza can now commonly be found with hand-rolled medium thick crusts. Chicago-style Italian pizza has a thick, cornbread-like crust that is pressed into a deep-dish pan and topped with tomatoes cheese, spices and herbs. All types of Italian pizzas are commonly topped with other vegetables, meats and seafood based on the tastes of the consumer.

Fontina is a popular addition to Italian pizza.
Fontina is a popular addition to Italian pizza.

Neapolitan pizza is generally considered the original Italian pizza. It is traditionally topped with Italian tomatoes, either canned or fresh, and buffalo milk mozzarella cheese. Authentic Neapolitan pizza crust is made with natural yeast, water and a hard, wheat flour, although some bakers believe any strong, high protein bread flour is acceptable.

Italian pizza can be topped with prosciutto.
Italian pizza can be topped with prosciutto.

There are three certified variations of Neapolitan pizza. One of these called pizza marinara has no cheese. The tomatoes on this pizza are normally topped with garlic, oregano and basil and then extra virgin olive oil is dribbled over the surface right before baking. The popular pizza Margherita recipe calls for a topping of sliced, fresh mozzarella covered with tomato, basil and extra virgin olive oil. Additionally, a pizza Margherita extra is topped with fresh mozzarella fillets imported from Campania.

Basil, which is often used to top Italian pizza.
Basil, which is often used to top Italian pizza.

Lazio-style pizza is ordinarily available in two basic versions. The simpler kind, sold as take-out, features a thick, rectangular crust similar to the texture of English muffins. The restaurant variety has a round, thinner crust. These pizzas can be baked in traditional or wood-fired ovens. Both types offer a range of toppings that can be mixed and matched to meet the tastes of the customer. These garnishes frequently include a wide assortment of vegetables, including tomato, mushrooms, olives and artichokes. Oregano and basil are popular herb additions. Popular meat and seafood toppings include German sausage, anchovies, ham and prosciutto. Cheeses such as mozzarella, stracchinio, fontina, Gorgonzola and ricotta are popular additions. All varieties are traditionally given a healthy swirl of olive oil on top as well.

Mushrooms are a common topping on Italian pizza.
Mushrooms are a common topping on Italian pizza.

Other traditional Italian pizzas that have gained popularity in recent years include white pizza and calzones. White pizza has no tomatoes or tomato sauce. Instead, it usually has a pesto sauce or just ricotta and mozzarella cheese along with olive oil, basil and garlic. A calzone resembles a giant turnover and is simply a round pizza crust stuffed with the diner’s choice of ingredients, folded over and sealed before baking.

Discussion Comments

Melonlity

That would appear to be a rumor. Pizza came to the United States along with Italian immigrants who showed up in the 19th century.

There is no doubt, however, that Americans have developed their own styles of pizza that are unique to this country.

Vincenzo

People have said for years that pizza is actually an American invention. It wasn't developed in Italy at all, although that country has adopted the dish and has a lot of varieties.

Is that true or just a rumor?

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    • Fontina is a popular addition to Italian pizza.
      By: Lsantilli
      Fontina is a popular addition to Italian pizza.
    • Italian pizza can be topped with prosciutto.
      Italian pizza can be topped with prosciutto.
    • Basil, which is often used to top Italian pizza.
      By: leeavison
      Basil, which is often used to top Italian pizza.
    • Mushrooms are a common topping on Italian pizza.
      By: mbongo
      Mushrooms are a common topping on Italian pizza.
    • Mozzarella is a traditional topping on Italian pizzas.
      By: Viktor
      Mozzarella is a traditional topping on Italian pizzas.
    • Pizza Margherita is a Neapolitan pizza.
      By: Jillian Alexander
      Pizza Margherita is a Neapolitan pizza.
    • Oregano is popularly used to season pizza.
      By: Taiga
      Oregano is popularly used to season pizza.
    • Pizza Margherita is loaded with mozzerella cheese and fresh tomatoes.
      By: Marzia Giacobbe
      Pizza Margherita is loaded with mozzerella cheese and fresh tomatoes.
    • Lazio-style pizza is often topped with olives and mushrooms.
      By: margo555
      Lazio-style pizza is often topped with olives and mushrooms.
    • Tomatoes are used to create pizza sauce.
      By: Giuseppe Porzani
      Tomatoes are used to create pizza sauce.
    • Wheat flour is commonly used to make Italian pizza crust.
      By: m.u.ozmen
      Wheat flour is commonly used to make Italian pizza crust.
    • Italian pizzas often feature ricotta cheese.
      By: Roberto Fasoli
      Italian pizzas often feature ricotta cheese.
    • Italian pizza are typically made on shallow pans.
      By: Oligo
      Italian pizza are typically made on shallow pans.
    • The crust of Italian pizza is generally hand-tossed and thin.
      By: Francesco Italia
      The crust of Italian pizza is generally hand-tossed and thin.
    • The origins of pizza may be traced to Egypt, from which the Greeks are thought to have brought the flat-bread dish to Italy.
      By: sherstobitov
      The origins of pizza may be traced to Egypt, from which the Greeks are thought to have brought the flat-bread dish to Italy.