Pizza is, and always will be, a food that basically everyone loves. And how could you not? The gooey, melted cheese on its own is enough to make you fall head over heels — it’s all toasty and hot and stringy, and it’s basically perfection. Then there’s the flavorful marinara sauce, the tasty crust that is good whether you prefer it super thin and crunchy or thicker and more fluffy, and the endless array of toppings. Because, really, that’s one of the best things about pizza: You can put almost anything on it and it will taste good. There are so many variations of pizzas right here in the United States that it’s almost overwhelming to pick a favorite!
We might be super familiar with New York-style pizza here in the U.S., but in other countries, pizza could look like… well, like it’s not even really pizza. It’s pretty interesting to get a glimpse at the way people all over the world enjoy this delicious meal, and it’s going to make you want to try them all, so start traveling! Below is a glimpse at what pizza looks like in different parts of the world, but one warning: Reading this is going to make you feel hungry.
Our version of pizza in the U.S. might come from Italy, but not all pizza there is created equal. Sicilians enjoy Sfincione, which is made with a thick, spongy crust and topped with bread crumbs, onions, and caciocavallo (a dry, crumbly cheese).
The Polish version of pizza doesn’t really look like pizza at all — it looks more like an open-faced sandwich. It’s basically similar to a baguette that’s been scooped out in the middle and is filled with cheese, mushrooms, and Polish ketchup. There can be other veggies and cheeses added as well.
Even in the U.S., there are several different versions of pizza. Chicago is famous for the deep-dish pizza, an extra thick pie with high sides that is stuffed with cheese and tomato sauce.
How do you make pizza better? You throw it in a deep fryer. This is popular in Glasgow and Fife, and is called “pizza crunch.” It’s a deep-fried pizza that is usually served with salt and vinegar or salt and a brown sauce similar to Worcestershire sauce.
When you think of pizza, you probably think of Neapolitan pizza. It originated in Naples, Italy, and is pretty simple. It’s a thin crust topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, garlic, and olive oil.
Rome’s version of pizza looks more like focaccia than a slice of pizza. It is a street food that doesn’t have any sauce or cheese — instead it’s just pizza dough with sea salt and other seasonings, like olive oil or herbs.
Turkey has a really interesting version of pizza. Called lahmacun, it’s a crispy Turkish flatbread topped with spicy minced meat like lamb or beef and onion, tomato, lettuce, parsley, and lemon. The name loosely translates to “meat and dough.”
Japanese pizza is pretty wild-looking, and is comparable to a Japanese pancake. Although the recipe changes based on the region, it usually includes pork, noodles, and squid.
This Spanish pizza is made with a flaky crust soaked in olive oil, and can then be topped with many different things: Vegetables, anchovies, olives, pine nuts, and more.
This is definitely not boring! Bulgogi pizza is a Korean fusion dish that is basically the Western version of pizza mixed with Korean barbecue. It’s pizza dough topped with bulgogi, which is Korean marinated barbecued beef, vegetables like corn and peppers, and bulgogi sauce, which is white wine, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and sugar.
If you’re headed to Germany, be sure to check out their pizza, called flammkuchen.
If you thought putting pineapple on pizza was bad, wait until you hear this: In Iceland, they love topping their pizza with bananas. Combinations like bananas and blue cheese or banana and pineapple are pretty popular there.
This is another version of pizza you’re probably most familiar with: New York-style, which is based on the Neapolitan recipe. It features a thin crust, a light tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, and is made with a coal or wood fire oven.
Tarte flambee is actually really similar to German pizza. It originated in the Alsace region, and is a super thin crust topped with fromage blanc or creme fraiche. It also includes lardons and onions, and is then baked in a wood-fire oven.
The country of Georgia enjoys khachapuri, which kind of looks like a giant calzone with an egg. The dough is stuffed with cheese and then topped with an egg and butter.
There are two interesting things about manakish. One is that it’s typically served for breakfast, and two is that it almost looks nothing like pizza. It’s a flatbread topped with za’atar, a spice mixture made with thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac.
Hungary managed to make pizza even more unhealthy with langos. It’s a piece of deep-fried flat bread that is topped with sour cream, meat, or garlic butter.
Chicago and New York aren’t the only two U.S. cities with their own versions of pizza. St. Louis-style pizza features a super thin crust that is made without yeast and is then topped with a variety of cheeses called Provel (it’s a mix of Provolone, Swiss, and white cheddar cheese).
If you love meat, you’ll love sfiha, a Middle Eastern pizza full of it. It’s usually in the shape of a round pie and is filled with seasoned ground mutton or beef, labneh (which is Middle Eastern cheese), and sometimes vegetables.
Truth be told, Cong You Bing looks more like a Chinese scallion pancake than pizza, but it still counts.
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