Neapolitan vs Sicilian Pizza? Ever wonder what the difference is between these two delicious pizza styles? We are here to inform you a bit more about them and their differences.
The debate between Sicilian and Neapolitan pizzas is one that has been around for many years.
Both types of pizza recipes have their own unique flavor and style, but which one is better, and what are the major differences?
Let us take a closer look at the Sicilian pizza and the Neapolitan pizza to see how they compare.
Neapolitan vs Sicilian Pizza : Definition Of Neapolitan Pizza
Let us start off by looking at Neapolitan pizza and what makes Neapolitan pizza different from Sicilian pizza.
The classic Neapolitan pizza is a style of pizza that originated in Naples, Italy, making it part of many amazing Italian pizzas.
Neapolitan pizza is one of the most popular and classic styles of pizza in the world and is often imitated by pizza chains and other pizzerias.
The Neapolitan pizza style has a close resemblance to the classic New York style pizza, which you may have heard of before.
Neapolitan Pizza Base & Ingredients
This Italian pizza features pizza dough that is made up of a mixture of water, yeast, salt and flour, which is then baked to a thin and crisp crust before adding delicious toppings to add flavor.
Neapolitan pizza is often topped with lighter toppings in comparison to Sicilian pizza. The thin crust and light ingredients is what makes the Neapolitan pizza so delicious.
The toppings typically include fresh Italian tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, some olive oil and fresh basil leaves.
The ingredients used for the Neapolitan pizza are typically and strictly fresh traditional Italian ingredients such as san marzano tomatoes and Italian mozzarella. Other ingredients often seen on Neapolitan pizza include sausage, pepperoni slices, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, garlic and olive oil.
One of the most well known neapolitan pizzas out there is the famous pizza margherita. Want to know how this name of the famous Margherita pie came about? Continue on for some history on this lovely pizza pie.
History Of Neapolitan Pizzas
The origin of Neapolitan pizza is a topic of debate. It is however known to be the first pizza ever made.
There is much debate regarding who actually invented the pizza. Some historians say that the first Neapolitan pizza was created in Naples in the 1600s, while others believe that the pizza originated in Ancient Greece.
However, there is general consensus that modern-day Neapolitan pizza was invented in the 1700s. And it originates from bakers making unleavened bread covered with ingredients such as cheese and extra virgin olive oil. This type of bread was known as focaccia alla Napoletana.
Italian pizzas began to gain popularity in Naples in the 1700s when people began to experiment with different toppings and dough recipes, later baking them in the now well known pizza oven.
In 1805, a baker named Raffaele Esposito created a pizza for Queen Margherita of Savoy, which consisted of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil — the colors resembling those of the Italian flag.
This pizza was later named Pizza Margherita in honor of her Royal Highness The Queen.
Neapolitan Pizza Sauce — Tomato Sauce
The sauce that is spread across the delicious thin crust of a Neapolitan pizza is a combination of several ingredients. These ingredients often include celery, olive oil, garlic, salt, parsley and tomato sauce.
It is said that one of the main components is the aromatically seasoned tomato sauce.
This pizza sauce is also commonly known as Napolitana or Napoli sauce.
Neapolitan Pizza Nutritional Value
Like most types of pizzas and fast food, the Neapolitan pizza also comes with a few calories.
If you want to be aware of your calorie intake, you should know that one slice comes in at a whooping 350 calories, which means that one standard size 14 inch Neapolitan pizza will ensure that you eat the recommended calories for the average person per day, which is roughly 5400-6000 calories.
Do not worry about not eating the entire pizza, as it is completely possible to reheat it the next day or even just consume it cold.
Different Neapolitan Pizzas
Neapolitan pizzas can be found in different varieties. There are three main types of neapolitan style pizzas to be exact, and we find that they are worth mentioning here, continue on for a short briefing on them.
Marinara
This type of neapolitan pie is famous for being much lighter than the other types found on the market. It is made without cheese, which is probably the sole reason as to why it is less rich.
Toppings typically found on the marinara type neapolitan pizza pie include tomato sauce, oregano and garlic.
Margherita
Like mentioned above, this is probably the most famous kind of the different neapolitan pizzas available. It is made with fresh basil, olive oil and tomatoes and typically topped with mozzarella cheese.
Prosciutto Crudo E Arugula
The name gives away the ingredients of the pizza. It is topped with prosciutto, which is another name for very thinly sliced Italian ham. The toppings also include Parmesan cheese and arugula leaves.
