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Neapolitan pizza

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Neapolitan pizza is a special kind of round pizza. It comes from the city of Naples in Italy. This pizza is famous for its soft and thin dough. The edges of the crust are quite high.

Many people love it because of its unique texture. It is more than just a simple meal. It is a way of life for many. People feel great pride in making it correctly.

Making the dough follows very strict rules. Bakers use wheat flour, salt, and water. They also use natural Neapolitan yeast or brewer's yeast. The dough must be fat-free and sugar-free.

You must knead the dough by hand or with a low-speed mixer. After it rises, you shape it by hand. You cannot use a rolling pin or a machine. The dough must be no more than 0.25 cm thick.

The ingredients for the toppings are very specific too. Many use San Marzano tomatoes for the sauce. These tomatoes grow on volcanic plains near Mount Vesuvius.

For cheese, people often use Mozzarella or Fior di Latte. The pizza is cooked in a wood-fired oven. It bakes very quickly for 60 to 90 seconds. This fast heat makes the crust just right.

This way of making pizza is a protected art. The AVPN helps keep these traditions alive. They even use mystery shoppers to check the shops.

The European Union gave it a special status in 2010. This is called a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed product. This means the recipe has stayed the same for 30 years. It shows the food is truly different from others.

Making this pizza is a part of world culture. UNESCO included the art of Neapolitan pizza making on its list.

This list is for intangible cultural heritage. It means the skill is passed down through people. You can find other pizzas like Pizza Margherita or Pizza Marinara. These are all part of the big Neapolitan food world. It is a tasty way to learn about history.

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