Napoletana
One of the most popular types of pizza in the whole world, Neapolitan pizza or pizza Napoletana is a type of pizza that originated in Naples, Italy. Naples is also called as The Birthplace of Pizza.
Neapolitan pizza is a flat style of pizza made with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. The soft and light crust coupled with the genuine ingredients added on top makes for a light pizza that can easily be eaten whole.
Neapolitan and New York style are very similar to one another but a pizza cannot be officially classified as Neapolitan unless it closely follows some rules. The True Neapolitan Pizza Association (AVPN) set out a strict guidelines to classify it as an authentic “Neapolitan Pizza”.
If you have a taste for Seafood pizzas with Tomato sauce this pizza may be what you have been searching for.
Pizza is truly a global phenomenon! There are so many reasons why people all over the world enjoy this delicious dish. One reason is that it’s such a versatile food. Pizza can be made in countless different ways, using a variety of different toppings, sauces, and crusts. This allows different cultures and regions to put their own spin on the dish, making it appealing to many diverse palates.
Another reason is that it’s a relatively inexpensive and convenient food that can be made at home or easily ordered from a local pizzeria.
Additionally, Pizza can be a perfect comfort food as well as to be enjoyed while socializing with friends and family, which makes it a great food to enjoy on any occasion, be it a casual night in, a birthday party, and even a romantic dinner. All of these factors combined make pizza a beloved food that is enjoyed around the world.
Pizza in New Zealand
Naples-style pizza is very popular throughout New Zealand, with a crunchy, crispy crust with a selection of toppings that are local from New Zealand, as well as imported Aged Cheeses and Meats.
Take a look at some of the other pizzas from New Zealand here.
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Type | Seafood |
| Sauce | Tomato Sauce |
Napoletana Pizza Recipe
Below we’ve put together a recipe for you to make your own homemade Napoletana Pizza using a wood oven or the oven in your kitchen.
| Dough | 2 hours |
| Assembly | 10 minutes |
| Baking | 12-20 minutes |
Napoletana Pizza Ingredients
Choose enough pizza toppings for the amount of pizzas you plan to make. The pizza sauce and dough ingredients below are designed for 3-4 pizzas, so add more or less, if required.
Simple Pizza dough
- 250 ml (1 cup) lukewarm water
- 2 2/3 cups (400 grams) 00 fine flour
- 7 grams (2 tsps) dried yeast
- 1/4 cup (3 tbsp) olive oil
- 2 tsps salt
Napoletana Pizza Toppings
Toppings used in this pizza recipe, are;
- Anchovies
- Buffalo Mozzarella
- Olive Oil
- Basil
Easy Tomato Pizza Sauce
- 1 can (15oz/420g) crushed or diced tomatoes
- 1 small can (6oz/170g) tomato paste
- Two garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 small brown onion
Want to try a different sauce? See our article on the different types of pizza sauces.
TIP
You can click on any of the tags at the bottom of this page, to find other pizzas besides Napoletana Pizza, that use that topping.
Pizza Dough Method
You can either make your own pizza dough following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a premade base at your local store.
- Whisk the lukewarm water and yeast in a plastic or glass jug. Let the mixture stand for approx. five minutes.
- Add salt and flour in a large bowl. Create a hollow well in the middle and gently pour the liquid yeast mixture and oil.
- Using dough mixer or hands, gently mix dough until smooth. Place pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface and then knead by hand for five minutes.
- Lightly oil a bowl, and place mixture in and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place to rise until the dough doubles in size.
- Pour dough mix out onto a clean, floured surface. Now hand knead gently for another five minutes.
- Sprinkle a little flour on the bench before rolling to prevent dough from sticking.
- Divide dough mixture into equal sized balls. Hand stretch or roll out the bases to the expected size.
TIP: We have other dough recipes if you would like to try your hand at sourdough, poolish or more.
Tomato Pizza Sauce Method
It takes around five minutes to make this tasty pizza sauce following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a bottle of pizza sauce at your local supermarket.
- Stir in all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Using either a whisk, or blender, mix well.
