The Differences Between Italian and American Pizza

Do you know the difference between Italian pizza and its American counterpart? This article explains a couple of the key differences.

If you have ever been to Italy, you know that the pizza over there is a bit different than what we have in the States. Even at an Italian restaurant in the US, you will find pies cooked in the American style.

This delicious dish was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants and popularized by servicemen returning from World War II. During the war, they tasted these 'pies' in Italy and they came back raving about them. It can be assumed that the versions of that time were probably fairly close to what they have in Italy. But as this dish grew in popularity in the US, it was adapted to fit American tastes.

The Sauce

One of the key differences between the Italian and American versions is the kind of sauce that they use. In the US, it's all about slow-cooked tomato sauce. Some restaurants have their own tangy original recipes that give their pies a completely unique taste you don't find at the fast food franchises.

Americans are usually surprised to find that they do not do this in Italy. Instead, they are more likely to use fresh tomatoes, olive oil puree, garlic and oregano. This gives their pizza a fresh taste that enriches the crust underneath. Italians are generally of the opinion that Americans drown their food in tomato sauce.

The Meat

In the US, you can have your meal done your way. America is the nation of the Meat Lover's Special. We take every body part of every animal and pile it all on there -- hamburger, sausage, pepperoni, bacon, and whatever else we can get from the butcher.

This approach horrifies Italians. They consider it a travesty. The reason is that in Italy, mixing meats is a no-no. Italians appreciate the unique taste of each meat. They don't want a savory medley of animal flesh. The American Meat Lover's is part of the US tradition of 'more is better,' which is not to say it is not tasty!

The Crust

There are different types of crusts throughout Italy. In fact, every tiny village seems to have its own unique style. But with most of these styles, you'll find thin crust only. In some places, it's almost like eating cheese on crackers with toppings on top.

In the US, there is the deep-dish pizza. This is entirely an American creation. Some styles in the United States are so thick it's almost like eating a piece of freshly baked bread with some stuff on top.

Variety

The United States has taken pizza, which was once a delicacy sold by street vendors in the town of Naples, and turned it into an international dish. It did this by putting every single topping you could possibly imagine on it. We now have Hawaiian with pineapples, Cajun with shrimp, and "garbage," which has everything on it but the kitchen sink.

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