A photo of a pizza by Valerio Capello – Wikimedia commons

15 Awesome Facts about Pizza


 

Pizza is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients. Some of the ingredients used are sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions, olives, vegetables, meat, ham, et Cetera.

The ingredients are then baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven. A small pizza is sometimes called a pizzetta. A person who makes pizza is known as a pizzaiolo. In the article are 15 awesome facts about pizza.

1. Where did the name pizza originate?

The word “pizza” first appeared in a Latin text from the town of Gaeta, then still part of the Byzantine Empire, in 997 AD; the text states that a tenant of certain property is to give the bishop of Gaeta Duodecim pizze (“twelve pizzas”) every Christmas Day, and another twelve every Easter Sunday.

Based on etymology, the “Vocabolario etimologico Della Lingua Italiana” reveals that pizza comes from the dialectal pinza from the Latin pinsere, which means to pound or stamp. Other etymologists suggest it is related to the Lombardic word bizzo or Pizzo, which means mouthful, and is related to the English word bite.

2. Neapolitan pizza is made with San Marzano tomatoes

A San Marzano tomato is a variety of plum tomatoes. The San Marzano vines are an indeterminate type of vine, and have a somewhat longer season than other paste tomato varieties, making them particularly suitable for warmer climates.

As is typical of heirloom plants, San Marzano is an open-pollinated variety that breeds true from generation to generation, making seed-saving practical for the home gardener or farmer. Their flesh is much thicker with fewer seeds, and the taste is stronger, sweeter, and less acidic. This is why it’s preferred to be used to make pizza.

3. Sicilian pizza is a popular variant of pizza in Italy

Sicilian Pizza photo by Lawrence – Wikimedia commons

Sicilian pizza is pizza prepared in a manner that originated in Sicily, Italy. Sicilian pizza is also known as sfincione or focaccia with toppings. This type of pizza became a popular dish in western Sicily by the mid-19th century and was the type of pizza usually consumed in Sicily until the 1860s.

It eventually reached North America in a slightly altered form, with a thicker crust and a rectangular shape. However, it can also be round and similar to the Neapolitan pizza.

4. Is there a difference between Italian and US pizza?

Every part of the world prepares its kinds of pizza according to its style. Therefore, the kind of pizza prepared in the United States of America is not the same as the one prepared in Italy for various reasons.

Italy offers sauce that many Americans might not be used to. Unlike Italy, Americans have diverse tastebuds requiring pizzerias to offer a slew of toppings and cheeses. Also, there’s a large difference between Italian pizza and American pizza and it all starts with the crust.

5. Pizza became an iconic dish in the United States in the 20th century

Pizza arrived in the United States in the early 20th century along with waves of Italian immigrants who settled primarily in the large cities of the Northeast. It got a boost both in popularity and regional spread after soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.

Thirteen per cent of the United States population consumes pizza on any given day. Pizza chains such as Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s, pizzas from take-and-bake pizzerias, and chilled or frozen pizzas from supermarkets make pizza readily available nationwide.

6. A pizza has 250 to 350 calories per slice

A photo of pizza by Missvain – Wikimedia commons

Did you know that pizza can have some nutritional value depending on the sauce and toppings? How the pizza crust is made will also affect the number of calories and overall health benefits.

Using whole wheat flour instead of white flour increases the number of complex carbs. This also increases nutrient density, and whole grains are linked to reduced risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes.

A pizza has 250 to 350 calories per slice, and half of those come from fat. High-calorie toppings include cheese, greasy sausage, alfredo (white) sauce, and salamis such as the ever-popular pepperoni.

7. Pizza is not just a meal but also an experience

Pizza is an incredibly satisfying food and it’s hard not to be compelled to grab one after a hard day’s work! We all know pizza is pretty much the best thing on the planet, but what exactly makes it so delicious?

