The Better Homes and Gardens Encyclopedia of Cooking (Dooley 1971, p. 1706) defines pizza as follows: “The Italian word for pie, now specifically applied to a spicy, open-faced pie traditionally topped with tomatoes, cheese, and herbs.
Does pie mean pizza in Italian?
Contrary to what many believe, pizza does not mean pie in Italian. Pizza is its own thing and is its own dish, so you wouldn’t use pizza to describe an actual pie in Italy.
Why do Italians call pizza a pie?
Pizza was first called pie when Italian immigrants arrived in the United States in the late 1800s. Pizza had similarities to a pie – with a crust, sliced triangle portions and its circular shape. Italian-Americans sold and popularized the pizzas, and the exotic dish picked up the English name “tomato pie”.
What is pizza called in Italy?
The Italians use a variety of terms to describe their pizza. Crostata and torta are both used to describe savory and sweet pies, and pizza is a singular word that represents only one dish. There are other names for pizza, but these are the most common. There’s nothing wrong with being confused.
What does Italian word for pie?
torta, tortino, pasticcio. an apple pie una torta di mele. (Translation of pie from the Cambridge English-Italian Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)