Capricciosa Pizza is a classic Italian pizza. The "Capricciosa", as everybody calls it, is on every pizzeria's menu, usually under the list of traditional pizzas. Its staple ingredients are tomato puree, mozzarella, cremini mushrooms, artichoke hearts, black olives, and prosciutto cotto (Italian cooked ham).
If you're thinking that you already know of a pizza having these same ingredients, you are right. They are the same as the Quattro Stagioni Pizza, however, there you place them in 4 distinct sections (Four Seasons).
The origins of the Capricciosa Pizza
There is a pizzeria in Rome called La Capricciosa where this pizza was "invented" in 1937. It was called "clean the fridge" pizza by the pizza chefs because the toppings varied according to what was leftover.
To explain, Capricciosa means capricious, in Italian. It is like a Margherita pizza, with the addition of different toppings scattered randomly on top.
The traditional ingredients
As a matter of fact, during the years, the Capricciosa pizza has become standardized using the same staple ingredients, such as:
- crushed canned plum tomatoes (usually San Marzano)
- mozzarella
- prosciutto cotto (Italian cooked ham)
- artichoke heart wedges in olive oil
- fresh cremini mushrooms (in Italian, funghi champignons)
- pitted black olives, like Gaeta, Taggiasche, or Kalamata
Overall, you can find the classic Capricciosa more or less everywhere in Italy. In some Regions, though, it is not uncommon to find variations, for example, capers, sausages, or anchovies. Also, very frequently, a hard-boiled egg, and sometimes even mussels. All due to the taste and creativity of the pizza chefs and what is available in the Region.
How to arrange the toppings
After you've stretched your pizza dough, homemade or store-bought, spread very little tomato puree. You do not want the ingredients to lay in a pool of sauce. A note on the pizza sauce: in Italy, we never cook our tomatoes, the sauce is always made with canned plum tomatoes, crushed or pureed, simply dressed with evo oil, salt, oregano, and/or basil.
Then, arrange the ingredients on the sauce: we started with mozzarella, then ham, artichokes, sliced fresh mushrooms, pitted black olives, cut in rounds or halves.
Once you've arranged all the toppings on the pizza, do not forget the drizzle of olive oil before putting it in the oven. A must for any pizza.
We usually start cooking the pizza in a well-oiled pizza pan in a very hot oven (425-430° F). When it is halfway cooked, we take it out of the pan and place it on a pizza stone to crisp up.
The importance of good quality ingredients
As a result of using leftovers, sometimes also of dubious quality, this pizza had lost its grandeur during the years.
However, lately, with a renewed attention to the quality of the ingredients, this pizza has seen its revival. That is to say, not only the dough is important, but also the ingredients: organic canned plum tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh mushrooms, artichoke hearts in olive oil, high-quality cooked ham, and black olives (not the canned sliced ones).
Crisp crust with a gooey top
Look at the lovely golden crust! Also, the luxuriously melted cheese and perfectly displayed toppings. Everything is in harmony and the aroma coming from the pizza is very enticing.
I can't resist grabbing a slice. The homemade crust is holding wonderfully and not flopping over. There is a balance between the sweetness of the tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ham with the acidity of the olives and artichoke hearts while the mushrooms offer a lovely plump earthiness.
Get your Italian on with this wonderful Pizza Capricciosa!
PrintCapricciosa Pizza, Italian Classic Pizza Capricciosa
Capricciosa Pizza is a classic Italian pizza. The "Capricciosa", as everybody calls it, is on every pizzeria's menu, usually under the list of traditional pizzas. Its staple ingredients are tomato puree, mozzarella, cremini mushrooms, artichoke hearts, black olives, and prosciutto cotto (Italian cooked ham).
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 pizza 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough, homemade or store-bought (about 270 g)
- 125 g (1 package) fresh mozzarella
- 40 g (about 3) cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 6 black olives (Gaeta or Kalamata) pitted and halved
- 40 g prosciutto cotto (Italian ham), broken into pieces
- 50 g carciofini (sliced artichoke hearts in oil)
- 3 Tbsp canned San Marzano tomatoes, crushed or pureed and dressed with 1 tablespoon evo oil, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of oregano)
Instructions
Tomato sauce:
- Hand crush or puree the canned tomatoes into a bowl. Drizzle in olive oil, and sprinkle in salt and oregano. Mix with a spoon. Taste for seasoning and set aside.
