Classic Italian Pizza Toppings

So you want to know the secret to gourmet pizza toppings?
The Italians seem to have a hack for making amazing pizza, it could well be because they invented it and certainty have perfected it.

Different regions around Italy have created their own unique toppings, a lot of them holding history and meaning. Thankfully these recipes have now been shared around the world for us to enjoy right here in New Zealand!



Pizza Marinara – This is a traditional Neapolitan pizza that is made with tomato, lots of garlic, oregano and olive oil.
The name came about because this was a staple food of the fishermen, they needed something quick and ready at the last minute when they returned to port.

Margherita Pizza – This is a pizza that was created in 1899 which Queen Margherita was visiting Naples to get away from a cholera epidemic that was ravaging northern Italy. Typically this pizza is made with basil, mozzarella cheese and tomatoes in imitation of the colors of the Italian flag.

Neapolitan pizza, is a type of pizza that originated in Naples, Italy. This style of pizza is prepared with simple and fresh ingredients: a basic dough, raw tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil. No fancy toppings are allowed! These simple toppings are a great way to taste the quality of your dough.

Diavola Pizza – Meaning the devils pizza and is quite a spicy little devil. This pizza is topped with tomato, spicy salami (or pepperoni) and 2 fresh chillis. This pizza is what Americans morphed into the well known “pepperoni pizza”.

Pizza capricciosa is an authentic style of pizza in Italian cuisine prepared with mozzarella cheese, Italian baked ham, mushroom, artichoke and tomato.

Pizza quattro stagioni (four seasons pizza) is an Italian cuisine that is prepared in four sections with diverse ingredients, with each section representing one season of the year. Artichokes represent spring, tomatoes or basil represent summer, mushrooms represent autumn and the ham, prosciutto or olives represent winter. – Note: These are very similar toppings to the Capricciosa pizza, just arranged differently.

Pizza ai Quattro Formaggi (Four-Cheese Pizza) This pizza has a basic tomato base, then topped with shredded mozzarella and three other, local cheeses, depending on the region, such as Gorgonzola, Fontina, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. One for the cheese lovers!