Pizza Took a World Tour: One Slice at a Time

Pizza may wear many names across the world, but its soul remains the same. A comforting base, bold toppings, and heat that brings everything together. In this edition, we travel from Turkey to Japan, Lebanon to China, and the USA, exploring pizza-style dishes rooted in local cultures, street food traditions, and everyday cooking. These recipes prove that pizza doesn’t belong to one country; it belongs wherever good food is shared.

🧀 Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Thick, buttery crust layered with cheese, fillings, and rich tomato sauce. This pizza is indulgence turned up to maximum.

Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 35 mins | Serves: 3–4

Ingredients

For dough:

• All-purpose flour – 2½ cups
• Cornmeal (makki ka atta)– ¼ cup
• Butter – ¼ cup, melted
• Yeast – 1 tsp
• Sugar – 1 tsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Warm water – 1 cup

For topping:

• Mozzarella – 2 cups, grated
• Tomato puree – 1½ cups
• Garlic – 2 cloves, minced
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Oregano – 1 tsp

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Method

1. Mix flour, cornmeal, yeast, sugar, salt, butter, and water to form a soft dough. Rest for 1 hour.
2. Prepare the dough and rest for 1 hour.
3. Press dough into a deep pan or cake pan, pushing and sticking it up the sides.
4. Add the mozzarella cheese layer first, then tomato puree sauce, garlic, and oregano.
5. Bake at 190°C for 30–35 minutes until set.

Note: Always layer cheese before sauce to protect the crust from sogginess.

🍕 Okonomiyaki: Japanese Savoury Pizza

A crispy, fluffy savoury pancake packed with cabbage and flavour. Okonomiyaki is comfort food with endless customisation.

Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 12 mins | Serves: 2

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – ¾ cup
• Eggs – 2
• Water – ½ cup
• Cabbage – 1½ cups, shredded
• Spring onions – 2 tbsp, chopped
• Oil – 2 tbsp

Toppings:

• Mayonnaise/Cheese – as needed
• Sweet soy or ketchup – drizzle

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Method

1. Whisk flour, eggs, and water. Fold in cabbage, onions, and cheese or mayonnaise
2. Heat the pan, pour the batter, and cook covered for 5–6 minutes on each side.
3. Drizzle sauces and serve hot.

Note: Flip gently and confidently. Half-cooked hesitation ruins texture.

🥙 Manakish: Lebanese Flatbread Pizza

Soft flatbread topped with olive oil and za’atar. Simple, aromatic, and deeply satisfying.

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 10 mins | Serves: 2

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 2 cups
• Yeast – 1 tsp
• Sugar – 1 tsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp
• Warm water – ¾ cup

Topping:

• Za’atar spice – 2 tbsp
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp

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Method

1. Make the dough and rest for 1 hour.
2. Roll into rounds. Mix za’atar with olive oil and spread evenly.
3. Bake at 220°C for 8–10 minutes or cook covered on a tawa.

Tip: Manakish is best eaten fresh and warm, ideally with tea.

🥞 Chinese Street-Style Scallion Pancake Pizza

Crispy, flaky layers with scallions and bold flavours. This pan-cooked pizza is street food comfort at its best.

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 12 mins | Serves: 2

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 1½ cups
• Warm water – ¾ cup
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Spring onions – ½ cup, chopped
• Oil – 2 tbsp

Optional topping:

• Cheese – ½ cup
• Chilli oil – drizzle

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Method

1. Knead flour, water, and salt into soft dough. Rest 20 minutes.
2. Roll thin, brush oil, sprinkle onions, roll, and coil.
3. Flatten and cook in a pan until golden and crisp on both sides.
4. Add cheese if using, cover briefly to melt.

Tip: Patience while cooking creates flaky layers. Medium heat works best.

🥬 Spinach Pide: Turkish Pizza

Soft bread shaped like a boat and filled with spinach, cheese, and gentle spices. Pide is comforting, savoury, and perfect for sharing straight from the oven.

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Serves: 2

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 2 cups
• Instant yeast – 1 tsp
• Sugar – 1 tsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp
• Warm water – ¾ cup

For filling:

• Spinach – 2 cups, chopped
• Onion – 1 small, finely chopped
• Feta or paneer – ½ cup, crumbled
• Black pepper – ½ tsp
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp

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Method

1. Mix flour, yeast, sugar, salt, oil, and water to form a soft dough. Rest for 1 hour.
2. Sauté onion and spinach until wilted. Cool and mix with cheese and pepper.
3. Roll the dough into an oval, add filling, and pinch edges to form a boat shape.
4. Bake at 200°C for 12–15 minutes until golden.

Tip: Pide tastes best warm and rustic. Serve with yoghurt or a squeeze of lemon.

These global pizzas remind us that great food doesn’t follow rules, it follows instinct. Flatbread, toppings, heat, and creativity have travelled across cultures for centuries, adapting beautifully along the way. Whether baked, pan-cooked, or griddled, these recipes bring the world’s favourite comfort food into your kitchen, one delicious variation at a time.

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