Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pizza Types
Friday, June 4th, 2010Over 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.
Fans of New York style will fold their slices in half while eating them. This style features a crust that is thin and chewy, topped with a sweet tomato sauce and delicious fresh mozzarella. One of the hallmarks of a real New York pizza is the yellow grease that runs down your arm from the rich cheese. You will not find a pile of toppings on a New York pie… they like to enjoy the genius of a simple pizza.
Ike Sewel came up with the idea for Chicago style in 1943. His version was deep dish, with tall sides on the crust to hold in all the toppings. He wanted a pizza that was not only delicious, but also filling. In Chicago, the cheese is put on first, followed by the toppings and finally by the sauce. A dab of margarine in the pan helps crisp up the crust. This is not a hand held kind of pie… you must use a fork and knife.
California pies feature unusual topping combinations and exotic ingredients. After rising, the crust is baked partially, to keep the crust’s height. The crust should be airy, light, and tender. You will often find California style pies with toppings like smoked salmon, feta cheese, and asparagus. Vegetarian toppings are very popular.
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 first came into popularity in the 1950s. This style offers a slightly fermented crust so it develops a cracker-like texture. This was a new technique in the history of pizza. A normal thin crust, on the other hand, is still soft inside while being crisp on the outside. It is usually stretched by hand. Thin crust generally has less sauce and toppings than the thicker versions.
Focaccia style pies could be said to be the original version. There is no sauce, just oil, grilled vegetables, and other toppings. This style has been eaten in Europe for generations before the tomatoes were brought back from the New World.
Today, even more types of pizza are being invented. Tex-Mex has a crust that contains some masa, or corn flour. This gives the crust a flavor like a corn chip. They are often topped with Mexican ingredients, like corn, shredded beef, and even picante sauce. Some pizzas that remain regional only change a few ingredients. For instance, in the Midwest, they prefer Provolone cheese instead of fresh mozzarella.
pizza dough recipes vary widely and you can use different kinds of flour and different flavorings for a range of wonderful homemade pizza results. At our site, you can find lots of pizza dough recipes to team with your favorite pizza sauce and pizza toppings. Nothing is as tasty as homemade pizza!
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