Research shows that the delectability of pizza can be largely attributed to its savoury or meaty taste characteristics. This is why it is an experience because when you eat different types of pizzas you get different flavours and sweetnesses which you’ll enjoy all.

8. What makes Argentina pizza unique?

A photo of a pizza with cheese by Kurt Kaiser – Wikimedia commons

Standard Argentine pizza has a thicker crust, called “media masa” (half dough) than traditional Italian-style pizza and uses more cheese. In Argentina, pizza slices are often served topped with fainá, a Genoese chickpea-flour pancake, and accompanied by Moscato wine.

The most popular variety of pizza is called “mozzarella”, similar to Neapolitan pizza but made with a thicker “media masa” crust, triple cheese and tomato sauce, usually also with olives.

9. Rome is the historical place where the largest pizza has ever been prepared

The world’s largest pizza was prepared in Rome in December 2012 and measured 1,261 square meters. The pizza was named “Ottavia” in homage to the first Roman emperor Octavian Augustus. Ottavia was made with a gluten-free base.

10. Which is the most expensive pizza ever prepared?

To be general there are more expensive pizzas that have been reported. Unfortunately, they are not recognised by Guinness World Records. Pizzas such as the “Pizza Royale 007” which cost £4,200 at Haggis restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland, was not recognised by Guinness World Records.

Pizza Royale 007 is topped with caviar, lobster, and 24-carat gold dust. The Caviar pizza which cost US$1,000 was made by Nino’s Bellissima pizzeria in New York City, New York. The pizza was supposed to come after that cost US$2,700 and was sold at Industry Kitchen (USA) in New York.

11. Pizza is mostly consumed on big game days

According to The American Pizza Community, more than 12.5 million pizzas are ordered for the big game. Dominos alone sells 11 million slices of pizza on Super Bowl Sunday, and in 2021, Pizza Hut reported selling more than 1.4 million pizzas the same day. The study revealed that 67 per cent more pizza is consumed on the day of the big game.

12. Mozzarella cheese is commonly used on pizza

Mozzarella Cheese photo by Popo le Chien – Wikimedia commons

Mozzarella is a southern Italian cheese traditionally made from Italian buffalo’s milk by the pasta filata method. Fresh mozzarella is generally white but when seasoned it turns to a light yellow depending on the animal’s diet.

Due to its high moisture content, it is traditionally served the day after it is made but can be kept in brine for up to a week or longer when sold in vacuum-sealed packages. Low-moisture mozzarella can be kept refrigerated for up to a month, though some shredded low-moisture mozzarella is sold with a shelf life of up to six months.

Mozzarella is used for most types of pizza and several pasta dishes or served with sliced tomatoes and basil in Caprese salad. Other cheeses are also used, particularly Italian cheeses including provolone, pecorino romano, ricotta, and scamorza.

13. The bottom of the pizza, called the crust

The crust may vary widely according to style. Some may be thin as in a typical hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza or thick as in a deep-dish Chicago style. It is traditionally plain, but may also be seasoned with garlic or herbs, or stuffed with cheese.

The outer edge of the pizza is sometimes referred to as the cornicione. Some pizza dough contains sugar, to help its yeast rise and enhance the browning of the crust.

14. Papa John’s Pizza made a great invention in pizza-making art

Pap Johns photo by Miguel Alvarez – Wikimedia commons

Papa John’s International, Inc. is an American pizza restaurant chain. It is the fourth largest pizza delivery restaurant chain in the United States, with headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky and Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan areas.

In 1984 the American pizza chain, Papa John’s Pizza invented dipping sauce specifically for pizza. The dipping has since been adopted by some when eating pizza, especially the crust.

15. Pizza has become one of the most popular meals among Kenyan millennials

Pizza has become one of the most popular meals among Kenyan millennials. This is because of the establishment of a lot of domestic joints, Italian restaurants and international pizza joints.

Some fine-dining restaurants have even started selling pizza too. Debonairs is a popular pizza restaurant and has also been recognised as one of the best in Kenya.