Assembly:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Oil a 12-inch round pizza pan. Stretch the pizza dough starting from the center and working your way to the outside rim of the pan creating a nice thicker border.
- Spoon some tomato sauce on top, and in a circular motion with the back of a spoon spread the sauce to the outside edges of the dough leaving a 1 cm border.
- Place the mozzarella on top of the sauce evenly distributing it throughout, keeping some for the finish.
- Next, take the cooked ham and tear it apart scattering it throughout the pizza.
- Do the same with the artichoke hearts, sliced fresh mushrooms, and halved black olives.
- Toss on the rest of the mozzarella.
- Drizzle with olive oil and place in the hot oven on the middle rack, on top of the pizza stone.
- Halfway through the cooking process, use a spatula to take the pizza out of the pan and place it directly on the pizza stone to crisp up.
- The pizza is done when the border is golden in color and the cheese is well melted, about 15 minutes in total.
- Take out of the oven, let sit for a couple of minutes, cut and serve.
Notes
The prep time does not include the making of the pizza dough. This requires at least 2 and a half hours.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pizza & Focaccia
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: capricciosa, pizza, Italian, traditional, mushrooms, ham, olives, artichoke hearts
I love baking and kneading dough because it takes me to a happy place in my soul.
Ramya says
will be making this soon with few subs i love pizza and italian food sooooooooooooo much Thanks Ramya
Thanks, Ramya! This pizza is very delicious and very authentic, hope you try it soon!
Natalie says
Pizza is the ultimate comfort food. I love this homemade version with homemade dough. Yum! Will give your recipe a try. Looks delicious!
★★★★★
Thanks Natalie, We love making homemade pizza. This particular pizza has all the right flavor and textures to make it a hit for your pizza night!
Happy Pizza making!
Amy Liu Dong says
This pizza flavor looks really delicious and will definitely be making this for everyone this weekend.
★★★★★
Thanks Amy for trying this pizza, hope everyone enjoyed it. It definitely is a favorite of ours. Just gotta love pizza!
Adriana says
wow gotta love homemade pizza and this version looks fantastic. I guess I am a capricciosa fan.
★★★★★
Hi Adrianna, we are happy to induct you into the Capricciosa pizza fan club. It is such a wonderful pizza with some delicious flavor and texture!
Thank you for loving it!
Kushigalu says
Love Italian food and this pizza is callong my name. Love the combination of ingredients and flavor. Pinned to try this soon.
★★★★★
Thank you Kushigalu, what a lovely name. I can't wait for you to try this. We make pizza making so easy!
Aleta says
This was the yummiest pizza I've had in a long, long time. No wonder it's a traditional pizza! I was hesitant to try the hard boiled egg or muscles, perhaps next time 😉
★★★★★
Hi Aleta we love your courage, and that you made this pizza and enjoyed it. It always makes us feel so good that our recipes are being used. We love to inspire people and ignite their passion to cook!
Kate says
This homemade pizza was amazing! I don't think I am going to buy frozen pizza again!
That's the spirit, it totally is what we like to hear! Why buy frozen when it is so easy to make home made. I guess there is always a time for frozen like those time crunch day. I would feel bad to wipe out any business venture!
Thanks!
Erin says
I wish I had seen this earlier today when I made pizza! The toppings sound great and that crust looks so amazing. I'm saving it for next time!
Hi Erin, there is always room for another pizza night especially to fit this Capricciosa in. We love pizza and could have it several times a week!
Happy Pizza making!
Alex says
Clean the fridge pizza! Haha. Sounds good. I could use one of those right now to clean up that mess. This looks fantastic!
Lol, your quite funny, I am sure many are feeling the same as you, this would be a good foodie therapy session tool!
Happy fridge cleaning!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
Mmm... I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol. Thank you for making me hungry!
★★★★★
Your very welcome Maggie, so grateful that we do that makes us feel good about what we do. Go get that pizza made, I can hear your stomach from here!
Lol
Enjoy!