The Perfect Contemporary Neapolitan Pizza: What Makes It Unique?
When it comes to pizza, few styles can match the rich tradition and originality of Neapolitan pizza. Originating from Naples, Italy, this iconic pizza has captured the hearts of food lovers worldwide with its simple ingredients, wood-fired preparation, and unique flavor profile. At Five Olives in Phuket, we are proud to bring contemporary Neapolitan pizza to our tropical shores, offering an authentic Italian dining experience that you simply can’t miss. But what exactly makes Neapolitan pizza so special?
Simple, Fresh Ingredients
One of the key factors that sets a contemporary Neapolitan pizza apart from other styles is its dedication to simplicity. Neapolitan pizza traditionally uses only a few high-quality ingredients, allowing each flavor to shine. The pizza starts with a soft, chewy dough made from just flour, water, yeast, and salt. This simplicity extends to the toppings, which often include San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella (specifically buffalo mozzarella or fior di latte), basil, and extra virgin olive oil.
At Five Olives, we stay true to this classic approach, using the freshest ingredients to ensure that each bite delivers the authentic taste of Naples. By focusing on quality rather than quantity of ingredients, our contemporary Neapolitan pizza achieves a perfect balance of flavors—neither too heavy nor overwhelming.
The Art of Dough
The dough is the heart and soul of a contemporary Neapolitan pizza, and its preparation requires both time and expertise. The dough is kneaded by hand and left to ferment for hours, resulting in a light and airy crust that’s crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. What makes Neapolitan dough truly unique is its delicate chew, which is achieved through a careful balance of ingredients and long fermentation.
At Five Olives, our chefs meticulously prepare the dough using traditional methods, ensuring the perfect texture in every pizza. The thin, yet slightly puffy crust forms a soft base for the toppings, making it an ideal characteristic of a contemporary Neapolitan pizza.
Wood-Fired Perfection
Another key element that makes Neapolitan pizza so special is the way it’s cooked. Traditional Neapolitan pizza is baked in a wood-fired oven at extremely high temperatures—typically around 800 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit (430 to 480 degrees Celsius). This quick, intense heat gives the pizza its signature charred, blistered crust while keeping the inside soft and chewy.
At Five Olives, we use a wood-fired oven to replicate the authentic cooking process. The intense heat of the oven cooks the pizza in just 60 to 90 seconds, ensuring that the crust remains perfectly crisp on the outside while maintaining its tender interior. The slight charring from the wood fire also imparts a smoky flavor that enhances the simplicity of the ingredients.
The Perfect Balance of Flavors
What makes our contemporary Neapolitan pizza truly unique is the balance of flavors and textures. The tangy sweetness of the San Marzano tomatoes contrasts beautifully with the creamy richness of the mozzarella, while the fragrant basil adds a fresh, herbal note. The drizzle of extra virgin olive oil ties everything together, offering a luxurious finish to the pizza.
Neapolitan pizza is known for its thin crust, but unlike other thin-crust pizzas, it maintains a soft, foldable structure that adds to the overall experience. The pizza isn’t overloaded with toppings, which allows the crust and core ingredients to take center stage.
At Five Olives, our Neapolitan pizza stays true to these principles, providing a harmonious balance of flavors that reflects the tradition and heritage of Italian pizza-making.
A Culinary Tradition
A contemporary Neapolitan pizza is more than just a dish—it’s a cultural icon that represents centuries of Italian culinary tradition. This style of pizza has even earned the recognition of UNESCO, being declared part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2017. The precise techniques, the focus on high-quality ingredients, and the skill required to craft the perfect Neapolitan pizza have been passed down through generations of Italian chefs.
At Five Olives, we are proud to carry on this tradition, bringing the authentic taste of Naples to Phuket. Our commitment to following the traditional Neapolitan pizza-making process ensures that each pizza we serve is a celebration of Italian culinary heritage.
The perfect contemporary Neapolitan pizza is defined by its simplicity, high-quality ingredients, and careful preparation. From the hand-kneaded dough to the quick bake in a wood-fired oven, every step in the process contributes to the pizza’s unique character. At Five Olives in Phuket, we honor the age-old tradition of Neapolitan pizza, offering our guests an authentic taste of Italy that’s truly unforgettable.
Ready to taste the perfect contemporary Neapolitan pizza? Visit Five Olives in Phuket and experience the rich flavors and traditions of Naples, right here in Thailand.
