Altoona-style pizza facts for kids
| Type | Pizza |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Main ingredients | sicilian-style pizza dough, tomato sauce, sliced green bell pepper, salami, american cheese |
Altoona-style pizza is a special kind of pizza that comes from Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was first made at the Altoona Hotel. This pizza is known for a few unique things.
It has a thick, soft crust, like Sicilian pizza. Instead of regular tomato sauce, it uses a special tomato sauce. It's topped with sliced green bell peppers and salami. What makes it really stand out is the yellow American cheese on top. Also, it's always cut into squares, not triangles!
Contents
What Makes Altoona Pizza Special?
The Crust
The crust of Altoona-style pizza is thick and soft. It's made from a dough similar to Sicilian pizza. This gives the pizza a chewy and satisfying base. Unlike most pizzas, Altoona pizza is cut into squares. This makes it easy to share and eat.
The Cheese
One of the most unique things about this pizza is the cheese. Instead of mozzarella or provolone, it uses yellow American cheese. This processed cheese melts smoothly and gives the pizza a distinct flavor. The bright yellow squares of cheese are a signature look for Altoona pizza.
The Toppings
Altoona-style pizza always has two main toppings. These are sliced green bell peppers and salami. The green bell peppers add a fresh, slightly bitter taste. The salami is usually a deli-style kind with small peppercorns. These toppings are cooked right onto the pizza.
How Altoona Pizza Started
Altoona-style pizza began at the Altoona Hotel. It was created by Italian immigrants. They wanted to make pizza, but they didn't have all the usual ingredients. So, they used what they had available. This led to the creation of this unique and popular pizza style.
