Neapolitan pizza is not the only pizza that you will find in Italy. There are so many different Italian pizza styles that you can copy and make at home if you want to.
So, how many different kinds of pizza are there in Italy, and what is the most popular type of pizza in Italy?
Margherita Pizza is hands down the most popular types of pizza in Italy.
You might have been used to American-style pizzas and now you want to make the authentic ones from Italy. It is easy to make Italian pizza and there are many pizzas to choose from.
One required thing is to cook the pizzas in a really hot oven. Using your regular home oven will not quite do the job as you would not be able to make the pizza as crispy as needed.
There are options with a slightly softer pizza crust but the iconic crispy crust on Neapolitan pizzas needs to be cooked at a very high temperature, and this can only be done with pizza ovens.
The toppings on an Italian pizza are different from American-style pizzas. Italian toppings tend to be simpler than the American options and they are light and easy to digest.
There are different types of pizza, especially in different parts of Italy. Italian pizza recipe is so unique that it is important to try pizzas if you ever visit Italy.
The sauce is also a bit different when you compare the two. The sauce used on American-style pizzas uses tomato sauce that is simmered while Italian pizzas tend to go with fresh ones.
There are so many differences between what you get in the fast-food pizza centers and the different pizzas you find in Italy.
Italian pizza vs American pizza
It is crucial that when we discuss Italian pizza, we do write about the stark differences between Italian PIzza vs American pizza.
So, what kind of pizza is served in Italy?
Most of the Italian pizzas have fresh ingredients and no frozen ingredients.
Italian pizza tastes so much better because of the fresh ingredients. Italian pizza mostly uses freshly crushed tomatoes with seasoning along with bits of fresh mozzarella and sometimes with no toppings or just one topping.
An authentic Italian pizza has a thin crust and the crust is so flavourful and light that you can eat an entire pizza.
American Pizzas have a ton of toppings whereas most of the time, the type of Italian pizza toppings is very light. You use just one topping or sometimes, it is just sauce cheese and olive oil.
A typical American pizza is pepperoni pizza and most Italians would prefer a nice Margherita pizza over a pepperoni pizza because nothing beats Neapolitan Margherita Pizza.
Traditional Italian pizza is one per person, unlike American pizza where you can buy them in pizza slices.
Authentic Margherita pizza is way different from an American Margherita pizza nad in my opinion, Italian authentic pizzas are the best.
So, if you love pizzas then you should try all the different types of pizzas in Italy.
The Different Types of Italian Pizza
If you are trying to cook Italian-style pizzas at home, then you can choose from these pizzas. The main key to any of these pizzas is to use fresh ingredients found locally in Italy.
1. Pizza Margherita
If you ask, What is the most traditional Italian pizza- it is Margherita pizza.
It is one of the most famous Italian pizzas is Margherita pizza and it originated in Italy.
One of the reasons it is popular is that it is also one of the pizzas that are easy, simple, and easy to make.
This is one of the most popular Italian pizza recipes and you should try this pizza if you ever go to Italy.
The pizza is prepared with fresh tomato sauce, basil, and mozzarella cheese, and this gives the pizza a tangy flavor that goes well with the savory pizza crust that you will be using.
There are also many versions of the Pizza Margherita where people try to cook it in different styles.
One is, of course, the Neapolitan way where you cook it in a really hot pizza oven.
This is one of the most popular types of Italian pizza crust.
Naples also has a version of the pizza Margherita wherein the pizza uses buffalo mozzarella instead of the regular mozzarella cheese.
I have tried to make the authentic Italian Margherita pizza recipe, from scratch, it will never be like the ones you get in Italy.
However, this homemade pizza recipe is worth the try because it gives you an idea of how amazing authentic Italian pizza recipes are!
RELATED- Neapolitan Pizza Dough Recipe
This brings a hint of sweet and salty flavor to the pizza.
2. Pizza Napoletana
Pizza Napoletana or Neapolitan pizza is the very root of pizza-making worldwide. It is the standard of most people for authentic pizza and I do not blame them nor disagree with this claim.
It is a versatile type of pizza wherein you can make different toppings to put on the pizza. The most common is still like making Margherita pizza where the toppings are simple.
The key to making Neapolitan pizza is in the pizza crust. Contrary to popular belief, the pizza crust of a Neapolitan pizza is not the crispiest it should be more known for the soft crust.
Neapolitan pizza is cooked at a very high temperature of 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and this helps puff up the air bubbles inside the pizza crust so when you bite into it, you feel that soft texture.
Do not get me wrong, the outer part of the pizza crust should still be crispy but the crust should not be like a cracker or a biscuit.
The interior should still be soft if we are talking about Neapolitan pizza. It another one of the popular types of Italian pizza crust and one of the best type of pizza you can find in Italy.
If you ever visit Italy, you should try this Italian pizza recipe.
3. Pizza Al Taglio
Roman pizza is not different from the iconic Neapolitan pizza but it has some unique traits. It is served or sold in slices hence the name al Taglio which means, by the slice.
Pizza Al Taglio is one of the best types of pizza in Rome. It is one of the best pizzas in Italy and you are going to love everything about this type of Italian pizza crust.
The dough has high hydration, making it puffs up well when cooked. Pizza al Taglio is cooked in electric ovens for 15 minutes for the crust to rise properly.
The toppings are either cooked with the crust or are placed on the pizza halfway through cooking the crust. This is to prevent overcooking the toppings due to the long cooking time.
Pizza al Taglio is prepared in many different parts of Italy, so there are other versions of the pizza. The guide included shows you the easiest way of making the pizza al Taglio the proper way.
