The margherita pizza takes its name from Queen Margherita of Savoy, who is said to have tasted this recipe during her visit to Naples in 1889 and liked it so much that she gave it her name.
The Margherita pizza has its origins in Naples, Italy, during the 19th century. At that time, pizza was more of a popular dish, mainly intended for the poorer classes, a kind of cheap street food. In 1889, during a royal visit to Naples, the pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito was tasked with preparing a special dish to honor the queen of Italy. He came up with the idea of creating a simple yet symbolic pizza with its three main ingredients: tomato, mozzarella, and basil. The simplicity of the dish, its authentic flavors, and its patriotic symbolism immediately won the heart (and stomach!) of Queen Margherita. Thus, this popular dish became famous under the name of Margherita pizza.
In 1889, Queen Margherita of Savoy took a trip to Naples with her husband, King Umberto I. Tired of official cuisine, she asked the Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito to prepare something authentic for her. He proposed a very simple pizza: tomato, mozzarella, and basil. The queen loved it. Consequently, Esposito, clever as he was, named his creation "Margherita" in honor of the sovereign. The success was immediate, and the margherita pizza quickly became a national symbol of Italy.
The Margherita pizza subtly reflects the colors of the Italian flag thanks to its simple ingredients: the bright green of basil, the white of fresh mozzarella, and the intense red of tomato sauce. So yes, one might think of it as a sort of patriotic pizza, but the more likely scenario is that the pizzaiolo chose these ingredients simply because they were good, fresh, and available in Neapolitan kitchens in the 19th century. Yet today, it’s hard not to see it as a little gourmet nod to Italy itself.
Some say the name comes from a flower, the daisy ("margherita" in Italian). According to this rather nice urban legend, the ingredients arranged in a circle resemble the shape of the daisy's petals. Other more popular stories suggest that this name is a simplified nod to Queen Margherita, gradually transformed into a familiar term spontaneously adopted by the people of Naples. These anecdotes, more or less credible, are particularly appealing because they add charm and mystery to this mythical pizza.
Every year, on June 11th, enthusiasts celebrate World Margherita Pizza Day, in homage to the supposed date of its creation in 1889.
Did you know that in Naples, the perfect temperature for cooking an authentic Margherita pizza is around 485°C for only 60 to 90 seconds maximum? This is what ensures its soft and slightly crispy crust.
The Margherita pizza was created, according to legend, to honor Queen Margherita of Italy, featuring the colors of the Italian flag: red from the tomatoes, white from the mozzarella, and green from the basil.
Before the arrival of tomatoes in Italy in the 16th century, traditional pizza was often topped with cheese, oil, garlic, or anchovies, but never with the famous tomato sauce that we now automatically associate with pizza.
To perfectly succeed in making a Margherita pizza, always prioritize fresh ingredients: ripe tomatoes, fresh drained mozzarella, and fresh basil. Be careful not to overload the dough, and opt for quick cooking at high temperature to achieve the authenticity of the original recipe.
Yes, absolutely! The ingredients of the Margherita pizza symbolically represent the colors of the Italian flag: red with the tomatoes, white with the mozzarella, and green with the fresh basil.
Completely: the Margherita is an authentically Italian recipe that dates back to the 19th century. This pizza was officially created in Naples in 1889, during the visit of Queen Margherita of Italy, and it adheres to the traditional Italian craftsmanship when it comes to pizza.
Yes, today we often find modern variations of the classic recipe, such as the addition of buffalo mozzarella instead of regular mozzarella or the introduction of flavored oil variations, but the fundamental elements generally remain true to tradition.
The most popular legend tells that in 1889, the chef Raffaele Esposito created this pizza in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was visiting Naples at the time. This very simple and tasty recipe pleased her so much that it was decided to name it after her in her honor.
The Margherita pizza is actually an iconic variant of Neapolitan pizza. What precisely distinguishes the Margherita is the simplicity of its ingredients: tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. Neapolitan pizza, more generally, can include various toppings and types of ingredients depending on the chosen recipe.
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