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PhrasesAt the PizzeriaAvete la pizza fritta?
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Avete la pizza fritta?

Do you have fried pizza?

Pronunciation

FRIT-ta — two syllables, double 't', stress on first syllable.

When to use it

When looking for the traditional Neapolitan fried pizza — a street food that predates the baked version in many Neapolitan neighbourhoods.

What it means

'Pizza fritta' is a Neapolitan street food — pizza dough that is deep-fried rather than baked. It predates wood-fired pizza historically and was the food of the Neapolitan poor. Sofia Loren famously sold pizza fritta in 'L'oro di Napoli' (1954).

Variations

Una pizza fritta con ciccioli.

A fried pizza with pork crackling.

'Ciccioli' = pork crackling — the traditional filling for pizza fritta

Una pizza fritta vuota.

A plain fried pizza.

Without filling — just fried dough. Can be dusted with sugar or served with ricotta

Pizza fritta o nel forno — cosa preferisce?

Fried or wood-fired pizza — which do you prefer?

If the pizzeria offers both — a genuine choice between two great traditions

Mini Dialogue

— Avete la pizza fritta? — Sì! La facciamo come a Spaccanapoli — con ricotta, ciccioli e pepe. — Non l'ho mai assaggiata. — Allora è il momento giusto — gliela porto calda calda.

— Do you have fried pizza? — Yes! We make it as they do on Spaccanapoli — with ricotta, pork crackling and pepper. — I have never tried it. — Then now is the right moment — I'll bring it to you nice and hot.

Cultural Note

Pizza fritta was the food of Neapolitan slums in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Wood-fired ovens required expensive fuel — frying in oil was cheaper. The 'pizzaiola friggitrice' (female fried pizza seller) was a common street figure. Sofia Loren immortalised the tradition in film.