Image eating the perfect slice of Neapolitan pizza, where every bite is a delightful balance of textures and tastes, transporting you to the streets of Naples with every savoury mouthful.
Neapolitan pizza is characterised by its Italian, fresh ingredients and tradition baking methods, and here at Cinquecento, we serve up authentic meals throughout London.
We’ve created this blog to tell you why this is always a great choice when deciding what to eat.
The History of Neapolitan Pizza
The first Neapolitan pizza was served in Naples in the 18th century.
The classic Margherita pizza was created in honour of queen Margherita of savoy.
Since then, this pizza has become so engrained in Italian society that UNESCO has recognised Neapolitan pizza as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage!
Unique Ingredients and Preparation
Neapolitan pizza is Associazione Versace Pizza Napolenta certified according to the AVPN guidelines.
Such guidelines include the method of production, the shape of the round dough, the cooking and the toppings. The must have features of Neapolitan pizzas are its dough, made with ‘00’ flour, fermented for 24-48 hours, as well as san Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.
Additionally, Italians make their dough with 00 flour and like to allow their dough to ferment for a minimum of 10-12 hours.
They then hand stretch their dough so that the crust will have a lighter texture and cook pizza in a wood-fired oven at extremely high temperatures.
Taste and Texture
Neapolitan pizza has a distinctively chewy crust with a slightly charred exterior, and it tastes so great due to the freshness of ingredients used.
This differs to other American pizza styles such as the New York slice or a Chicago deep-dish as American pizzas tend to be comprised of slightly less fresh ingredients .
Is Neapolitan Pizza Style Healthier?
Need an excuse to eat yet another pizza for dinner this week?
Well, good news, it turns out Neapolitan pizza may be healthier than you think.
Aside from providing you with energy, a Neapolitan pizza can count as one of your five a day due to the DOP tomato sauce, and especially if your pizza is topped with vegetables like olives or spinach.
It’s thin crust may be easier on your digestive system, and there are less calories in a Neapolitan pizza in comparison to pizza’s American counterparts due to the more sporadic use of cheese as a topping.
Why is Naples Pizza So Famous?
We all know and love Neapolitan pizza for obvious reasons, but why is it really so famous?
Neapolitan pizza sparked global pizza creations everywhere, but nothing compares to the traditional, artisanal pizza made in Naples.
Chefs around the world wish to imitate this iconic style of pizza because it is just that good. In Italy and around the world, Neapolitan pizza is typically eaten at gatherings whilst sat at a table, brining a social aspect to this cultural dish.
Conclusion
Overall, Neapolitan pizza is the obvious choice because of the use of fresh ingredients, and the environment in which it is traditionally eaten around family and friends.
When was the last time you ate a Neapolitan pizza?
