The world owes Italy a big hug for introducing us to pizza. It’s got people appreciating flour, cheese and the simplest of flavours. A cheesy slice of pizza is what a lot of us need to get us through a sad day. The pizza is an entirely simple dish. It uses flour, a very easy ingredient to get your hands on, combined with an amazing tomato sauce along with some lovely cheese. And because it’s that easy to make, every culture across the globe has taken liberties with it. But before we talk about how the pizza was colonised, let’s dive into how it came into existence.
Origin of the pizza
Pizza came into being in the hustle and bustle of Naples, Italy, in the 18th century. It was made for the working class who wanted food that was easy to make and easy to eat. The ancestor of “on-the-go” food was born. Tomatoes had become a local vegetable by then, and the ease of making a pizza made it into a street food everyone wanted to get their hands on. The simple sauce marinara sauce, the cheese and the flour all came together perfectly and didn’t cost too much.
Italy claimed the Margherita pizza, named after the then-queen, because it showed the colours of the Italian flag. Too fabulous to be held down, the pizza went around the world and got flavours from every corner. It was the culinary playground for many with far too less restrictions. This is why most countries have their version of pizzas along with Margherita, as a means to show respect.
Not surprisingly, the world’s oldest pizzeria is in Naples, Italy. It opened in 1830 and is considered quite a historic landmark. Since then, there have been over 78,000 pizzerias around the world, but none that can beat the simple pizza you’ll find in the streets of Italy.
A history of pizza
The flatbreads were enjoyed by civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans. When tomatoes, with a previously terrible reputation became accepted by the lot at Naples, the pizza came to be. Italian migrants spread the joy to the world when they moved around. It first came to the US and the opening of Lombardi’s settled matters.
Since then, many pizzerias have emerged, each with their own flair. In 1990s, pizza chains started gaining popularity and people replaced complicated dinners with a pizza delivered to their doorstep.
Pizza in India
Pizzas came to India, and let’s just say there was finally something to give biryani a bit of competition (almost). Major brands like Domino’s and Pizza Hut made their way from America to the Indian crowd and showed a different side to our good old cheese and flour. There exist far too many flavours in India, and pizza proved to be just the right disk to throw them onto. When we’re tired of the rice and roti, we bring in the same old comforting flavours onto a pizza. And the cheese makes it even better. It’s a guilty pleasure and a constant craving.
Come to think of it, a pizza is almost a salad. There’s just a fantastic base and it doesn’t make you feel terrible after. The range of toppings and sauces is what elevates this simple dish. In India, the most popular pizza sauces are tandoori chicken, tikka masala, and butter chicken, among others. People here like their food spicy. But since the white revolution wasn’t kidding around in India, the cheese part of the pizza has been doubled down on. There’s extra cheese, double cheese, and double cheese crust, among others.
A food enthusiast and a blogger – someone who likes to eat and write about it. I’m passionate about exploring different cuisines and challenging my palette. I give into my food craving regularly and am often on the hunt to find my new favorite food place in town.
