Each year pizza embraces new flavors, and 2023 is no different. Our team at Crust & Craft Pizzeria is on the front lines, tracking global preferences in pizza toppings. We present to you the topping trends that are currently dominating the scene.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Digestive wellness has ventured into pizza shops, with fermented veggies emerging as a top pick for pizza topping in 2023. Varied flavors from kimchi, sauerkraut, to pickled onions are pairing well with the creamy cheeses and sauces, offering probiotic goodness and a new textural experience for classic pizzas.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pie combines homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola with local honey drizzles to offset the eruptive flavors. It's a unique blend that’s quickly gaining popularity among our specialty pizza offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With the surge in plant-based diets, there's a concurrent increase in demand for alternative meat toppings on pizzas. Far from the ordinary veggie options, plant-based proteins are providing new tastes even to steadfast carnivores.
Choices like plant-derived Italian sausage chunks, flavorful tempeh, jackfruit treated as pulled pork, and pea-protein pepperoni are now staples in our menu. These aren’t reserved for vegetarians alone; many opt for these for their distinctive tastes and gentler effect on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who love some heat, 2023 is witnessing a preference for specific chili types over the ubiquitous red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies are still beloved, diverse chilies like Aleppo, smoky ñora, fruity aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are gaining traction on pizza toppings.
Try our Global Heat pizza—a spicy journey that marries four distinct chilies, giving each slice of the pie its unique spicy kick, ready to tantalize the palate of the adventurous customer.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The local-sourcing trend has expanded to include wild finds in our pizza toppings. Foraged mushrooms are leading this trend, with sought-after types such as chanterelles and morels gracing pizzas during their peak seasons.
We're also featuring mountain ramps, oceanic greens like dulse and nori, and we've even dabbled with spruce tips for a distinct aroma. These foraged finds offer irreplicable tastes and a closer connection to the wilderness.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The balance of sweet and savory with honey is a trend that holds its ground. In 2023, a variety of specialized honeys have become popular as final touches on pizzas, enhancing even basic recipes by adding a layer of gourmet sophistication.
Honies like truffle, fermented garlic, smoky mesquite, and special CBD honey are enhancing pizzas across the nation, with their application just before serving, taking a simple pie to new levels.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that have been noticed but didn't make the top five include:
- Grated cured egg yolks, creating a luxurious topping akin to golden dust
- Preserved fruits, such as stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Heritage grains for crunch, like crispy farro or puffed sorghum
- Gourmet touches of artisan butter, using unique blends like cultured or mixed with herbs
No matter if you lean towards classic tastes or tend to be more explorative, pizza remains versatile and universally loved. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we respect the classics and meanwhile embrace new ideas, explaining why our menu offers both the timeless Margherita and innovative specialty pizzas.
Do any of these topping trends appeal to you? Maybe you have a distinct topping combo to suggest? Share your thoughts in our comments, or tell us during your next visit!