One of the most popular food items in the world is pizza. Whether you’re old, young or a child, a large majority of people cannot say no to pizza – you’d be crazy to ever reject a slice of pie. The pizza initially started off as a flatbread and was widely consumed by the Greeks and Romans, then came its transformation.
Today, we have pizzas of different varieties, crusts, and toppings but during the early days, pizza toppings were meager and inconsistent. The first pizza (the focaccia) with toppings was made by the Romans. By the time the 16th century arrived, the first formal topping of pizza was added in Naples: the tomato.
For the past 300 years, the tomato has been the most popular pizza topping. Soon the tomato-flavoured pizza caught on all over Italy. However, it wasn’t that popular initially with Europeans. It was only by the end of the Second World War that the pizza finally began to be enjoyed by other nationalities. American soldiers brought the pizza to New York, and the rest, as the man says, is history.
Today, the pizza is synonymous with North American culture and can be found in almost every city and town in the United States and Canada. Indeed, there is a franchise on every American and Canadian street corner that sells pizza. The industry continues to boom.
While the basic shape of the pizza and crust have remained the same over the centuries, the one thing that has changed is the type of topping – do keep in mind that there is no right or wrong topping for a pizza. It is simply a matter of your personal preferences. Here is a list of the 10 most popular pizza toppings that are a favourite among pizza lovers:
Pizza Topping #1: Pepperoni
Pepperoni is one of the most popular pizza toppings in the world. There is, however, an art to your pepperoni topic. Pizza experts recommend that for the best taste and effect, the pepperoni should be sliced thin and should have a hot and spicy tinge to it. Pepperoni pizza is widely popular, and there are many pizza lovers who prefer their pizza with only pepperoni.
Pizza Topping #2: Mushrooms
Mushrooms are another popular pizza topping. However, for the best result, it is important that the mushrooms used for the pizza are fresh as these tend to have the best flavor. The four types of mushrooms that are often used on pizzas include Portobello, Porcinis, Chanterelles, and truffles (the most expensive). Moving forward, it is critical to make sure that the mushrooms are cooked for a few minutes before they are added as a topping.
Pizza Topping #3: Sausages
Sausages are yet another popular pizza topping among many people. Most prefer a spicy sausage cut into thin slices. Once again, the key to making the most out of a sausage topping is to make sure you don’t have too many slices; otherwise, the pizza will taste less like a pizza and more like a hot dog.
Pizza Topping #4: Onions
Fresh onion is also a great and popular pizza topping, but again, they need to be fresh – anything else would ruin your beautiful creation. Both the red and white onions can be cut into slices and spread all over the pizza before cooking. When the pizza goes into the oven, the onions become caramelized and add a little sweet-salty taste. However, not all pizza lovers like onions on their deep-dish pies.
It also makes a big difference what other toppings are used with onions. As mentioned before, this is a matter of personal preference, but in most pizzas, onions are generally used with other popular toppings. Have you ever tried a pizza with just onions? Yeah, neither have we.
Pizza Topping #5: Bacon
Yes, bacon is on everything these days, and most of it is unwarranted. That said, bacon on a pizza is essential. Bacon is another favourite topping but only if it is spread thin. The thin crumbs bring out a salty meat flavor, so make sure the bacon is pre-cooked and dry.
Pizza Topping #6: Cheese
Say cheese! Yes it is clearly obvious that cheese is probably the most important and favourite ingredient on a pizza; you can’t have pizza without cheese and that too lots of it. But it is the type of cheese you select is your personal choice.
Pizza Topping #7: Peppers
Peppers are used to make the pizza extra tasty. You can add a few slices of red or yellow pepper. They will make your pizza tastier and will also add a crunchy element to it.
Pizza Topping #8: Black Olives
Black olives are another topping that is becoming ubiquitous on pizzas everywhere, but they should be sliced thinly and only used sparingly.
Pizza Topping #9: Chicken
Chicken is a recent addition to the pizza family, so the chefs are still mastering this topping. For now, it’s best to add only a few pieces, and it would be a good idea to use barbecued chicken.
Pizza Topping #10: Spinach
Whether you’re a carnivore or you’re a vegetarian, spinach is one of the best toppings to have on a pizza. You just need to remember to pre-cook the spinach and mix it up in a hot spicy sauce before adding it to the pizza.
