Andy Montoya
Pizza is an Italian dish that has evolved from flatbreads with various toppings. The word pizza was first recorded in 997 CE, but the idea of pizza goes back thousands of years. Modern pizza, as we know it today, is believed to have originated in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century. In 1889, Raffaele Esposito, a Neapolitan baker, created the first pizza with a cheese topping to honour Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni. This classic cheese pizza made both cheese and tomato essential ingredients. Today, mozzarella is the most popular cheese used on pizza worldwide, and manufacturers have conducted studies to improve the stretchiness, melting characteristics, and browning of pizza cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date cheese was added to pizza | 1889 |
| Creator | Raffaele Esposito |
| Country of origin | Italy |
| City of origin | Naples |
| Type of cheese added | Mozzarella |
| Other ingredients | Tomatoes, basil |
| Pizza name | Pizza Margherita |
| Pizza name origin | Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni |
| Pizza type | Classic "cheese pizza" |
| Pizza oven type | Wood-fired oven |
| Pizza base type | Leavened wheat-based dough |
| Pizza base alternative name | Crust |
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What You'll Learn
Mozzarella is the most popular pizza cheese
Pizza is an Italian dish that typically consists of a flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients. The history of pizza dates back to antiquity, with various ancient cultures producing flatbreads with several toppings. Modern pizza, however, evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Over time, pizza has become one of the most popular foods in the world, with many variations in toppings and styles. Among the different types of cheeses used on pizzas, mozzarella stands out as the most popular choice globally. While different varieties of cheese can be used on pizza, mozzarella is widely favoured due to its signature meltability and stretchability, creating the classic gooey and stringy texture that is synonymous with pizza.
Mozzarella is a soft, spun-curd cheese made from cow's milk. It has a neutral flavour that pairs well with a variety of toppings, from spicy sausages and peppers to more gentle flavours like mushrooms and bell peppers. The versatility of mozzarella makes it a perfect base for combining with other cheeses, such as cheddar, provolone, or Parmesan, to enhance the overall taste experience.
In the United States, mozzarella is estimated to account for about 30% of all pizza cheese used, with the remaining consisting of blends or other cheese varieties. While pre-shredded mozzarella is convenient, shredding a block of mozzarella yourself can improve meltability and create a more authentic pizza experience. Additionally, low-moisture mozzarella is often preferred by professional pizzerias as it helps prevent the cheese from turning into a single large piece when cooled, which can cause it to fall off the pizza.
The popularity of mozzarella on pizza is evident in the classic Pizza Margherita, which features fresh basil, sweet tomato sauce, and mozzarella. This simple yet iconic combination showcases the beauty of mozzarella, with its ability to complement other ingredients while adding its own unique textural and flavourful dimensions.
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Raffaele Esposito created the first pizza Margherita in 1889
Pizza has its roots in ancient history, with various cultures producing flatbreads with several toppings. The word "pizza" was first recorded in 997 CE in a Latin manuscript from Gaeta, Italy. Modern pizza, however, evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and 18th centuries.
In 1889, Raffaele Esposito, a chef at Pizzeria Brandi in Naples, created the first pizza Margherita. According to legend, Esposito was commissioned by the Royal Palace of Capodimonte to create a pizza in honour of Queen Margherita of Italy, who was visiting Naples. Raffaele Esposito created three different pizzas for the Queen, and she strongly preferred the one with toppings that mirrored the colours of the Italian flag: red (tomato), white (mozzarella), and green (basil). This combination of toppings, representing Italy, was allegedly created to honour the country's unification. Esposito named the pizza after Queen Margherita, and today, a plaque near Pizzeria Brandi marks the location as the birthplace of the pizza Margherita.
The popularity of pizza Margherita is undeniable, and it has become a beloved and iconic dish worldwide. It is known for its simple yet delicious combination of flavours and its association with Italian culture and cuisine. The base of a pizza Margherita is typically made with a dough of water, salt, yeast, and flour, which is then stretched and shaped into a disc. The dough is then topped with crushed tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and extra virgin olive oil before being baked in a traditional brick oven or a modern electric or gas oven.
While the story of Queen Margherita's visit and Raffaele Esposito's creation of pizza Margherita is widely circulated, some historians have questioned its veracity. It is suggested that the note inviting Esposito to create a pizza for the Queen may have been forged, and that the pizza was likely served at Pizzeria Brandi, but the use of those toppings was already widespread in Naples at the time. Nevertheless, the legend has persisted, and the pizza's popularity has endured, with the Margherita variety becoming a staple in pizzerias and Italian restaurants around the world.
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The ancient Greeks and Persians made pizza-like foods
The history of pizza dates back to ancient times, with various ancient cultures producing flatbreads with toppings. In antiquity, flatbreads topped with savouries served as a simple meal. The ancient Greeks and Persians made pizza-like foods as early as 930 to 730 BC. In Ancient Greece, citizens made a flatbread called plakous, which was flavoured with toppings such as herbs, onion, cheese, and garlic. Another term for this type of flatbread was placentae, which referred to pastries made with flour, cheese, oil, and honey. Athenaeus of Naucratis, a 2nd-century grammarian, mentions that these flatbreads were topped with fruit puree and used as sacrificial offerings.
