September brings the return of top-level football, along with the pleasant feeling of having something to look forward to all day. Leagues and cups bring back the ritual of watching the match on TV, often right at dinnertime.
What can you prepare when the match keeps everyone’s eyes glued to the pitch and nobody wants to miss a single play? The solution is not to give up eating well, but to choose something that can keep pace with the 90 minutes. And on these occasions, Pinsa can really earn a place in the starting line-up.
When there’s a match on, dinner changes
Whether you are alone, with your family or have invited friends over, the priority is not to miss a single minute. You have waited at least a couple of months for the leagues to start again and, for a few evenings, it is only right to let your passion take over.
There is still one very practical issue: you are hungry, everyone else is too and, if you have guests, you need to find something everyone will enjoy.
Admit it: your first thought was delivery. Everyone chooses what they want, dinner arrives at home and nobody has to move away from the screen. Then the doubts begin: you do not know everyone’s tastes, some want a sandwich, some sushi, some pizza, and the orders multiply; the bill can rise quickly and the deliveries may even arrive at different times — and surely during a decisive play.
After all, the match changes the way we eat dinner. The table does not set the schedule, kick-off does: you prepare in advance, eat informally and look for something practical and easy to share.
We are biased, of course, but for us Pinsa is always the choice to put on the pitch.
Why Pinsa is perfect when football is on TV
Pinsa is not simply something quick to put in the oven or air fryer, but a dish that adapts to the way we eat during a match.
- Prepare it in advance, eat it whenever you want
You can organise the bases and ingredients in advance, so when the whistle blows there is no kitchen left to keep an eye on. - One base for different tastes
Dividing the Pinsa into several sections or preparing more than one keeps everyone happy: those who love classic flavours, those looking for something richer and those who prefer a lighter topping. - You do not have to eat at the same time
Some people are hungry before the match, some wait for half-time and others keep nibbling after the 90th minute: Pinsa is perfect for a less rigid dinner, made up of different portions and different moments. - At half-time you can change the line-up
If the first round was not enough, 15 minutes gives you plenty of time to top and cook at least two more. You can even leave the second “call-up” to be decided on the spot, depending on how hungry everyone is and which flavours were the most popular. - You can control what you eat more easily
Ingredients, toppings and portion sizes remain under your control: an advantage over delivery, especially if you want a lighter dinner without giving up the match-night ritual. - It was made for sharing
Pinsa is cut up, placed in the centre and naturally passed from hand to hand: everyone takes a slice whenever they want, without interrupting the match or forcing the evening to follow the timing of a traditional dinner.
A Pinsa for every moment of the match
Could eating only Pinsa during a dinner in front of the TV become monotonous? Of course, but only if you choose a single topping or if all the different options end up looking the same. To avoid that, try to create differences in flavours, textures and intensity.
To help you, we have ideally divided the evening into four moments, imagining a different kind of Pinsa for each one: from waiting for kick-off to the post-match discussions.
- Before the match: something to get the evening started
This is the moment for line-ups, predictions and the first comments. Fresh, light Pinse that are not overloaded work best. Try a Pinsa with buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil, or a great classic with prosciutto crudo, rocket and lemon zest. - At kick-off: flavours everyone can agree on
This is when sharing begins, so it is best to choose Pinse that everyone will like. Try potatoes and rosemary, bresaola, rocket and Grana cheese, or cooked ham and mushrooms. And what about a plain white Pinsa with a board of cured meats and cheeses and spreadable creams such as hummus, pesto and aubergine cream? None of these requires lengthy preparation or complicated explanations: the action should stay on the pitch. - At half-time: a change of pace
Fifteen minutes is enough to see how hungry everyone still is and prepare a second batch. Here you can go for something more intense: sausage, scamorza and friarielli; gorgonzola, pears and walnuts; or mortadella, stracciatella and pistachios. It is also the right moment to choose the Pinsa that proved most popular and go for a second helping. - After the match: something sweet, if you want it
Between comments, highlights and discussions about the decisive moments, it is time for a sweet Pinsa. You can serve it with hazelnut cream and chopped nuts, ricotta and honey, or classic Nutella: three different endings to keep the evening going, whatever the result.
