Tomato pie is a distinct dish from pizza, originating in upstate New York in the early 20th century. It is made with a focaccia-like dough, tomato sauce, and grated Romano cheese, and can be served at room temperature. Variations include sliced tomatoes and pie crusts.
Many people use the name tomato pie to refer to pizza, but tomato pie is a distinct dish that likely originated in upstate New York in the early 20th century. Traditional tomato pie is a simple dish made with just a few ingredients. The tomato sauce is spread on a bread dough, which is then sprinkled with grated Romano cheese before baking. There have been many variations on the traditional recipe, however, each cook felt free to add their own twist to the dish. You can find recipes that call for pie crusts, sliced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and other toppings not found in the traditional recipe.
Though it has its roots in Italian cuisines, tomato pie is regarded by most as a uniquely American creation. Many food historians believe the first tomato pie was sold in the early 1900s in East Utica, New York. Some, however, argue that a version of the dish sold even earlier than the Trenton, New Jersey one.
This dish has a lot in common with pizza, which is so popular all over the world. Authentic pizza, however, is more like the Neapolitan pizza found in Italy, while tomato pie is more like Sicilian pizza. Tomato pie is popular in Italian-American communities and can be found in many eating establishments throughout the Eastern United States.
The traditional recipe for this dish is simple. The base is a focaccia-like dough, over which tomato sauce is spread. Grated Romano cheese is sprinkled over the dish and is then cooked, traditionally in an aluminum pan. Unlike pizza, which is often considered best when served hot, tomato pie is often allowed to cool, sometimes to room temperature, before being served.
Since the creation of the first tomato pie, there have been many variations on the recipe, many using sliced tomatoes. An actual pie crust is used in some of these recipes, such as the crust a baker might use for an apple pie. After the crust is pre-baked and cooled, grated cheese of the cook’s choice is sprinkled on the bottom of the crust. The tomato slices are layered inside the pie crust. Finally, grated cheese could be sprinkled over the top of the dish before cooking.
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