- Let sit for five minutes.
- The pizza sauce is ready to use immediately or chill in fridge for 2-3 days.
- You can also freeze any leftover sauce for up to 3 months.
Don’t forget that you can always add salt and pepper to taste.
Preparing Napoletana Pizza
Preheat your oven to at least 450 degrees for 30 minutes or longer.
Spread out pizza dough on floured surface.
If you have a pizza peel, you can create your pizza on it (after flouring).
Start by spreading the sauce all over the base. This pizza uses Tomato Sauce. Spread the Tomato Sauce Thinly yet evenly, leaving a margin for the crust.
Add the largest toppings first – typically meat or seafood, then the smaller toppings.
Add cheese last, and sprinkle it all over to help keep the toppings in place when it melts.
This pizza has the following toppings:
- Anchovies
- Buffalo Mozzarella
- Olive Oil
- Basil
Whilst this pizza is great as is, or you could pair it with another pizza as well?
Baking time
Put the Napoletana pizza in the middle of your oven (on a stone if you have one) and set timer for 10 minutes.
After roughly 10 minutes, check on the pizza.
Pizza should be ready within 15 minutes. However, allow it to cook to personal taste.
About Buffalo Mozzarella
Buffalo mozzarella is a type of mozzarella, which is made from Mediterranean buffalo milk. Traditionally manufactured in Campania, it has been written about since the 12th century.
The word mozzarella comes from the procedure called mozzare which means “cutting by hand”, separating from the curd, and serving in individual pieces. From the original birthplace of Italy, it is now manufactured in many other countries around the world.
Pizza Tools
When making Napoletana Pizza, we always recommend that you use whatever tools you are able to get your hands on. Our basic pizza tools are…
Pizza Peel
A pizza peel aka paddle is a crucial tool for those who are making pizza often.
Pizza Cutter
The one kitchen tool every adult should have in their drawer. See our article on how to cut pizza for the various cutting tools.
Rolling Pin
Yes, I know, many people swear by hand stretching, however there’s times in all our lives where we need a good wooden roller.
Anchovies
There are 144 species of Anchovies, a small common saltwater fish. Anchovies are used in small quantities to flavor many dishes. They can range in length from 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 40 centimetres (16 in) when an adult.
During the Roman period, Anchovies were eaten raw as an aphrodisiac. Fresh and dried Anchovies are a popular element in many cuisines around the world.
Pizza Facts
These facts will interest you.
We love maths
There is a mathematical theorem named after pizza cutting. The pizza theorem is so called because it mimics a traditional pizza slicing technique. It states that the equality of two areas that arise when one partitions a disk in a certain way.
Largest pizza delivery
The largest pizza delivery was organised by Pizzas 4 Patriots (USA), who sent 30,000 pizzas with DHL Express to the United States Armed Forces, in Kandahar Airfield, Bagram Airbase and Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, on 4 July 2012. The 12 inch pizzas were made by Great Kitchens, Inc. in Illinois in June 2012.
Salami in space
Pizza Hut made history when they sent a 6-inch salami pizza via a Russian rocket to the International Space Station. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachov munched on the treat and even took marketing photos.
Pizza making FAQ
Want to make delicious pizzas at home? Here are some expert answers to some of the most common pizza making questions.
Can I use the pan that came in the stove for making pizza?
Possibly, however I always recommend using a pizza stone in your typical kitchen oven, rather than an oven pan. Most oven pans have high sides, and make it hard for the base to get cooked through thoroughly. A pizza stone solves this issue. Short answer? Try it and see!
When did pizza delivery start?
The first ever recorded pizza delivery occurred in 1889, when Queen Margherita of Savoy fell ill after eating rotten food in Naples. The Queen and her husband, King Umberto I of Italy, were hungry and requested that authentic Italian pizza be sent to them.
How to eat pizza with acid reflux?
Try eating low fat pizza, and reduce the amount of cheese and tomato sauce; the two worst culprits for acid reflux in a pizza.
Have you made Napoletana Pizza?
Napoletana Pizza ! Tag us on our Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you thought of it! I’d love to know.
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