pizza funghi — Italy

Pizza funghi is a pizza defined by its mushroom topping, arranged over a base of tomato sauce and mozzarella. The mushrooms bring an earthy note that sits against the sweetness of the tomato and the mildness of the melted cheese, making the pizza a simple, savoury option on most menus. The pizza is reported throughout Italy and appears as a standard choice on pizzeria menus alongside other classic toppings, ordered on its own or used as a base to which other ingredients such as ham or extra cheese are sometimes added. To prepare it, a round of dough is stretched thin and spread with tomato sauce and torn or sliced mozzarella. The mushrooms, most often common button mushrooms, are sliced and either scattered raw over the pizza or briefly sautéed beforehand in a little oil or butter with garlic to concentrate their flavour before baking. The topped pizza goes into a hot oven and bakes quickly until the crust is crisp and the cheese has melted through. Variations mostly concern the mushrooms used and how they are handled: some pizzerias favour a single variety such as porcini for a stronger flavour, others use a mix of wild mushrooms, and the choice between raw and pre-cooked mushrooms changes both the texture and the amount of liquid released onto the pizza during baking. A few versions finish the pizza with a drizzle of truffle oil or a scattering of fresh parsley.