In the 6th century BC, Persian soldiers of the Achaemenid Empire during the rule of Darius the Great baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields. This practice is mentioned in Virgil's Aeneid, written in 19 BC, which describes a meal where both the plate and its contents were eaten.
The word "pizza" was first documented in 997 CE in Gaeta, Italy, and the dish likely evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and mid-18th centuries. Modern pizza is typically made with a flat base of leavened wheat-based dough, topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, and baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven.
While the ancient Greeks and Persians made pizza-like foods, the addition of cheese to pizza has evolved over time. Early pizzas may have included cheese, but the specific types and combinations of cheeses used today are the result of experimentation and innovation. Mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, and Parmesan are now commonly used on pizzas, with mozzarella being the most popular variety globally.
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Pizza was originally a labourer's snack
Pizza, a dish that has become a staple in many diets around the world, has a long history that dates back to ancient times. While the exact origins of pizza are uncertain, it is believed to have evolved from flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and 18th centuries. Originally, pizza was a simple dish consisting of flatbread with various toppings, and it was often a snack for labourers. Over time, pizza has undergone significant transformations and spread worldwide, becoming one of the most popular foods today.
The word "pizza" was first documented in 997 CE in Gaeta, Italy, and gradually spread to different parts of central and southern Italy. In its early forms, pizza was a flatbread topped with various ingredients, including garlic, salt, lard, and sometimes cheese. It is worth noting that the addition of cheese to pizza occurred later and was not always a standard ingredient. In the late 19th or early 20th century, sweet versions of pizza were also common, and early cookbooks from this period include recipes for sweet pizzas.
The innovation that transformed the concept of pizza was the use of tomatoes as a topping. The addition of tomatoes to pizza is believed to have occurred after the Columbian Exchange in the 16th century. The combination of tomatoes and cheese on flatbread became the standard variety of pizza that we know today. In 1889, Raffaele Esposito, a Neapolitan baker, created the first pizza with a cheese topping to honour Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni of Italy. This pizza, named after the queen, became the classic "cheese pizza" and established tomatoes and cheese as essential ingredients.
Pizza's global popularity exploded in the 20th century, particularly in the 1950s, when the first pizza ovens entered the country. Pizzerias and restaurants began to spring up across the United States and Canada, and pizza became widely available. The quest for the perfect pizza cheese also intensified, with manufacturers conducting studies and experiments to improve characteristics such as stretchiness, melting, browning, and moisture content. The development of mass-market pizzas led to the creation of less expensive processed cheeses or cheese analogues to meet consumer demands and enhance shelf life.
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Pizza is an Italian dish with significant Italian roots
Pizza is a dish with significant Italian roots. The word "pizza" was first documented in 997 CE in Gaeta, a town in southern Italy. The word is believed to have originated from the dialectal word "pinza", which means "clamp", or "pliers, pincers, tongs, forceps" in modern Italian. The dish itself evolved from flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and mid-18th centuries.
The ancient Greeks and Romans consumed flatbreads with toppings, which could be considered precursors to pizza. In ancient Rome, there was a type of flatbread called "panis focacius", which is similar to the modern-day focaccia, that was topped with ingredients such as cheese spreads, vegetables, and fruits. In ancient Greece, flatbreads were supplemented with oils, herbs, and cheese.
In Naples, Italy, during the 18th and early 19th centuries, flatbreads were often topped with ingredients such as garlic, salt, lard, and cheese. However, it is uncertain when tomatoes, a key ingredient in modern pizza, were first added. It is believed that tomatoes became a common topping after the Columbian Exchange in the 16th century.
The addition of cheese to pizza occurred around a century after the invention of pizza. In 1889, Raffaele Esposito, a Neapolitan baker, created the first pizza with a cheese topping. He combined tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colors of the Italian flag and named it after Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni. This classic "cheese pizza" established cheese and tomato as essential ingredients in pizza, especially in Naples.
Today, pizza is a beloved dish worldwide, with mozzarella being the most popular cheese variety used globally. The quest for the perfect pizza cheese has led to numerous studies and experiments aimed at optimizing characteristics such as stretchiness, melting, browning, fat content, and moisture retention. Pizza has undoubtedly come a long way since its early days in Italy, and it continues to be a favorite among people of all ages.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese was added to pizza in 1889, when Raffaele Esposito, a baker from Naples, created the first pizza with cheese as we know it today.
The word 'pizza' was first recorded in 997 CE in Gaeta, Italy. However, the concept of pizza is thought to date back to ancient times, with various ancient cultures producing flatbreads with several toppings.
Mozzarella is the most commonly used cheese on pizza. However, other cheeses such as provolone, Cheddar, and Parmesan are also popular.
Pizza has evolved from flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century. Initially, it was often served with toppings such as garlic, salt, and lard. Over time, tomatoes, cheese, and other ingredients became standard, and pizza began to be served in pizzerias and restaurants.
