Randy Chandler
Red pizza is any pizza made with a tomato-based red sauce, while white pizza is made without tomato sauce. Red pizza can be topped with cheese, but it doesn't have to be. For example, Rhode Island's 'red strips' bakery pizza doesn't come with cheese. However, red pizza is very versatile and can be topped with a variety of cheeses, vegetables, and meats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Pizza | Red Pizza |
| Base | Tomato-based red sauce |
| Cheese | May or may not contain cheese |
| Toppings | Can be piled with veggies like onions and bell peppers |
| Variants | Red strips, a type of bakery pizza from Rhode Island |
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What You'll Learn
Red pizza is made with a tomato-based red sauce
Red pizza, on the other hand, involves tomatoes. These were brought to Europe in the 1500s by explorers returning from Peru. Initially, many Europeans thought tomatoes were poisonous because the acid in the fruit would react with the lead in their pewter plates, causing lead poisoning. By the 1700s, peasants in Naples were discovered topping their flatbread with tomatoes, olive oil, sea salt, and garlic.
Red pizza sauce can contain various additives, such as spices, or chunks of vegetables like mushrooms or peppers. A classic example of a red pizza is the Margherita. The red sauce forms a base for a variety of toppings, including meats, vegetables, and cheese.
While red pizza is often associated with cheese, this is not always the case. For instance, Rhode Island's 'red strips' are served without cheese. These are popular for parties and sports watching and are known for their crispy crust.
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White pizza is made without tomato sauce
Red pizza and white pizza are two equally venerable pizza traditions. Red pizza is any pizza made with a tomato-based red sauce, while white pizza—also called pizza bianca—is made without tomato sauce. The ancient Romans ate white pizza, cutting it up and eating it with cheese and chicory or figs. White pizza was also used to check the temperature of oven bricks before baking bread for the day.
White pizza is typically made with white cheeses such as mozzarella and ricotta, and it can be drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. In the US, white pizza is often made with an alfredo sauce made from parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and milk. In Italy, the white pizza sauce tends to be lighter, made mostly with herbs, mozzarella, and olive oil.
White pizza toppings can include oregano, garlic oil, and plenty of mozzarella cheese. Less traditional pizzas can have different white sauces, ranging from alfredo to ranch to crème fraîche. However, they all must have garlic oil! Other toppings can include crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, spinach, artichoke, and more.
The history of red pizza involves tomatoes, which were brought to Europe in the 1500s by explorers returning from expeditions to Peru. At first, many Europeans thought tomatoes were poisonous because the acid in the tomato juice would leach lead out of the pewter dinner plates of wealthy people, causing lead poisoning. However, by the 1700s, peasants in Naples were discovered topping their flatbread with tomatoes, olive oil, sea salt, and chopped garlic.
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Ancient Romans ate white pizza with cheese and chicory or figs
The history of pizza goes back to ancient times, with various ancient cultures producing flatbreads with toppings. The word "pizza" was first documented in 997 CE in Gaeta, Italy, and pizza as we know it today is a rather modern invention. The ancient Romans ate flatbreads with toppings such as cheese spreads called "moretum" and fruits like pomegranates, dates, and figs.
White pizza, or "pizza bianca," is classified as a pie made without tomato sauce. The ancient Romans ate white pizza with cheese and chicory or figs. White pizza was also used to check the temperature of oven bricks before baking the bread for the day.
While tomatoes are a signature ingredient of modern pizza, they were only introduced to Europe after their discovery in the Americas in the 1500s. By the 1700s, peasants in Naples were topping their flatbread with tomatoes, olive oil, sea salt, and garlic. The innovation that led to the flatbread pizza was the use of tomato as a topping.
Cheese and meat were commonly eaten with bread in ancient Rome, and cheese was also spread on flatbreads. While the ancient Romans did not have access to tomatoes or mozzarella, they consumed a variety of fruits, including figs, which were a common food in ancient Rome.
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Red pizza can have spices or vegetables like mushrooms or peppers
Red pizza is any pizza made with a tomato-based red sauce. The red sauce can contain a variety of additives, including spices and vegetables. Mushrooms and peppers are two popular vegetable toppings for red pizza. For example, a green pepper and mushroom pizza can be made by mixing together crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, sweetener, and crushed tomatoes with a dash of salt and black pepper for the sauce. The sauce can be made ahead of time and frozen.
Another option is a portobello mushroom and red bell pepper pizza, which can be made by cooking the peppers and mushrooms in a frying pan with olive oil before spreading them on the pizza crust. The pizza is then baked for 12 minutes and sprinkled with garlic, black pepper, and basil.
Alternatively, a grilled red pepper, mushroom, and goat cheese pizza can be made by grilling the dough for 2-4 minutes before topping it with the remaining ingredients and grilling for another 2-4 minutes. The pizza can be finished with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil.
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White pizza has more scope for experimentation with toppings
Red pizza is any pizza made with a tomato-based red sauce, while white pizza, or pizza bianca, is made without tomato sauce. The ancient Romans ate white pizza with cheese and chicory or figs, and it was also used to check the temperature of oven bricks. White pizza is often covered with cheese or a creamy sauce, such as béchamel, crème fraîche, or alfredo.
White pizza provides a blank slate for a wide variety of toppings, with the most popular options being vegetables such as spinach, artichokes, mushrooms, and arugula. However, seafood like shrimp, prosciutto, and bacon are also popular additions. For those who enjoy a more luxurious pizza, white pizzas can be topped with a béchamel sauce made with goat cheese and freshly grated nutmeg, or with creamy Fontina, Parmigiano-Reggiano, tender squash, spicy chiles, and arugula.
White pizza sauces tend to be lighter, made with herbs, mozzarella, and olive oil. The absence of a dominant red sauce allows these flavors to shine without competing for attention. In the US, white pizza is often made with an alfredo sauce, which is heavier due to the use of cream, butter, and cheese. However, the white pizza sauce used in Italy is typically lighter, made with butter, flour, milk, and sometimes cheese.
White pizza's versatility extends beyond toppings, as it can be paired with various sauces and cheeses to create unique flavor profiles. For example, a white pizza with garlicky olive oil, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan can be enhanced with the addition of lemon zest, fresh thyme, and basil. Alternatively, a white pizza with zucchini and goat cheese can be topped with peach and bacon or grilled chicken.
The possibilities for experimentation with white pizza are endless, making it a popular choice for those seeking a break from traditional red sauce pizzas.
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Frequently asked questions
Red pizza is any pizza made with a tomato-based red sauce, while white pizza is made without tomato sauce.
Red pizza can have cheese. However, some pizzas, like Rhode Island's red strips, do not come with cheese.
Onions and bell peppers are some vegetables that can be added to red pizza. Other toppings include spices, chunks of vegetables like mushrooms or peppers, and various deli meats.
