What Makes Roman-Style Pizza Unique?

To say that pizza is popular is like saying skyscrapers are tall, or that the ocean is blue. In fact, The Washington Post backs up this (rather obvious) statement by explaining that, in the United States, 350 slices of pizza are sold per second. Like a classic cheeseburger or a plate of pasta, pizza is versatile and easy to customize with an array of vegetarian and protein-based toppings. And don't even get us started on the laundry list of pizza styles, which consists of favorites like Neapolitan, New York-style, Detroit-style, and deep dish (according to First We Feast).

But there's another type of pizza that is slowly making a breakthrough in the United States, per P.Za Kitchen. It has a huge following in Central Italy, resembles flavorful focaccia bread, and utilizes both extra virgin olive oil and Italian flour. Here's what Roman-style pizza is, and what makes it so unique.

Mortadella Head explains that Roman-style pizza was created in the 1960s in Rome. Two major factors contributed to its birth: The use of high-protein flour during World War II, which helped to form its crispy texture, and the heat distribution from electric ovens, which were ideal for larger, rectangular-shaped pizzas. And that's exactly what Roman-style pizza looks like today.

The texture of Roman-style pizza separates it from the rest, as each bite is airy, light, and crispy, per MasterClass. Olive oil plays a huge part in how the dough turns out, but P.Za Kitchen states that the unique crust is also due to the formation of large air bubbles during the dough's 48-hour rest time. Some pizzas are simple with their toppings, like the Neapolitan, but Roman-style pizza celebrates all kinds of sauces, veggies, and proteins. Examples include pesto pizza, white pizza, and even a creative potato pizza.

Perhaps the most unique trait of "pizza al taglio," which means "by the cut," lies in the way it's cut at bakeries. Roman pizza scizzas, which are a type of scissors, are used to cut this pizza into square-shaped slices. This helps to maintain the structure of both the toppings and the crust.

There are many unique aspects to Roman-style pizza that make it a worthy competitor in the pizza game. From the way it's sliced to its creative culinary combinations, this "al taglio" style is a tasty way to celebrate the fresh flavors of Rome.