Kebab Pizza: History, Variations, and Cultural Significance

Fact: The sales of kebab pizza always skyrocket in Sweden on New Year’s Day.

Kebab Pizza: Basic Information

Pronunciation

N/A

Alternative Name(s)

Kebabpizza

Dish Type

Pizza

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Lunch, Dinner

Popular Variations

Classic kebab pizza
Viking kebab pizza
Fotbollspizza (football pizza)

Kebab Pizza: Origin and Region

Origin

Sweden

Continent’s Region

Sweden

Country’s Region

Associated Region

Kebab Pizza: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Pizza dough, tomato sauce, cheese, kebab meat, onions, kebab sauce

Main Cooking Method

Baking

Preparation Process

Preparing the dough, assembling the pizza, baking the pizza

Kebab Pizza: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

A famous fusion dish blending the Italian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan flavors, showcasing the diversity of Swedish culture.

Taste

Varies based on toppings

Texture

Varies based on toppings

Aroma

Varies based on toppings

Color

Varies based on toppings

Serving Style

Served whole and eaten by hand or with a knife and fork

Serving Temperature

Hot or warm

Accompaniment

French fries, salads

Occasions

Any

Seasons

Special Diets

Calories

798 calories, according to data of MyFitnessPal for one kebab pizza (380 grams).

Popularity

Sweden and many Western countries

Popular Similar Dishes

Focaccia
Piadina
Garlic fingers
Pissaladière
Coca
Lahmacun
Pastrmalija

Popular Dining Area

Pizzerias, restaurants, fast-food outlets

Kebab pizza, or kebabpizza, is a renowned Swedish pizza variety consisting of pizza dough, kebab (grilled meat), and various toppings and condiments. It is an innovative fusion dish combining Italian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan cuisines.

Many Swedes enjoy kebab pizza as a street food, comfort food, fast food, and hangover cure, especially on New Year’s Day. This fusion dish is considered one of the most popular dishes in Sweden.

Does the concept of kebab pizza pique your curiosity? Stick around for more amazing facts about it, like how it came to life, how many variations there are, and what Swedes and people around the world think about it. I will also tell you about kebab pizza’s pros and cons, as well as the common queries people have about it.

Key Points

Kebab pizza is a Swedish dish made from pizza and kebab.
Kebab pizza is a fusion of Italian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan cuisines.
Kebab pizza first appeared in the 1980s and has been a beloved fast food and street food since then.
Kebab pizza is usually paired with salads and various kebab condiments.
Despite its non-traditional nature, kebab pizza has reached many countries in the West.

Kebab Pizza Images

What Is the History of Kebab Pizza?

The history of kebab pizza is a story of how different cuisines mingled in Sweden.

In the 1940s, Italian immigrants opened pizzerias in the Scandinavian country, introducing locals to classic Italian pizzas. But Italians eventually stopped migrating to Sweden, while more and more people from the Middle East moved to the country and took up pizza-making.

By the 1980s, Swedish pizza restaurants usually offered Middle Eastern specialties, especially kebab. The first recorded combination of pizza and kebab occurred in 1986 in Stockholm, and the new dish gradually gained fame.

In the 1990s, Balkan immigrants played an important role in the development of kebab pizza by introducing the pizza salad made from marinated cabbage. Nowadays, pre-made kebab pizza is widely sold in many Swedish supermarkets.

Besides its colorful history, this wonderful fusion dish is also known for being available in many versions that suit various preferences.

What Are Popular Kebab Pizza Variations?

There are 3 well-known kebab pizza variations in Sweden, each with its own set of ingredients and characteristics:

Classic Kebab Pizza

Served as whole, unsliced pies with french fries and pizza salads at restaurants
Has many optional ingredients: curry, bananas, peanuts, bearnaise sauce, etc.

Viking Kebab Pizza

Has the shape of a Viking ship

Fotbollspizza (football pizza)

Created in 2021 by the Sweden national football team

How Is the Significance of Kebab Pizza in Sweden and Other Countries?

Kebab pizza is one of the most beloved Swedish dishes, which many people consider as iconic as the legendary band ABBA or Midsummer. In 2016, a Swedish politician even proposed creating a national kebab pizza, but his motion failed.

In recent years, this Swedish specialty has made headway in attracting customers in America, Australia, and European countries like Norway, Finland, Denmark, the UK, Spain, etc. Kebab pizza is also present in Italy, though many Italians view it as a deviant from classic pizzas.

The unconventional nature of kebab pizza isn’t its only disadvantage (or advantage). Let’s learn more about the pros and cons of this Swedish specialty!

Pros and Cons of Eating Kebab Pizza

Kebab pizza has the following upsides and downsides.

Pros

Unique flavor combination: Kebab pizza offers an exquisite blend of flavors, combining the savoriness of kebab with the richness of pizza dough and other ingredients.
Cultural fusion: Kebab pizza shows how elements from different food cultures can come together harmoniously.
Novelty value: The Swedish pizza provides an alternative for those who want to try something different from the traditional pizza toppings.
Customizability: Kebab pizza can go with various toppings, sauces, and extra ingredients to suit various preferences.

Cons

Caloric: Like many pizzas, kebab pizza can be high in calories derived from grilled meat and cheese.
Availability: Outside Sweden, kebab pizza is still relatively new and might not be readily available everywhere.

After learning about these upsides and downsides, it’s time to check out popular inquiries that readers usually have about kebab pizza.

Kebab Pizza FAQs

Yes, kebab pizza can be spicy since its kebab and kebab sauce are typically mixed with a generous amount of spices, but this pizza tends to be more savory than spicy.

Yes, you can freeze a kebab pizza for 2 – 3 months by wrapping it in cling film and putting it in the freezer. Frozen kebab pizza is a popular supermarket item in Sweden.

Yes, Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut occasionally have kebab pizza on the menu. However, most of their American locations don’t offer it.

Yes, kebab pizza can be made vegan-friendly by replacing kebab with plant-based kebab or seitan and leaving out yogurt from the kebab sauce.

Generally, kebab pizza has the same nutritional value as kebab served with flatbread, offering a significant content of carbs, protein, and fat.

No, kebab pizza isn’t similar to Turkish pizza, which is also known as lahmacun or Armenian pizza. Lahmacun is a Middle Eastern dish made by baking a flatbread topped with spiced minced meat and, sometimes, rolling the flatbread around vegetables.

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Adam Sam

Senior Food and Drink Editor

Expertise

Food Writer & Recipe Developer, Recipe Tester, Bartender, Cooking-video Maker, Editor In Chief

Education

University of Gastronomic Sciences – Pollenzo (Italy) (MA Food Culture, Communication & Marketing)
Johnson & Wales University (US) (Baking and Pastry Arts)
Professional Bartender at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Adam Sam, an experienced food writer and recipe developer, is passionate about blending diverse culinary traditions, national dishes, and innovative beverages, showcasing his proficiency in both traditional and modern recipe testing.

As the Editor-in-Chief, he elevates culinary content from street food to fine dining, focusing on Western cuisine and types of drinks at azcuisines.com, and is professional in creating engaging cooking videos that simplify complex dishes and ingredients.

His passion for food is evident in his writing, where he uniquely merges various cultures, traditions, and contemporary trends, skillfully combining classic recipes with modern cooking methods.