the Margherita
The pizza Margherita is a typical Neapolitan pizza topped with tomato, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt and oil. It is, along with the pizza marinara, the most popular Neapolitan pizza. Tradition says that in June 1889, to honor the Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, the chef Raffaele Esposito of Pizzeria Brandi created the pizza Margherita, where the seasonings, tomato, mozzarella and basil, represented the Italian flag. However you could find the ingredients of what is now called pizza Margherita even in other pizzas born before the one dedicated to the queen. Francesco De Bourcard in 1866, speaking of the Neapolitan tradition, describes the main types of pizza besides the Margherita, the marinara and the calzone.
"The most ordinary pizzas, those with garlic and oil have for seasoning oil, and over there you spread the salt, oregano and garlic cloves chopped minutely. Others are covered with grated cheese and seasoned with lard, and then you put over a few leaves of basil. To these first is often added some fish, to the second thin slices of mozzarella. Sometimes you can use some sliced ham, tomato, tellina, etc. ... Sometimes folding the dough over itself you can form what is called calzone. "
Sunday 27 January 2013
