If you think this is a drink that will quench your thirst, then you might be thinking about the Margarita, the lemon-infused cocktail. Margherita, on the other hand, is a popular pizza selection consisting of Mozarella cheese, Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil.
It may not contain any meat, but the refreshing and light pizza is simply irresistible. Plus, it’s an excellent choice for those of you who are vegetarians or for those who are just looking for something different.
How the Margherita got its Name
It’s easier to believe that the Margherita and Margarita are related, but in reality, the two has no connections at all. The Margarita is a product of North America while Margherita is hailed as one of the most original Neapolitan dishes. If you don’t know what that is, it means traditional Italian recipe from the Naples – in short.
It is believed that the name is inspired by the queen consort of Italy, Queen Margherita of Savoy upon her visit to Naples in 1889. She was accompanying her husband, King Umberto I who was visiting the town as a celebration of the unification of the southern and northern part of Italy.
As the legends would tell, Queen Margherita is an avid lover of food, and she was bored with the French cuisine that was being served to her during her trip to Naples. She then ordered a famous local pizza maker, Raffaele Esposito to make her a pizza.
Raffaele wanted to impress the Queen and create a symbolic pizza. He also heard that the three ingredients Queen Margherita loved were the Mozarella cheese, the Marzano Tomatoes and basil which coincidentally also represents the colour of the Italian flag. Raffaele thought it was a winning pizza and hence named it Margherita after the Queen.
Despite the story being the most popular folklore of all times, there are suggestions that Raffaele did not invent the Margherita as evidence suggests that similar toppings have been used to make pizza in Naples between 1796 and 1810, way before Queen Margherita became a Queen.
However, some recipe books suggested that while similar ingredients were being used, the pizza didn’t share the same name. Some even suggested that the name Margherita, which translated to “daisy” in the Italian language revolved around the fact that the tomatoes and Mozarella cheese were arranged to resemble the Daisy. Of course, the story of Queen Margherita is more interesting to tell.
Nutritional Content of the Margherita Pizza
Margherita Pizza is probably one of the healthiest pizza you could get. If you break down the ingredients, tomato is a good source of Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin K and potassium. It is also believed to help give the appearance of brighter skin.
Basil, on the other hand, can help aid digestion, fight free radicals which are responsible for ageing and functions as an anti-inflammatory. It can also help with managing diabetes. Olive oil used in Margherita Pizza can also function as an anti-inflammatory and help prevent stroke and heart disease.
Where to get the Best Margherita Pizza in KL
If you’re ready to taste something new and possibly enjoy a pizza choice that was once a favourite of the Italian Queen, make your way to Table9 in Bangsar for their classic Margherita Pizza served with their very own blend of tomato sauce. Visit foodpanda to find out more about western dishes around you!