When you enter Quattro, you can browse through the large list of items available on their menu. However, one item that is far and away the number one best-selling item is their Margherita Mozzarella Di Bufala Pizza. In fact, this item brings back customers week after week. For those unfamiliar, a Margherita Mozzarella Di Bufala Pizza is simply not a complicated item. However, there are some things that make this very straightforward pizza item the most popular pizza item in the world for over a hundred years. Please see below for a full tutorial on how to make the perfect Margherita Mozzarella Di Bufala Pizza and why it is such a hit with customers.
What Ingredients Are On a Classic Margherita Pizza?
To make a classic Margherita pizza, you will need to place three ingredients on top of the dough: tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. The reason for the simplicity is that each of the three ingredients is critical to creating the final flavors of the pizza. The tomato sauce provides both a sweet and acidic component. The mozzarella provides a rich and creamy element. The fresh basil provides an aromatic quality that binds the entire pizza together.
Quattro takes this classic recipe and raises it by substituting the mozzarella with buffalo mozzarella. By doing this, we raise the bar on the entire pizza experience. Our pizza dough is stretched out thinly, topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, torn buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil leaves, then baked in our brick oven at 900 degrees.
Where Did The Margherita Pizza Originate?
In 1889, a Neapolitan pizzaiolo (pizza maker) named Raffaele Esposito created a pizza for Queen Margherita of Savoy during a visit to Naples. He created three different pies for her. She chose the pie with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. The combination of colors was reminiscent of the Italian flag (red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil). He named the pie “Margherita” after the Queen. Whether or not this story is entirely true, the Margherita has become the gold standard by which all other pizzas are judged in Italy.
What Makes Buffalo Mozzarella Better Than Traditional Mozzarella?
Buffalo mozzarella is produced from the milk of a water buffalo. This produces a cheese that is more flavorful, creamier, and more moist than regular mozzarella. Buffalo mozzarella has a higher fat content than regular mozzarella. Therefore, it has a richer and more intense flavor and a softer texture. When buffalo mozzarella is melted on a pizza, it forms pockets of creamy cheese that provide a beautiful contrast to the crispy crust.
Regular mozzarella, produced from cow’s milk, is a harder and milder cheese than buffalo mozzarella. It melts more evenly than buffalo mozzarella and provides that elastic cheese pull that many associate with pizza. While it may melt perfectly, it lacks the complexity of flavor that buffalo mozzarella provides. The decision to utilize buffalo mozzarella is what separates an authentic margherita from a typical cheese pizza with basil.
What Sets Authentic Margherita Apart From Other Pizzas?
While many attribute the popularity of the Margherita to its ease of preparation, the primary reason for its enduring success is due to the quality of the ingredients used to prepare it and the manner in which it is prepared. Authentic Margherita is made with San Marzano tomatoes, which are grown in volcanic soil near Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. San Marzano tomatoes produce a sweeter and less acidic sauce compared to standard tomatoes. As a result, the flavor of the tomato sauce does not overwhelm the other elements of the pizza.
In addition to the type of tomatoes used, the cooking process is equally important. Brick ovens cook pizzas at temperatures ranging from 800° to 900°F. Cooking the pizza in this manner produces a charred and blistered crust that is still chewy on the inside. Standard ovens cannot achieve these extreme temperatures; therefore, homemade Margherita pizzas rarely equate to the ones found in restaurants.
Why Is Margherita Pizza So Well-Loved?
There are many reasons why the Margherita pizza remains popular. One major reason is the philosophy of Italian cooking: to utilize high-quality ingredients and to avoid overcomplicating the meal. The simplicity of the Margherita pizza allows each ingredient to shine. There is no hiding subpar cheese or bland tomatoes when you are only using three toppings.
Newcomers to Italian restaurants often view Margherita pizza as the perfect entry point into authentic Italian cuisine. It is not intimidating, but it demonstrates the craft that goes into preparing a proper Italian dish. At Quattro, customers who choose the Margherita Mozzarella Di Bufala Pizza know they are receiving a genuine product – utilizing authentic ingredients and cooking methods.
Are you ready to try Boston’s most popular Margherita pizza? Book your table at Quattro today and see why our Margherita Mozzarella Di Bufala Pizza brings customers back time and again. We are located at the four-way intersection of Boston’s North End at 264 Hanover Street and offer lunch and dinner every day.