Pizza's Mediterranean Roots

The type of pizza we have come to know is quite a bit different than it was hundreds and hundreds of years ago when it was first created using flour, oil, and spices.

Although Italian folklore claims the first pizza originated in none other than Italy, in ancient times the Greeks also enjoyed dining on unleavened breads topped with a variety of ingredients before baking. The first written reference of pizza occurred around the year 1,000 AD in Italy as circles of dough known as "picea" were topped with fillings and then baked. A few hundred years later, leavened dough was used to create the type of pizza crust we know and love today.

Tomatoes, a common component used to make pizza today, were once widely believed to be poisonous. Also, the fruit was not even introduced to Europe by Spanish conquistadors until sometime during the 16th century and mozzarella cheese, another staple of pizza, was also still unheard of in Italy at that time.

By the 1800s, pizza was gaining in popularity and became a tourist attraction in the Naples region of Italy as word spread of this delicious food. Pizza was commonly sold from outdoor stands lined with street vendors hawking their freshly baked wares and the smell would entice visitors from all around. The very first authentic pizzeria is said to have opened in Naples, Italy around the year 1830.

Pizza in Italy also soon became a favorite fish of aristocrats and members of the royal family and it was eaten on a regular basis as the main course and also as a side dish for lunch and dinner. Interestingly enough, pizza in Italy soon became known as a rather patriotic dish as its main colors, red from the tomatoes, white from the mozzarella cheese, and green from the basil leaves, are the same as those on the Italian flag.

Kalamata and Mozzarella Pizza Recipe

What You Need

1 large ball pizza dough
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon basil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1-1/2 cups Kalamata olives, pitted, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

How to Make It

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and form into a circular shape. Brush the olive oil all over the pizza dough and bake for about 8 minutes or until the crust puffs up and just starts to turn brown.

Simmer the tomato sauce and the seasonings over low to medium heat for about 15 minutes. Allow the sauce to cool for 5 minutes before spreading all over the pizza. Top with the tomatoes, peppers, olives, onions, and the mozzarella cheese.

Bake the pizza for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the crust has turned golden brown.

Sprinkle the feta cheese on top of the pizza and bake for another 3 minutes.

Serves 4.

Pizza recipes are great for parties, special occasions, or just for serving to a houseful of hungry kids for lunch or dinner. Whatever types of pizza you may like best you can always vary the ingredients you use slightly for a fresh, new taste.

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