Other Neapolitan Pizzas
Some other Neapolitan pizza varieties that are well known include:
- Hawaiian pizza — with mozzarella, bacon and chunks of pineapple
- The four seasons — with ham, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers and tomatoes. Interestingly enough, this pizza is divided into four sections, with each individual section representing one season.
- The white pie — with strips of chicken breast, a creamy white sauce (aka alfredo sauce), topped with mozzarella.
- Quattro Formaggi — aka as the four cheeses, the toppings include Parmesan, Gorgonzola, mozzarella and provolone.
Enough on Neapolitan pizzas for now. Let us learn more about Sicilian pizza and from where it originates.
Neapolitan vs Sicilian Pizza: Definition Of Sicilian Pizza
The Sicilian pizza is a type of pizza that is popular in Sicily, or Sicilia. It is the largest Mediterranean island with a population of around 5 million, and Palermo being the capital. The island is located at the southern end of Italy, which is widely known as “the boot” of Italy, due to its shape. Have a look on a map, and you’ll see what we mean!
Sicilian Pizza Base & Ingredients
Traditionally — unlike the thin crust of the classic Neapolitan pizza — the Sicilian pizza featured an extremely thick crust and was rectangular. This is one of the main differences between Neapolitan and Sicilian pizzas.
The thicker crust and rectangular slices are what makes this pizza so unique and delicious.
It was most commonly topped with ingredients such as bread scraps, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and anchovies.
Other toppings, such as onions, olives, and peppers, may also be added.
Sicilian style pizzas are typically cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven, which gives it a unique flavor and crispy crust.
History Of The Sicilian Pizzas
The history of Sicilian pizza can be traced back to the early 1800s.
At that time, the first Sicilian pizza was made with a simple dough crust, tomatoes, cheese, and anchovies and was known as unique Sicilian / sfincione. However, over the years, Sicilian pizza has evolved into a more complex dish.
Today, Sicilian pizza typically includes a variety of other ingredients such as different meats and vegetables, as well as a variety of cheeses.
The Sicilian pizza is believed to have originated in the city of Palermo, on the island of Sicily.
Sicilian pizzas quickly gained popularity throughout Italy and eventually made their way to America after Italian immigrants, who developed this pizza, moved to the United States of America.
Today, Sicilian pizza is one of the most popular types of pizzas in the United States and it seems to be very similar to the Chicago style pizza as this one is also known for its thick crust.
There are a variety of different recipes for Sicilian pizza. However, most versions of Sicilian pizzas include a thicker dough crust, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and anchovies.
Some versions of Sicilian pizzas also include ingredients such as ham, pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
The Sicilian pizza is typically baked in a rectangular pan. However, it can also be made in a round or square pan.
Sicilian pizzas are typically served with a side of marinara sauce or olive oil for dipping.
Nutritional Value of Sicilian Pizza
The thicker base of this type of pizza makes it slightly heavier in calories than the Neapolitan pizza. This is simply because there is more bread to consume. The different toppings added obviously make up most of this pizza pies nutritional value.
One slice of the Sicilian pizza contains roughly 350-400 calories, which means that consuming an entire 16 inch Sicilian pizza will add about 5100-6400 calories to your intake for that day.
This pizza too can be reheated or eaten cold if you do not wish to eat the entire pie in one go.
Pizzas Similar to Sicilian Pizza
Turns out that there are a few pizzas that bear a few similarities to the traditional Sicilian pizza style.
There are a few different varieties of Sicilian pizza, the ones mentioned below are found to be the most popular ones. Continue on for a short briefing.
Basic Sicilian
This is the simplest type of Sicilian pizza found, made only with mozzarella and tomato sauce on top of it.
Deep Pan Pizza
As we have now established, a typical Sicilian pizza is traditionally made with a thick and crunchy bread-like crust, and often baked in a pizza pan. This thick crust also bears some resemblance to a deep dish pizza.
They are however not identical.
The biggest difference between the two styles of pizza is of course the shape. A Sicilian pizza is most commonly baked and served in rectangular slices whereas the pan pizza is often baked as a whole round pie.
Stuffed Sicilian
The stuffed Sicilian is a lot like the traditional Sicilian pizza.
The difference is an extra layer of dough that is filled with cheese and other meaty pieces such as ham, pepperoni or even sausage.
Grandma Pizzas
The grandma pizza at first glance looks the same as the Sicilian pizza. It is however packed with more flavor as it has more sauce than the traditional Sicilian.There is also way more to eat because the dough is baked thicker than that of the Sicilian.
