Queen Meranda

There are a lot of debatable additions that go on top of pizza. Depending on where you are from, this might be a hot topic. Technically, toppings are in the hands of the eater. However, what would an Italian weigh in on the subject?

What do Italians put on their pizzas?

If you’re wondering why I’m taking the opinion of a nation, it might be because the cheesy goodness we’ve grown to has roots there. Funny enough, a not-so-cheesy heritage. For starters, it is an accepted belief that pizza originated in Naples, Italy, around the end of the 1700s. Although, it should be noted that the word ‘pizza’ has been around for over a millennia.

It would also be fair to mention that there is a legend involving the famed explorer Marco Polo, pizza, and China. Historians have not come to a consensus. I digress.

It would be most beneficial for our purposes to make a distinction between parmesan options. For many Americans, when we think of parmesan, we envision a green container with dehydrated cheese inside. We use this grated parmesan on all our pasta dishes, including pizza. However, this isn’t something you’d typically find happening in Italy. Is it because they don’t like parmesan? Not exactly.

That bottle of shaky cheese in the store isn’t what Italians would likely consider proper cheese. Parmigiano Reggiano is aged cheese made from skimmed milk that is hard but granular to the touch. It comes in a wheel or wedge. This tasty substance is not banished to a plastic jar. When this cheese is used, it comes directly from the source.

Now that we know what kind of parmesan Italians use, would you see it on an Italian pizza? Not necessarily.

What kind of cheese goes on an authentic pizza?

A big change Americans have made to pizza is the overflowing cheese. Our love of cheese isn’t limited to pizza, of course. Although that might be hard to believe from a country where the representative cheese tastes like plastic. Looking at you, American cheese. 

So, what would you find on a pizza if you had one in Naples? Not parmesan and not what you might think. These pizzas look more like a round flatbread order than a pizza. What you’re more likely to get on your plate is a thin crust that’s more crunchy on the edge and a sauce made of fresh tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and oregano. On top of the sauce are hunks of mozzarella. I say hunks instead of just saying mozzarella because it’s more similar to dollops sitting on top of the sauce instead of covering the sauce, like American style. To complete the dish, you’d likely add fresh basil leaves, chopped tomatoes, and more olive oil sprinkled across.

But just because we do things differently in the US doesn’t make the pizza unappetizing. We just kind of went wild with it. That doesn’t mean they don’t do the same thing in Italy and other places in the world. Just check the pizza episode of Ugly Delicious on Netflix. That also means that, of course, you’d find newly grated parmesan on pizza in Italy. 

Is mozzarella better than parmesan on pizza?

One common denominator for the general idea of pizza is mozzarella. So, in a sense, you can’t have pizza without it. As far as the base of a pizza, parmesan does not provide enough melty coverage the way mozzarella does. The texture alone makes it the best choice as the staple pizza cheese. The more moisture-rich the mozzarella, the more stretchy and more like the iconic vision of our favorite food.

 As a topping, parmesan would be a better option for the same reason; it’s not a good base and it doesn’t really melt. It’s a hard cheese with a distinctive flavor. It’s a great addition to things, as mentioned earlier, like pasta, pizza, and even salad. Due to the puddle mozzarella creates in the oven, it would not have the same effect. So, really, there’s room for both in a perfect world of pizza.

Aside from mozzarella and parmesan, what other cheeses can go on pizza?

Provolone

Sliced provolone goes a long way. It typically comes in oblong sections that can be broken up or used to cover larger areas. This white cheese has a tinge of sweetness, which might go great with more savory toppings to get the most out of the flavors. Popular ingredients to add are chicken, spinach, and peppers.

Cheddar

This is another one of America’s favorite cheeses. Like provolone, it can stretch and melt easily. Fun fact, cheddar is naturally white with a yellow tint. The orange that we’re used to is dye because consumers here seem to think that darker cheddar means it’s better, but that’s another subject. Anyway, cheddar blends nicely with other cheese and comes with sharpness levels, so you can choose how cheddar-y you want your pie to be. Toppings to go along with cheddar are pepperoni, bacon, and black olives.

Gouda

The smokey flavor of gouda can transform a regular pizza into an experience. It takes longer to soften, so don’t expect a stretch, but do enjoy the smoothness of this Dutch option. Great tasting things to add with gouda are pulled pork, BBQ chicken, and mushrooms. This is the cheese to make any pizza gouda. Okay, I’ll see myself out. 

Gruyere

This is the gooiest and stretchiest cheese on the list. The nutty, whole milk cheese selection, gruyere, is often used as a dip for crackers because of how flavorful and easy to melt it is. Indulgence is what you get when layering this on top of pizza. It’s common to really change things up a bit if you’re putting gruyere on the pie by also using white pizza sauce for a very monochromatic aesthetic. Gruyere pairs well on a pizza with prosciutto, caramelized onion, and sausage.

Goat Cheese

Soft and creamy is how you’d describe goat cheese, with a hint of tart. That makes this type especially good with sweeter ingredients. It does not stretch, it’s more like mozzarella where it pools. Moisture-rich, goat cheese is an ingredient you would want to be careful of when baking since it separates when it overheats. Try to add figs, arugula, or basil with the goat cheese pizza.

What are other popular pizza toppings?

While it’s clear that the most controversial thing about parmesan is whether or not it’s coming from a wedge or a plastic container, there are plenty of other toppings with more baggage. Consider the pineapple. Has there ever been a more passionate response to an ingredient on a pizza than this fruit? Perhaps if nothing more than it’s just a fun thing to argue about, pineapple has clearly divided the masses.

Here’s a list of the top five most popular toppings:

1. Pepperoni
2. Sausage
3. Mushrooms
4. Extra cheese
5. Onions

Plus the most unpopular:

1. Anchovies
2. Eggplant
3. Artichokes
4. Broccoli
5. Pineapple

Now, I’m hungry. What’s your pizza of choice?