Recreating Ancient Roman Pizza from Pompeii | Tasting History

TLDRIn Pompeii, a fresco depicting ancient Roman pizza was unearthed. The pizza, known as mensae, was a flatbread with various toppings. The exact ingredients are unknown, but it likely did not include tomatoes or mozzarella. The fresco also depicted xenia, a social contract of offering food to guests. To recreate the ancient Roman pizza, a spreadable cheese called moretum was made, using garlic, herbs, and white cheese. The bread, a type of flatbread called panis quadratus, was also made. The bakeries in Pompeii had a significant influence, and bread quality was crucial, even getting bakers into public office. The ancient Roman bread and moretum were both garlicky and flavorful.