INTRODUCTION
Yes, there is a big difference between flatbread and pizza. Flatbread is a type of sweet or savory bread that is flat and thin, it doesn’t contain ingredients that raise and permeate the dough. It is an adaptable food that is eaten by people all around the world. On the other hand, pizza, the all-time favorite delight of all the people around the world, is a type of bread that is thicker and fluffy as compared to flatbread. It’s mostly savory and consists of ingredients like yeast that help the dough to leaven. Its popularity has increased with time.
ORIGINATION:
Flatbread originated in Ancient Egypt and its variations are found in many different cultures. Whereas pizza originated along the western coast of Italy, in the city of Naples. We can say that both Flatbread and Pizza are not the same but very much similar.
INGREDIENTS:
Due to the diversity of cultures, now there are numerous ways of making Flatbread and Pizza, but we have listed the most common ingredients for your understanding.
INGREDIENTS OF FLATBREAD:
The basic ingredients for making flatbread are:
- Flour
- Water
- Salt
You have a wide selection of the type of flour to choose from. Some of them are:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Rice etc.
This variety of Flatbread acts as the perfect base for wraps or sandwiches.
INGREDIENTS OF PIZZA:
Pizza mainly consists of two parts, one is the dough, the bottom part and the other one is toppings and sauces. Often the bottom part, the dough, is kept the same and the choice of toppings and sauces is mixed and matched to provide a variety of selection and flavors to choose from.
The basic ingredients for making pizza dough are:
- Flour
- Water
- Salt
- Yeast
- Olive oil
- Sugar
- Herbs
- Spices
Moreover the most common and classic toppings are:
- Tomato sauce
- Cheese
- Vegetables
- Meat
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Olives etc.
HOW FLATBREAD AND PIZZA ARE MADE?
FLATBREAD:
Flatbread can be cooked in a variety of ways. It can be cooked either by baking, grilling or frying. The basic steps include:
- The kneading of dough with water salt and any flour of your choice.
- After making the dough just let it rest for some time
- Later you can give it any shape you like, most often it rolled in thin circles.
- Now you can cook that dough on high heat such that it increases in size and gets evenly cooked on each side for around 1-2 minutes.
After these steps, your flatbread is ready to be served with curry or any sauce of your choice.
PIZZA:
The steps for making the dough for pizza crust are the same as flatbread but with an extra addition of yeast in the dough. The rest of the part is simple and very much fun as you just need to spread your favorite pizza sauce and add toppings of your own choice to adjust it according to your taste. And once the toppings are done, it needs to be cooked in an evenly hot oven. The temperature is set according to the thickness of the crust. It is preferred to bake pizza in a preheated oven. Pizza needs to be cooked until the cheese is completely melted and your favorite toppings are properly cooked
IS IT VERSATILE:
Flatbread is much more versatile as it can be used as a base to make shawarmas, tortilla wraps, burritos, rolls and what not. People from the Middle East like to pair it with stew and curry as well. On the other hand pizza is not that versatile because it has to be eaten on its own and it is a complete meal itself.
POPULAR NAMES FOR FLATBREAD AND PIZZA AROUND THE WORLD:
NAMES FOR FLATBREAD:
- Naan from India
- Pita from Middle East
- Tortilla from Mexico
- Focaccia from Italy
- Roti from South Asia
Just like these it has many more names through which flatbreads are known across the entire world.
NAMES FOR PIZZA:
- Sfincione pizza, Italy
- Zapiekanka, Poland
- Plain slice, New York City
- Deep-dish pizza, Chicago
- Margherita pizza, Naples, Italy
And many more.
NUTRITION FACTS OF FLATBREAD AND COSTCO PIZZA:
FLATBREAD:
The nutritional value of a serving per 100 grams of flatbread is:
- Calories: 395
- Total fats: 4 grams
- Total carbohydrates: 86 grams
- Total protein: 10 grams
PIZZA:
The nutritional value of a serving per 100 grams of Pizza is :
- Calories: 266
- Total fats: 15 grams
- Total carbohydrates: 53 grams
- Total protein: 21 grams
IS FLATBREAD PIZZA GOOD OR REGULAR PIZZA IN TERMS OF HEALTH:
In general, flatbread pizza has less calories as compared to regular pizza because flatbread pizza normally includes less cheese and is thinner, this is the case. However, the difference in calories is usually not noticeable. This makes flatbread pizza a better option than regular pizza.
Flatbread pizza’s fat level is often comparable to that of regular pizza. Depending on the toppings chosen, each type of pizza might contain a lot of saturated fat. Select a pizza with light toppings, such as grilled chicken or green vegetables, if you want to make the best healthy choice for yourself.
Depending on the type of dough used, both flatbread pizza and regular pizza can contain different amounts of carbohydrates. Often, flatbread pizza has less dough because the crust is often thinner. Less carbohydrates are present as a result.
So, is flatbread pizza healthier than regular pizza can depend on the amount of ingredients used in it?
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAND TOSSED AND PAN PIZZA:
· Hand-tossed crust:
It is created by stretching and tossing the dough by hands. It produces a crust that is lighter and more airy.
· Pan pizza crust:
It is thicker and denser than hand-tossed crust. The dough is created by pressing it into a large pan and allowing it to rise.
· Main Difference:
The thickness and texture of the crust are what differentiate hand-tossed from pan pizza. Pan pizza crust is thicker and denser as compare to hand tossed which is thinner and lighter.
IS FLATBREAD GOOD FOR DIET OR PIZZA?
Flatbread is good for your diet as compared to pizza because it does not consist of ingredients like yeast, cheese, salty meats etc. Pizza is included in junk food while flatbread is not a part of junk foods. Flatbread can be used daily but pizza cannot be because it can cause serious health issues.
SHAPES OF FLATBREAD AND PIZZA:
They both can be in any shape of your choice but mostly flatbread is in round shape all over the world and pizza is also in round shape or rectangular shape all around the world. Shape does not make any difference in their tastes that is just for appearance.
WHAT IS MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLATBREAD AND PIZZA?
The main difference between flatbread and pizza is its:
· Preparation:
Flatbread dough does not consist of any leavening ingredients while pizza consists of such leavening ingredients like yeast.
· Topping:
Flatbread is often plain, without any topping but pizza is full of toppings such as herbs, mushrooms, olives, cheese, vegetables, meats etc.
· Cultural associations:
Both flatbread and pizza are culturally different. Every culture makes it in their own way. Their way of serving may also be different.