Margherita pizza is celebrated for its simple yet flavourful ingredients, which mirror the colours of the Italian flag red tomato sauce, white mozzarella, and fresh green basil.
They combine to create a dish that has become a staple of Italian cuisine and a worldwide favourite.
Naples, Italy, is widely recognised as the birthplace of pizza. The city was home to a largely poor population, and pizza emerged as an affordable, quick, and satisfying meal sold by street vendors.
One of the most famous stories of Margherita pizza’s origin dates to 1889, when King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples. According to legend, the Queen had grown tired of the elaborate gourmet food and craved for something simpler, she summoned Raffaele Esposito, Naples' most renowned pizza maker, and requested a selection of pizzas.
Esposito prepared three different pizzas. The first, pizza marinara, featured garlic; the second, pizza Napoli, was topped with anchovies. Neither impressed the Queen. However, the third pizza with red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil was an instant success. Inspired by its resemblance to the Italian flag, Esposito named the dish after the Queen.
Whether enjoyed in a traditional Neapolitan pizzeria or as a homemade favourite, Margherita pizza continues to be a timeless dish, beloved by generations around the world.
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