Why a pizza got named after Queen Margherita | The Times of India (2024)

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01/4The story of Margherita Pizza

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If there is one dish that we can never get bored of, it’s Pizza. There are so many different variations of this dish, but there is nothing better than the slice of a fresh Margherita Pizza. It’s a classic Italian pizza made with simple and fresh ingredients like tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and mozzarella cheese. Today, we will tell you the story of Margherita Pizza and why it is called so. Read more to find out about it. (Images courtesy: iStock)

ALSO READ: 18 most popular pizzas around the world

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02/4Why is it named so?

Why a pizza got named after Queen Margherita | The Times of India (3)

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As simple and commonplace as the pizza might seem, you will be surprised to know that Margherita pizza has royal connections. The pizza is named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, who is said to have been presented with a pizza resembling the colours of the Italian flag. The story goes that in 1889, in the honour of the Queen's visit to Naples with her husband King Umberto I, a local pizzamaker named Raffaele Esposito of Pizzeria Brandi created a pizza with the colours of the Italian flag: tomato (red), mozzarella (white), and basil (green). The Queen was so delighted with the pizza that it was named after her. Since then, the Margherita pizza has become one of the most popular pizzas in the world.

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03/4Other stories related to its history

Some food critics argue that a kind of pizza similar to this was made between 1976 and 1810 in Naples, however, it was not called ‘Margherita’ at that time. There's another theory behind the nomenclature, which suggests that the word ‘Margherita’ translates to ‘daisy’ in Italian, and the pizza was named so because of the daisy-shaped arrangement of the toppings.

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04/4The simple flavours

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This is the ultimate pizza that has fresh tomato sauce spread over a thick dough and is loaded with mozzarella cheese with fresh basil leaves, tomato slices and extra virgin olive oil. It’s a simple pizza with unique flavours that will always surprise you. One can call it a simple cheese pizza with tomato & basil toppings over it. This pizza is baked in an oven until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

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Why a pizza got named after Queen Margherita  | The Times of India (2024)

FAQs

Why was the Margherita Pizza named after Queen Margherita? ›

Margherita pizza gets its name from Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was the Queen consort of Umberto I. It was once during her visit to Naples that the dish came into being. The story goes that the Queen was tired of eating French food all the time, as it was the cuisine of choice among the European royalty.

How did pizza get the name pizza? ›

It's widely speculated that pizza came from the Greek word “pitta,” which means “pie” ; however some historians believe that pizza came from the Langobardic word “bizzo,” which means “bite.” Latin texts dating back to 977 Italy have been entered into a 1598 Italian-English dictionary as “a small wafer or cake.”

Why is pizza so famous in India? ›

Indians were quick to accept pizza, since it has a striking similarity to roti (Indian flatbread) that is often consumed with vegetables. With the addition of local vegetables and meat, it became a meal in itself.

What is a fun fact about Margherita pizza? ›

Popular legend relates that it was named for Queen Margherita, wife of Umberto I, who was said to have liked its mild fresh flavour and to have also noted that its topping colours—green, white, and red—were those of the Italian flag. Italy has many variations of pizza.

What does margherita mean in pizza? ›

The dish was named after Queen Margherita by Esposito, and the rest is disputed history. Another story theorizes that the word Margherita translates to “daisy” in Italian, so the pizza got its name from the daisy-shaped arrangement of mozzarella and basil on top of the pizza.

What is a Queen Margherita pizza? ›

Pizza's fortunes received a royal boost in 1889, when Italy's Queen Margherita, visiting Naples with her husband King Umberto I enjoyed one - topped simply with soft white cheese, tomatoes and basil - which had been named in her honour.

What is the real name of pizza? ›

The word pizza was borrowed from Italian into English in the 1930s; before it became well known, pizza was called "tomato pie" by English speakers. Some regional pizza variations still use the name tomato pie.

Who actually made the first pizza? ›

Specifically, baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often given credit for making the first such pizza pie.

Is pizza called pizza in Italy? ›

In Italy, the word 'pizza' refers to a tomato pie. In the United States, 'pizza' is the preferred term. The other name for pizza is "pie." It has different meanings in different countries. It refers to a type of pizza called a pie in the US.

Who invented Indian pizza? ›

Among one of the most recognizable Indian pizzerias is Zante Pizza & Indian Cuisine, which has been a San Francisco staple since 1986. Zante Pizza, owned by Dalvinder Multani, is widely believed among its devoted customer base to be the first restaurant to create Indian pizza.

Why do Indians like pizza so much? ›

We like Pizza as it has a different set of spices and cheese on something similar to Our Roti or Naan with toppings. Indians love to incorporate Tomato to all our cuisines which forms the base of pizza.

Is pizza eaten in India? ›

Pizza may have originated in Italy, but it has become a beloved food all around the world, including in India.

Why is Margherita Pizza named? ›

Esposito immediately named the pizza after Queen Margherita and asked her for a Royal Seal. The note which a chamberlain sent to Esposito still hangs in the pizzeria he worked at, Pizzeria Brandi.

What is the history of Queen Margherita pizza? ›

History. A popular contemporary legend holds that the archetypal pizza Margherita was invented in June 1889, when the Royal Palace of Capodimonte commissioned the Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito to create a pizza in honor of the visiting Queen Margherita.

How old is Margherita Pizza? ›

According to the popular legend, the pizza Margherita was invented in 1889 by Raffaele Esposito, chef at Pizzeria Brandi. The pizza was allegedly created in honor of Italy's unification, with the three toppings—basil, mozzarella, and tomato—respectively representing the green, white, and red of the Italian flag.

What's the difference between margarita and margherita? ›

Let's clear things up so you can use them both in your writing correctly. Margarita is an alcoholic beverage made with tequila and lime juice. Margherita is pizza made with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.

What does margherita mean in Italian? ›

Margherita is an Italian feminine given name. It also is a surname. As a word, in Italian it means "daisy".

Was there a Queen Margherita? ›

The first queen of Italy was born in Turin on November 20th, 1851. Eldest daughter of Ferdinand of Savoy Duke of Genoa, younger brother of King Vittorio Emanuele II, and Mary Elizabeth, Princess of Saxony. On April 22nd 1868 she married the future king, Umberto I of Savoy, his first cousin.

Who owns Queen Margherita Pizza? ›

Queen Margherita Pizza – QMP – has been dominating the “Vera Pizza Napoletana” game since back in 2009. Owner John Chetti opened the first location on Queen East before Leslieville was the booming neighbourhood it is today.

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