Ci Gusta’s Panuzzo Fest brings Neapolitan flavours to Hyderabad

Try the Panuzzo a sandwich-like Neapolitan pizza at Ci Gusta in Hyderabad

When you cannot decide between a pizza and a sandwich, there is the panuzzo — it feels like a sandwich but tastes more like a Neapolitan pizza. Ci Gusta in Madhapur is hosting a month-long Panuzzo Fest, with three vegetarian and three non-vegetarian variations.

Chef Avacherry Naresh of Ci Gusta introduced the panuzzo menu to highlight the versatility of sourdough. The stuffing was carefully curated to strike a balance of flavour and texture. “The panuzzo is made with hand-tossed sourdough bread. It’s slightly chewy, so the stuffing needs to be soft. We did multiple trials to ensure it maintains the essence of a Neapolitan pizza— thin-crust but soft. Since Ci Gusta’s original thin-crust pizzas are already popular, we kept the panuzzo stuffing simple to avoid confusion,” says chef Avacherry.

The vegetarian options include combinations of avocado spread, roasted zucchini, aubergine, bell peppers, rocket leaves, balsamic reduction, parmesan, basil pesto, marinated tomatoes, mozzarella, olive tapenade, hummus, roasted beetroot, radish, and feta.

For meat lovers, there are three variations — chicken meatballs, harissa chicken, and lamb ragout.

Panuzzo is best enjoyed hot. The crust is crisp yet soft to chew. The homemade chicken meatballs are tender and juicy, paired with tomato sauce, pesto, and rocket leaves. The lamb ragout is rich and flavourful but does not spill out like a sub or burger, making it easy to eat without the usual mess.

It is served with a side of potato fries and pickled cucumber.

The panuzzo is priced at ₹439 (vegetarian) and ₹449 (non-vegetarian). The Panuzzo Fest runs until March 30 at Ci Gusta, Madhapur.