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Grandma pizza facts for kids

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Grandma pizza
Grandma pizza
Type Pizza
Place of origin United States
Region or state Long Island, New York
Main ingredients Pizza dough, tomato sauce, cheese, tomatoes

Grandma pizza is a special kind of pizza that comes from Long Island, New York. It's known for being thin and square. Imagine a pizza that Italian grandmas used to make at home, without a fancy pizza oven – that's kind of what grandma pizza is like! It usually has cheese and tomatoes, and it's often compared to Sicilian pizza.

The Story of Grandma Pizza

Grandma pizza has a cool history that goes back to the early 1900s. It started on Long Island with Italian immigrants from southern Italy. They wanted to make foods from their home country.

These families used simple ingredients they had in their kitchens. They made a special pizza right at home. Because it was mostly made by first-generation immigrants in their own kitchens, people started calling it "grandma pizza."

From Home Kitchens to Pizzerias

For many years, grandma pizza was a secret treasure. Most pizzerias didn't sell it. It was mainly a homemade dish. Not many people outside of Long Island even knew about this unique pizza style.

But things changed in the late 2000s and early 2010s. People who grew up eating grandma pizza started opening their own pizzerias. They wanted to share this special pizza with everyone. It was a way to honor the delicious food they ate at home.

What Makes Grandma Pizza Special?

Grandma pizza has a few unique features that make it stand out. It's usually cooked in a rectangular pan. This pan is often coated with olive oil. The dough is pressed into a rectangle shape.

How It's Made

One interesting thing about grandma pizza is how the toppings are added. The cheese usually goes on first. Then, the tomato sauce is put on top of the cheese. This is different from many other pizzas where the sauce goes under the cheese.

The pizza is then baked in a regular kitchen oven. Today, many pizzerias also use wood-fired ovens or stone ovens. After it's baked, the pizza is cut into small squares. This makes it easy to share and enjoy!

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