The Incredible History of Pizza

Pizza is the first thing to pop in our heads when we hear “fast-food.” Pizza is one of the most popular fast foods savoured by everyone. Whether we are at work or lazing around the home, we can’t say no to Liverpool pizza. But did you know that this celebrated fast food has ancient roots? For centuries, people enjoyed pizza in different forms. In ancient times, flatbreads were topped with different ingredients and made into simple meals. It was not until the late 18th century in Naples that pizza got its current form.

Under the leadership of the Bourbon king, the city of Naples bloomed into one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe. While the urban economy was struggling to stabilize, people were battling poverty and hunger. The working class needed food that was cheap and yet filling. And pizza served both the needs. Initially, street vendors sold pizza and would cut the flatbread according to the needs and budgets of their customers. These flatbreads were topped with easy-to-find ingredients that were savoury yet inexpensive. The simplest of pizzas were topped with lard, garlic, tomato, and salt.

Gradually as the status of Lazzorani improved on the global map, the first pizza restaurants started to appear. During the visit to Naples in 1889, Umberto I and Queen Margherita demanded to taste the region’s local specialties. The chef, Raffaele Esposito, presented three pizzas to the royals. He made the one with basil, caciocavallo (horse cheese), and lard; the second one with whitebait or cecenielli; and the third pizza with mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. The third pizza particularly amused Queen Margherita, and hence it was named after her. The seal of approval by the royals elevated the status of pizza and helped it gain global recognition.

Across the globe, different ingredients and flavours are used for different palates. Besides ready-to-eat pizzas, Liverpool pizza restaurants offer customised pizzas with ingredients of customer’s choice.

  • Vegetarian Pizza

Vegetarian pizzas cater to people who prefer vegetables over meat. Some of the commonly used ingredients in vegetarian pizzas are tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, peppers, onions, corn, and cheese. Vegetarian pizzas are jam-packed with flavours and nutrients and low in calories.

  • Neapolitan Pizza

Neapolitan pizza is filled with ingredients and savoury flavours. It’s one of the widely popular pizzas. If you are fond of intense flavours, you will defiantly enjoy eating Neapolitan pizza. The common ingredients used in this pizza are tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, sausage, salami, olives, eggs, and cheese.

  • Pizza Margherita

 Named after Queen Margherita, it’s one of the world’s oldest pizzas to be ever made. The pizza features mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

  • New York Pizza

New York Pizza appeals to people who enjoy a light and simple food. New York Pizzas are prepared on thin crust and topped with easy-to-digest ingredients.

  • Sicilian Pizza

 If you are a cheese lover, you should definitely try Sicillain pizza. This thin-crust pizza has everything from parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, gorgonzola cheese. To add flavours, chefs use topping of sun-dried tomatoes and other spices. The mixture of melted cheese with dried tomatoes gives it a delicate taste.

Related posts