Pizza quattro stagioni (lit.'four seasons pizza') is a variety of pizza in Italian cuisine that is prepared in four sections with diverse ingredients, with each section representing one season of the year.[1] Artichokes represent spring, tomatoes or basil represent summer, mushrooms represent autumn and the ham, prosciutto or olives represent winter.[1][2][3] It is a very popular pizza in Italy,[1] and has been described as a "classic",[4] "famous"[5] and "renowned"[6] Italian pizza. It is a variant of pizza capricciosa.[7]
Pizza quattro stagioni is typically prepared using a tomato sauce and cheese.[1][2][3] It is most often made by adding artichokes, tomatoes or basil, mushrooms, and ham, prosciutto or olives to four separate sections of the pizza.[2] Other ingredients may also be used.[8] Fresh-cooked or canned artichoke hearts may be used.[3]
Some of the topping ingredients can be partially oven-dried so they do not make the pizza soggy.[4] Baking it on a pizza stone can also prevent sogginess.[4] It may be finished with olive oil drizzled atop the pizza.[3][2] The pizza can be sliced into wedges or into its four sections.[1][2] Pizza quattro stagioni can be vegetarian if ham is substituted by a vegetarian option.[9]