The classic pizza that we are familiar with today began gaining massive popularity back in the late 19th century. Although not all of its origins have yet been determined, what can be verified is that there is surely some sort of connection between many different cultures that have left their mark on what pizza has become in modern times.
From your classic cheese and tomato to more foreign ones you may find yourself wondering where one would even get an idea like this. Learn how some pizzas do not even need pizza dough at all and realize that it’s overall just a taste of culture within the food.
Pizza around the world comes in many different forms, each one with its own style. While pizza originated in Italy, many countries had their own recipe for it as well. Since Italians immigrated to other parts of the world, some took their recipes with them and this has led to what is known today as the worldwide phenomenon of “pizza.”
Pizza can be found in so many variations: from the classic Naples-style pizza to that new-and-improved Barista’s delight – there are several varieties that vary greatly!
Italy
There is nothing like Italy’s pizza. This original dish was invented in Naples, but it has taken on many different forms through the centuries and today, pizza has come to mean a variety of things from around the world, including dishes with doughy or crispy crusts or soft, moist bases.
But one thing remains the same for any type of pizza you choose – there is nothing better than Italy’s original Neapolitan-style slice! The best pizzas are made using high-quality ingredients and include only simple things like flour and water mixed together with natural yeast so that your pie can sit out for up to 24 hours before baking without spoiling in any way.
America
The original recipe for pizza contained just tomato sauce, basil, and cheese, representing the colors that comprise the flag of Italy. As news of this delicious, simple food spread nationwide, Americans began looking to add their own regional flavors in order to make their favorite foods their own.
Today’s incarnation of pizza is largely defined by its American origins with “classic” pizzas typically containing a simple tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese combination as well as meat toppings like pepperoni with other optional components like “vegetarian” mushrooms, green peppers, and onions being made available at many restaurants today.
America is to thank for many variations on the original dough-based pie – it has transformed what was once seen as an Italian specialty into an international culinary phenomenon.
Rome
Roman pizza is similar to what in other places people would call flatbread: a thin, crispy, and slightly charred pizza crust with a variety of light toppings. It is opposite in many ways to the Neapolitan pizza which is soft, wet, and with a fluffy crust, so people usually hate one and love the other.
To make everyone happy, Romans developed another kind of pizza named “pinsa”, which is really a hybrid between the two styles- a little thicker and fluffy crust with a crunchy base. Pinsa is made with several easy-to-digest ingredients that are sourdough starter along with rice, wheat, and soy flours.
Poland
A popular street food originating in the 1970s, Zapiekanka is a Polish adaptation of the classic Italian pizza. Taking its name from the word “to grill,” this open-faced sandwich is traditionally made with a baguette that’s been sliced and toasted, then sauteed with fresh mushrooms and topped with melted cheese.
That said, the modern incarnation of this local dish has included several changes to the original recipe; these include options like adding different kinds of sauce or using bacon instead of white mushrooms.
India
While Domino’s and Pizza Hut are (mostly) the standard Western pizzas, certainly this doesn’t mean that traditionally bold, ethnic flavors were abandoned. What it means is that the paneer was put on top of the pizza! Paneer is a homemade Indian cheese that has a texture much like cottage cheese and can often be found in both sweet and savory dishes.
Many other types of meat tend to show up – mainly chicken tikka, which is chicken marinated in yogurt. Meats are sometimes prominent in Indian pizza, dressed with green chile peppers, tomatoes, onions, and creamy mayonnaise. As a result, you get an array of wonderful mouthwatering options to choose from.
Key Takeaway
Since those days, pizza, which has expanded to different places around the globe, has not lost its purpose or its meaning. We have seen how each country reconciles its own culture with pizzas.
From your classic cheese and tomato pizza to extreme pizzas with mashed potatoes or fermented soybeans or even crocodile meat – this list serves as a reminder that there is something for everyone on this list. We will learn how some pizzas do not even need any pizza dough at all, and how cultures play a huge role in what is considered desirable.
