As pizza culture progresses, each year unveils new flavors, and 2023 has its own unique offerings. At CommunityVoicesOnline, we keep a close watch on the global preferences of pizza aficionados. Take a look at this year's trendy and buzzworthy pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The emphasis on digestive health has found its way onto pizza menus, with fermented vegetables taking the spotlight. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are now top choices, introducing probiotic benefits and tangy twists that harmonize with the creamy cheese and robust sauces. These toppings not only enhance the pizza's nutritional value but also add a fresh layer of textures.
The Fermentation Celebration pizza is a new addition featuring our own sauerkraut and kimchi paired with gorgonzola cheese, perfected with a touch of local honey to mellow out the sourness. This fusion, while unique, is swiftly becoming a favorite among our specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With a surge in plant-oriented diets, there's been a noticeable uptick in the demand for meatless options on pizzas. The usual veggie toppings have been overtaken by innovative meat substitutes that are capturing the hearts of carnivores as well.
Choices like plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit as pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni have found a permanent place on our menu. These alternative proteins are not reserved for vegans but are also picked for their distinctive tastes and digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who favor heat in their meals are in for a treat as 2023 has tended towards specialty chili peppers instead of common crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies continue their streak, spices like Aleppo pepper, Spanish ñora, Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang have also gained popularity as flavor enhancers on pizzas.
Our Global Heat pizza is a tribute to this trend, offering a blend of four distinct chilies, each adding a unique taste to different sections of the pizza. This creation caters to those looking for a spicier culinary journey.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Wild, foraged ingredients are bridging the gap between the wilderness and pizza, with indigenous pizza toppings like wild mushrooms leading this emerging trend. Special varieties such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods grace the pizza during their natural harvesting time.
We're also featuring wild ramps, sea veggies like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips, offering our customers an ethereal flavor experience that can't be replicated by cultivated ingredients.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay between sweet and savory is no fad, as evidenced by the use of honey on pizzas for an irresistible finish. Specialty honeys such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and CBD-infused honey are drizzled over pies for an enhanced gourmet experience.
Honorable Mentions
Several other toppings almost made our list due to their popularity, which include:
- Cured egg yolks finely grated over the pizza for a touch of decadence
- Sweet and tangy pickled fruits, focusing on stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Unique grains that add a crunch, such as crispy farro or popped sorghum
- Artisanal butter spots, particularly those infused with herbs or cultured varieties
Pizza remains one of the infinitely customizable and universally loved dishes. Whether you favor classic styles or wish to push the envelope with innovative flavors, CommunityVoicesOnline caters to all by blending time-honored recipes with novel creations. We welcome both our iconic Margherita and imaginative new pies.
Have any of these top toppings made it to your plate? Or is there a unique mix you'd love to see us bake up? Share with us in the comments or during your next visit!