Pizzas here and there

CEBU, Philippines – As mentioned in a previous feature on one of the world’s most well-loved specials, the pizza was not technically invented by the Italians, although they did play an important role in propelling it to international culinary acclaim.

So do other cultures have an equivalent of the popular dish? A number do, taking shape in specials whose primary preparatory methods entail the use of certain types of bread, tomato-based sauces and cheese as toppings – specials like the “Pav Bhaji” of India, the “Okonomiyaki” of Japan, and the “Panzerotti,” a closed pizza-variant that’s popular in Canada.

Though these dishes are not all direct interpretations of the modern pizza, they have somewhat gained a reputation for being “pizza equivalents” where they are popular.

The Pav Bhaji. As a type of dish, the “pav bhaji” is widely considered to be an Indian fast food dish – though there are descriptions that deem it as a staple dish in many Indian diets.

Ascribed to originate from Mumbai cuisine, the dish is primarily composed of butter-fried bread rolls dipped in a basic mixture made of either whole or mashed tomatoes, mixed vegetables and butter, and topped with a selection of optional toppings.

The Pav Bhaji’s origin has been traced to the 1850s – as a type of dish that was partaken by the textile mill workers of Mumbai. It is said that a vendor based in the area created the dish for the mill workers, who needed light-but-satisfying meals due to their short lunch breaks.

In fact, it is noted that the dish was initially perceived as food for mill-workers, but eventually found its way to restaurants in Central Mumbai – from where restaurant varieties of the dish like the “Paneer Pav Bhaji” (prepared with paneer or cottage cheese), the “Mushroom Pav Bhaji” (prepared with mushrooms), the “Kathyawadi Pav Bhaji” (prepared with buttermilk), the “Dryfruit Pav Bhaji” (prepared with dry fruits) and the “Khada Pav Bhaji” (prepared with vegetables that are cooked with masala gravy) became popular.

The Okonomiyaki – Though defined by food experts as a type of “savory pancake” from Japan, the “okonomiyaki” has also been labeled as “Japanese pizza” by a number of epicurean circles – given the “open” preparatory methods and procedures associated with the dish.

Taking its name from the Japanese “okonimi” which translates to “what you like” or “how you like it,” okonomiyaki variants that use the primary ingredients of the West’s pizza have lent the dish its “Japanese pizza” title.

Though widely available throughout the Land of the Rising Sun, the special is primarily associated with Japan’s Kansai region – where it is said to have originated from.

The Panzerotti – The “panzerotti” is generally defined as a type of pastry made with a savory filling.

Originating from the central and southern regions of Italy, they are also characterized as smaller versions of the calzone – known as a type of “closed pizza” – and is typically prepared with a soft dough filled with a tomato, mozzarella, mushroom and ham-based filling.

Since the mid-1960s, the panzerotti has been widely considered as a popular fast food item in Canada, with variants like the “Pizza Pops” or “Pizza Pockets.”