PIZZA

Are you going for a family get-together, a birthday celebration, or even a mini graduation party and you don’t know what to take along? You can never go wrong with a box of pizza. A lot of people have created so many memories over a big slice of pizza. We can all come to a unanimous decision that pizza is awesome and it’s so loved in different countries around the world. There’s a lot to learn about this popular snack, let us get to it.

WHAT IS A PIZZA?

Pizza is a dish consisting of a round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with some combination of olive oil, oregano, tomato, cheese, and some other ingredients which are usually baked at a high temperature. There are varieties of pizza, each with a different type of topping or has a different method of preparation. Let us talk about a few of them.

— NEAPOLITAN PIZZA

This is the original pizza, it dates back to the 18th century in Naples, Italy. There are different variations of the Neapolitan pizza, which are: Pizza Marinara, Pizza Margherita, and Pizza Margherita extra.

–CHICAGO PIZZA

This type of pizza can also be referred to as Deep-Dish Pizza, it got its name from the city it was invented in. It was created by a man named Ike Sewell. He made a pizza with a thick crust that had raised edges, similar to a pie, and had the ingredients in reverse.

–NEW YORK-STYLE PIZZA

Its uniqueness is the tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It has large, foldable slices and a crispy outer crust. New York-Style pizza is one of America’s most famous regional pizza types.

–SICILIAN PIZZA

Also known as “sfincione” was brought to America in the 19th century by Sicilian immigrants. This square-cut pizza is served with or without the cheese.

–GREEK PIZZA

Greek Pizza was created by Greek immigrants who came to America. This type of pizza features a thick and chewy crust cooked in shallow, oiled pans resulting in a nearly deeply fried bottom.

–CALIFORNIA PIZZA

California Pizza which can also be called Gourmet pizza dates back to the late 1970s when Chef Ed LaDou created a pizza with mustard, ricotta, pate, and red pepper.

–DETROIT PIZZA

Detroit Pizza was firstly baked in a square automotive parts pan in1940. This pizza is topped with pepperoni first, then followed by brick cheese which is spread to the edges of the pan.

–ST. LOUIS PIZZA

St. Louis Pizza has a thin crust with a cracker-like thickness that is made without yeast. This pizza is normally cut into three or four-inch rectangles.

ORIGIN OF PIZZA

The word “PIZZA” could come from the Greek word “pitta” meaning “pie” or the Langobardic word “bizzo” meaning “bite”.

During the 18th century, an early English lexicographer, John Florio, entered the word “pizza” into the Italian-English dictionary meaning ‘a small cake or wafer’. Most historians acclaim that the Italians created the modern-day pizza. Regardless, baked bread with added toppings can be the ancestor of different cuisines.

History lets us know that the contemporary pizza was firstly made by a baker from Naples called, Raffaele Esposito in 1889. He made the pizza in honor of King Umberto and Queen Margherita, the pizza was later named Margherita pizza because the queen thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

PIZZA INGREDIENTS

All-Purpose Flour, Yeast, Baking powder, Salt, Sugar, Processed Cheese, Tomato, Mushroom, Olive oil, Ketchup, Green pepper, Onion, Oregano, Chili flakes, Mozzarella and Water as requires

HOW TO MAKE A PIZZA

Add the all-purpose flour to a dough kneading plate. Add salt and baking powder and sieve the mixture. Make a hole in the center and a reasonable amount of olive oil in it. Inside another bowl, take little warm water and mix the yeast alongside the sugar. Mix it properly and keep it aside for 15 mins so that the yeast will rise. After the yeast has risen, add it to the flour and knead the dough nicely using the right quantity of water. Keep the dough aside for about 4-6 hours. Then knead the dough one more time and you have your pizza dough ready.

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees Celsius to make the pizza base. Sprinkle a little flour on the area where you’ll roll your dough. Roll your dough into a circular base with a rolling pin. After making the base, use a fork to prick the base so that it doesn’t rise and it gets to bake nicely. Place the base into the preheated oven and bake it for about 10 minutes and you have your pizza base ready.

Wash your green pepper and slice neatly and thinly into a bowl and do the same thing to the onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Grate the mozzarella and processed cheese into different bowls.

Then, spread ketchup all over the freshly baked pizza base. Spread half the processed cheese all over the base and put the veggies all across the base, then after that, add the mozzarella cheese.

Preheat the oven at about 250 degrees Celsius for at least 5 minutes before putting the pizza base in the oven. Let the pizza bake for 10 minutes at 250 degrees Celsius. After that, take out the pizza and slice it. Sprinkle oregano and chili flakes and any other topping of your choice. Serve hot and enjoy your meal.

Pizza is a snack and it can also be referred to as a meal. Pizza toppings contains glutamate which can be found in cheese, tomato, pepperoni, and sausage. When we eat pizza, the glutamate excites our brain and makes us crave more of it. This compound causes our mouths to water in anticipation of the next bite. Indeed pizza has become part of life in the United state that we might not even think about how it tastes or why we love it. Pizza is so delicious and the next time you have a slice, appreciate all of the elements that excite our taste buds and cause our mouths to water.