Pizza

Pizza is a globally recognized Italian dish that represents a vast culinary tradition.

It typically consists of a flat, leavened base made from wheat dough. This base is topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various other ingredients. The assembly is then baked at very high temperatures. Traditionally, this occurs in a wood-fired oven to achieve a specific texture. Pizza is much more than just a meal; it is a cultural phenomenon. It is enjoyed as street food, in Mediterranean restaurants, or through delivery services.

The process of making pizza requires specific tools and precise heat management. A person who specializes in this craft is called a pizzaiolo. To move the dough into a hot oven, the maker uses a long paddle known as a peel. To prevent sticking, the peel is often sprinkled with cornmeal. The pizza may rest directly on hot bricks or a metal screen. In professional settings, chefs use electric deck ovens or conveyor belt ovens. Some styles, like Sicilian pizza, are baked in a pan instead. At home, many people use a pizza stone to mimic the heat of a brick oven.

There are many distinct varieties of pizza defined by their crust and toppings. The crust, or the bottom of the pizza, can vary significantly in thickness. A typical Neapolitan pizza features a thin crust. In contrast, a Chicago-style pizza is known for being thick and deep-dish. The outer edge of the crust is sometimes called the cornicione. Toppings also vary by region and tradition. For example, Pizza Marinara from Naples uses only tomato, olive oil, oregano, and garlic. It contains no cheese at all.

Other famous varieties include the Pizza Quattro Stagioni, or "four seasons" pizza. This style features toppings divided into four sections to represent the seasons. Another example is the Pizza Capricciosa, which includes ham, mushrooms, artichokes, and olives. Cheese selection is also a vital part of the craft. While mozzarella is most common, makers may use buffalo mozzarella, Gorgonzola, or Pecorino Romano. In mass-market versions, manufacturers often create cheese analogues. These are designed to melt and brown perfectly while remaining economical.

The history of pizza-like foods stretches back through many ancient civilizations. In the 6th century BC, Persian soldiers baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on their shields. Ancient Greeks also added oils, herbs, and cheese to their bread. A 2023 discovery of a fresco in Pompeii suggests a pizza-like dish existed in Roman times. The specific word "pizza" was first recorded in a Latin manuscript from Gaeta in AD 997. This document noted that twelve pizzas were to be given as a yearly payment. Modern pizza evolved from Neapolitan flatbreads during the 18th or 19th century.

A popular legend links the Pizza Margherita to Italian royalty. It is said that Raffaele Esposito created this pizza in 1889 for Queen Margherita. He used red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil to mimic the Italian flag. While some researchers doubt the authenticity of this specific story, the name remains iconic. Pizza eventually traveled to the United States with Italian immigrants in the late 19th century. Lombardi's, the first American pizzeria, opened in New York City in 1905.

Today, the pizza industry has a massive global significance. In 2017, the world pizza market was valued at US$128 billion. In the United States alone, the market reached $44 billion across 76,000 pizzerias. Approximately 13% of the US population aged two and older eats pizza on any given day. The cultural value of the dish is also officially recognized. In 2009, Neapolitan pizza became a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) dish in the European Union. In 2017, UNESCO added the art of making Neapolitan pizza to its intangible cultural heritage list.