Tomato Casual » Is A Pizza Really a Pizza Without Tomato?

Is A Pizza Really a Pizza Without Tomato?

By Michelle Fabio

Pizza is one of the world’s most favorite foods and most favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes, but before we get to the question at hand, do you where pizza comes from?

If you guessed Naples, Italy, go grab yourself a slice of the good stuff.

If you want to be traditional about it, you’ll go for what is called a “Pizza Margherita” in Italy, so-named because in 1800, a baker named Raffaele Esposito was presented with the daunting task of serving King Umberto and Queen Margherita.

He came up with a flat bread and three toppings to represent the Italian flag (red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil) to welcome the royal couple. Soon pizzerias all over Naples copied the pizza and it was named after the woman who inspired it.

So can you have a pizza without tomatoes? Of course!

Even in Italy there are many choices that come without the red stuff—pizza with prosciutto crudo, arugula, and Grana Padano cheese is my favorite tomato-less variety and you should feel free to experiment with your own.
Buon appetito!