Pizza From Around The World
Pizza is a food that is loved internationally, but if you took a trip around the world trying different countries pizza along the way, you would find that not all countries make pizza the same!
So, what are the differences between how we all enjoy our pizza? Let’s take a look!
Italy
Ahhh Italy. Where pizza as we know it, began. Pizza has a long history. Flatbreads with toppings were consumed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. (The latter ate a version with herbs and oil, similar to today's focaccia.) But the modern birthplace of pizza is southwestern Italy's Campania region, home to the city of Naples.
Pizza actually began in Naples as a breakfast food to feed the poor. However, today, we have grown to love pizza at lunch and dinner time. A traditional Italian pizza will consist of a thin crust (traditionally it would be stone baked), homemade sauce made from freshly peeled tomatoes and a blend of savory, complimenting herbs, Bufala Mozzarella and fresh Basil added right before serving.
America
In the late 19th century, Italian immigrants brought pizza to the USA. From New York to Chicago to California, Americans consume more than three billion pizzas a year, but the type of pizza varies depending on where you are in the country.
New York style pizza tends to be hand tossed and very large, usually on a thin, crispy crust and often sold by the slice.
Chicago style pizza is quite the opposite. This pizza is “deep dish” and often looks almost like a pie. Chicago pizza is a thick pizza baked in a pan and layered with cheese, fillings like meat and vegetables, and sauce. The crust is usually two to three inches tall and gets slightly fried due to the oil in the pan.
Detroit-style pizza relies on a thick and fluffy crust reminiscent of focaccia. It is most commonly a rectangular pizza and is traditionally topped with Wisconsin brick cheese that goes all the way to the edges and caramelizes against the high-sided heavyweight rectangular pan.
No matter where you are in America, you’re likely to find one of these pizza styles is available somewhere nearby!
Korea
Korean pizza often contains sweet elements, much like a lot of Korean food. Koreans love to challenge the traditional pizza by adding new, interesting toppings. You can find Kimchi, T-bone steak, or even Wagyu beef on a pizza in Korea.
Like some American pizza chains, stuffed crust is also common. But unlike American pizza, where the crust mostly contains cheese, you can find all sorts of ingredients. One of the most common crust fillings of Korean pizza is mashed sweet potatoes.
If you take a trip to Korea, be sure to try their pizza and don’t be afraid to be adventurous with your toppings!
Turkey
In Turkey you will find that they have their very own version of pizza, and it’s called Lahmacun.
Lahmacun is a thin layer of bread topped with minced vegetables, and herbs including onions, garlic, tomatoes, red peppers, and parsley, flavored with spices such as chili pepper and paprika, then baked.
The exact manner of baking in this dish can be traced back to the 17th century and has later been adapted by South Americans, who gave it a Latin spin. It is now known as “sfiha” in Argentina and Brazil.
Argentina
As mentioned above, Sfiha is a dish enjoyed by many in Argentina.
It is originally a Middle Eastern dish and is typically made in the shape of a round pizza pie and filled with seasoned ground mutton or beef, labneh (a Middle Eastern cheese), and sometimes vegetables.
Sfiha may look slightly different to your traditional pizzas from Italy, but it is still an extremely popular dish, so definitely give it a try!
So, if you’re a pizza lover and a travel lover too, you’ll find that pizza is everywhere you look. Going to a new country? You can always rely on pizza to satisfy your hunger and bring people together. As it certainly seems that a love of pizza is one thing we can all agree on!
One of the best things about making your own pizza is your chance to explore different cuisines and world flavours such as those above. But there are many more delicious pizzas you can make that draw inspiration from different countries around the world.
If you're inspired enough by these international pizzas to try making them at home, then consider using our sourdough pizza dough balls or bases to make them yourself. All our pizza products are made using top quality flour and natural yeast. All delivered straight to your door.
Order yours here.
