Over the years many types of pizza have been developed. Some styles are regional; others seem to appear all over. This just speaks to the popularity of pizza as a convenient, delicious meal. Whether you bake it yourself or get it delivered from a pizza place, this is one meal that is enjoyed all over the world.
New York Style features a thin, chewy crust that supports a sweet tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese. It should be eaten with the slice folded in half if you want to be authentic. Yellow oil should drip down your hand and arm… don’t worry, it is from the cheese, which contains a high amount of butterfat. New Yorkers don’t like a lot of toppings on their pizzas… they appreciate the goodness of a well-done simple pizza.
Chicago Style is deep dish. Invented by Ike Sewell in 1943, the deep-dish pizza contains a huge amount of toppings to make sure you are getting a hearty meal. Additionally, the crust is built up high on the sides to contain all the goodies. In Chicago, the cheese goes on first, then the toppings, and finally the sauce. Margarine is added to the pan to create a crisp, lightly fried crust on the bottom. This is eaten with a knife and fork.
California or West Coast style features unusual toppings and combinations. After rising, the dough is partially baked, and then finished once the toppings are added. This allows the crust to bake into a delightful, airy, and tender bread. Some common toppings include smoked salmon, shrimp, Dungeness crab, or asparagus. Vegetarian pies are very popular too.
Pan style features a crust that is a bit thicker. Oil is added to the pan before cooking, making a crunchy fried crust bottom. The flavor is also slightly different. All sorts of toppings can be used on pan style.
Cracker style crusts became the rage in the 1950s. This dough was allowed to ferment before baking, which gave it a cracker-like texture. This was a new technique. Normal thin crust is usually hand stretched. One may wonder where did pizza originate? Most think of Italy, but these thin crusts were very popular with the Greeks and Etruscans, who happened to be occupying Italy.
Focaccia is more than just a bread… it is one of the original ways pizza was served. It did not have a sauce. Oils, vegetables and other toppings were added and baked on. This style has been eaten in Europe long before the tomato was introduced by New World explorers.
Still more styles are invented all the time for example. Tex-Mex versions offer Mexican toppings like corn, picante sauce, shredded beef, and other ingredients on a crust that is made with a percentage of masa flour. The crust is more corn chip-like than a normal crust. Other regional styles may use specific ingredients. For example, in the Midwest, Provolone cheese is preferred to mozzarella.
Everyone has their own favorite pizza toppings. Whether you would prefer plenty of meat piled high, delicate seafood with aromatic herbs, a selection of healthy vegetables or a combination of flavors on the pizza of your dreams, there are lots of pizza recipes for everyone to enjoy at our site.