4. Pizza ai Quattro Formaggi
You might have guessed it by the name, but another popular Italian pizza is the four-cheese pizza.
It is a delicious pizza that you can make with the best cheeses available and this Italian pizza recipe is quite famous all over the world.
As I have mentioned already, the pizzas in Italy are made with the available ingredients around them. One of the best cheese combinations is mozzarella, gruyere, gorgonzola, and Parmigiano.
Another great thing about the Quattro Formaggi is changing the base. It is a versatile type of pizza but the main ingredients should stay the same to make the pizza authentic.
If you love cheese, this is the best pizza in Italy for you and you should give it a try.
I love four-cheese pizza and when I first tasted the authentic version, I noticed the slightly tangy taste from the gorgonzola cheese.
It is then beautifully countered with the sweetness of the other cheeses. It is one of the most unique types of Italian pizza crust and you are going to love this Italian pizza recipe.
5. Pizza Siciliana
When you say Sicilian pizza, you are most likely thinking of pizzas sold in square cuts. That is valid but it is not the most accurate definition of authentic Sicilian pizza.
Pizza Sicilia is a Traditional Italian pizza and if you go to Italy, you have to try this type of Italian pizza crust.
Sicilian pizza is one of the best pizza in Italy and it is a traditional Italian pizza in Sicily and something you should try if you go there.
Pizza Siciliana is not usually sold in square cuts but instead, it is made with a round pie just like most pizzas. Stuffed versions are sold with two round pins stacked on top of each other.
The term Sicilian is more accurately defined by the ingredients used on the pizza. One common pizza topping of a Sicilian pizza is anchovies used all over the pizza.
Semolina is also used for Sicilian pizza and it is made from homegrown seeds. The use of cheese is also strictly mozzarella, goat cheese, or cow cheese – any cheese aside from buffalo cheese.
6. Pizza Alla Pala
Pizza Alla Pala might be a more familiar pizza to you when it comes to its shape, and it is shaped like Sicilian pizza with a large oval crust topped with a lot of meat and other toppings.
This type of pizza originated in Rome and is now made in different parts of Italy. The dough is made with high hydration, so when it is cooked, it is cooked in ovens at much lower temperatures.
This is one of the types of pizza in Rome and this traditional Italian pizza crust taste so delicious that it is worth a try.
The dough is also cooked before putting the toppings on it. The crust is crunchy and soft on the inside, which pairs well with fresh vegetables and thin cuts of meat.
Some versions of this pizza have introduced different toppings that are separated but still placed on a single crust.
It is meant to be shared with another person so you get to taste different flavors.
There are different types of pizza in Rome but if you ever go there, you should try this type of pizza.
7. Pizza Fritta
Pizza Fritta might not be the most popular option you can get for traditional Italian pizzas, but it is a great pizza if you want to introduce your palate to new flavors and textures.
Pizza Fritta has been looked down upon for years because some say it is not authentic. Well, I am here to tell you that it is finally getting the attention it deserves with its widespread popularity in Italy.
This deep-fried delicacy is perfect as a snack but you can get full with a single piece of this pizza. This type of pizza is cooked in a deep pan with oil until it changes its color to a golden brown.
Since the dough used for pizzas is activated by yeast, the hot oil tends to puff up the pizza. The half-moon dough will look and taste like a crispy pie with all the delicious and fresh toppings inside.
8. Calzone Napoletano
This is another version of pizza from Italy that stuffs the toppings inside the bread. You might not believe it but Calzone is listed as one of the main styles of pizza in the “Traditions and Customs of Naples”.
We all know how famous calzones are making it one of the best pizza in Italy and this type of pizza is worth trying.
It tastes amazing and if you try it in an Italian pizzeria, you will love it.
Calzone is the perfect meal when you combine it with your favorite salad and beverage. It is made like how you would make a regular pizza, but you only put the toppings on half of the crust.
The crust is the same when you compare it to regular pizza, and the difference is that it is shaped like how you would push out the dough but you do not build up the cornicione or the edge of the crust.
The crust should remain flat and even from the center to the edges, and this will allow you to fold the crust easier without breaking or ripping it.
9. Pizza Nel Ruoto
Not all traditional Italian pizza styles have a thin crust.
The Pizza Nel Ruoto is made with a very puffy dough that almost goes over the round-shaped baking pan used to cook it on.
This is one of those types of pizza where you get a nice thick crust and it is crunchy on the out and nice and airy on the inside.
Ruoto is the name of the baking pan used to cook the pizza. While it may seem new to you, Pizza Nel Ruoto is a traditional pizzas made for decades already.
This type of pizza is usually cooked by using extra dough from making bread. This is why the crust of the pizza becomes crispy on the outside and why it puffs up so high on the pan.
The toppings are, like Italian pizzas, simple and easy to find. It is usually made with sweet tomato sauce, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, and a pinch of salt to taste.
You would love how simple this type of pizza is, and yet it tastes so good, making it on of the best type of Italian pizza crust.
10. Pizza Marinara
Pizza marinara is also one of the most popular types of pizza from Naples, and it is arguably the second most famous type of pizza from Naples and I am sure that you know about this pizza.
The Pizza Marinara got its name from when pizza ingredients were brought by fishermen when they went fishing for long periods. It is a type of pizza made with a lot of garlic.
This is one of my favorite pizzas because it has a lot of garlic. The simple combination of toppings like tomato sauce, oregano, olive oil, and garlic makes the pizza marinara perfect for vegetarians.
The pizza crust is golden brown with the edges slightly charred. This preserves the pizza crust better while the garlic adds the aroma needed for the long storing periods.
If you are an Italian then comment below if I left a traditional Italian pizza recipe that we should try in Italy!
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