Sausage & Pepperoni
This type of Sicilian pizza comes with slices of pepperoni and Italian sausage on top of its thick crispy crust.
Neapolitan vs Sicilian Pizza
Continue on for a quick summary of the differences between Neapolitan and Sicilian pizzas.
Neapolitan and Sicilian Differences
Neapolitan pizza is a type of pizza that is made with a thin crust that is lovely and crispy and chewy. The sauce is typically made with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil, and the toppings are usually limited to mozzarella cheese and basil.
Sicilian pizza is made with a base that consists of a thick dough. One that is quite a bit thicker than that of a Neapolitan pizza, with a crust that is fluffy and doughy. The thick dough makes Sicilian pizza a bit softer in consistency.
The sauce is made with a variety of ingredients, such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, and sausage. The toppings on Sicilian pizza are also more varied, with options such as mushrooms, olives, pepperoni, and cheese.
The dough of a Sicilian pizza is generally also a bit sweeter if compared to Neapolitan pizza dough.
The Neapolitan pizza is a type of delicious, thin-crusted cheese specimen that originated in Italy. The pizzas are cooked at high temperatures in a specially shaped wood fired pizza oven and are known for their memorable flavor thanks to the unique oven which produces internal temperatures reaching up to 600 degrees Centigrade.
Sicilian pizzas are known for their thicker crusts, which contain more dough than toppings. A great-tasting Sicilian-style pizza starts with quality ingredients and proper baking procedures.
The history of pizza is long and complex, but the style of pizza that reigns supreme in Italy today may be called Neapolitan pizza.
This original variation was developed on top of an earlier Sicilian recipe by Greek fishermen who settled there after being allowed access to use their catch near Naples’ port authority during Napoleonic times – around 1805.
Neapolitan and Sicilian Pizza: Similarities
The iconic Neapolitan-style pizza and the more exotic Sicilian pizza variety are not only popular in Italy but one can definitely say that they are world-renowned.
They both have delicious crispy crusts filled to your brim with toppings such as tomatoes, mozzarella and other fresh Italian toppings and many people enjoy them for their unique flavors and textures at whatever temperatures they prefer (hotter or colder).
Difference in Baking
Apart from these key differences between a Neapolitan and Sicilian pizza mentioned above, which are the difference in the crust and in the toppings. The baking also makes the Neapolitan and Sicilian pizza different.
What it boils down to is baking them at the correct time, in order to get the perfect crust.
The Neapolitan pizza pie will naturally have a shorter cooking time because the base is much thinner and toppings are a bit lighter.
The oven you are using also plays an important role. A wood fired oven reaches much higher temperatures than a normal kitchen oven, so naturally the baking time will also differ here.
Conclusion of Neapolitan vs Sicilian Pizza
So, which type of pizza is better, and what is the best pizza style to make, Neapolitan pizza or Sicilian Pizza? It really depends on your personal preference.
If you like a thinner crust with a simple sauce and toppings, then Neapolitan pizza is probably a better option.
The Neapolitan style pizza seems to be the most sought after pizza but there are so many other pizza styles to choose from in this world. These pizza styles include California pizza, Chicago pizza, Sicilian pizza, NY style pizza and Greek pizza.
All these different styles of pizza make it a little difficult to keep up. In the end it all boils down to taste and preference.
If you prefer a thicker crust with a more complex tomato sauce and toppings, then Sicilian pizza or the Chicago style pizza is the way to go.
If you have more of a taste for a thinner crispier base, the Neapolitan pizza or New York pizza is the better choice. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which type of pizza recipe you like best.
If you still can’t decide on the two, try and make a list of Sicilian and Neapolitan pizza pros and cons, maybe that will make your decision easier.
Here is one hint to get you started. One of the Sicilian pizza pros is that it is easier to make at home than the Neapolitan pizza. It is definitely more beginner-friendly.
So, next time you’re feeling pizza cravings, go ahead and try out a recipe for whichever type of pie your taste buds dictate – there is no doubt that both Neapolitan pizza and Sicilian pizza will be delicious!
There are loads of recipes online if you want to attempt making your own Sicilian pizza or any other pizza for that matter.
And remember, if you do decide to go with a homemade pizza pie, always remember to bake it in a piping hot oven — the best would obviously be a pizza oven — this way you will get that lovely crispy Italian crust. The last thing you need is a soggy base with a chewy crust.