As each year passes, new pizza topping trends emerge, and 2023 has been no different. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, keeping tabs on the new favorites amongst pizza connoisseurs worldwide is our specialty. Below, we present this year's most sought-after and intriguing pizza topping selections.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The emphasis on digestive health has found its way into pizzerias, with fermented veggies becoming an unexpected favorite atop pizzas this year. Ingredients like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions lend a complex sour taste that perfectly balances the creamy cheese and robust sauce. These toppings are not only gut-friendly due to their probiotic qualities but also bring new textural elements to the classic pizza.
Our “Fermentation Celebration” pizza boasts in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, with a final touch of local honey drizzled over to offset the sourness. This might seem like an odd mix, but it has quickly turned into one of our most popular specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge of plant-based diets has led to a boost in pizzas that feature inventive meat substitutes. Beyond typical veggies, groundbreaking plant-based proteins now provide options that can even please the die-hard carnivores.
Choices like plant-derived Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit treated to mimic “pulled pork, and “pepperoni” made from pea protein now commonly adorn our pizza menu. These alternative proteins appealing to a broad range of our patrons for their distinctive tastes and gentle impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those yearning for a spicy kick are in luck! In 2023, pizza aficionados have been gravitating towards specific regional chili varieties rather than the usual red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies continue to be a darling from past years, and we are seeing new additions like smoky Spanish ñora, Aleppo pepper, sweet-hot Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang on pizzas.
The “Global Heat” pizza presents a blend of four distinct regional chilies, each lending its individual flavor characteristic to a different section of the pizza. It's a fiery culinary journey that's found a fanbase especially among our clientele who favor bold flavors.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
From farm-to-table, now it's forest-to-pizza with the growing trend of seasonal foraged toppings. Wild mushrooms are spearheading this trend, with types such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods mushroom appearing frequently in their peak seasons.
Apart from mushrooms, we’ve been experimenting with early spring ramps (wild leeks), oceanic greens like dulse and nori, and spruce tips for their unique touch of aroma. These naturally-sourced ingredients not only connect diners to nature but also bring irreplicable flavors you can't find in commercially grown produce.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory that honey brings has solidified its position as more than a fleeting fad. Building upon the success of spicy honey in previous years, we’ve seen a profusion of specialty honey variations being drizzled over pizzas as they're about to be served in 2023.
Indulgences like truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, sweet mesquite honey, and honey infused with CBD are taking their place on menus nationwide. These final drizzles not only add layers of flavor but also transform even simple pizza creations into gourmet experiences.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable toppings that are causing a stir but didn’t quite make our top five include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated atop pizzas like a fine dusting
- Pickled fruits, with a preference for stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Whole grains for added crunch, such as puffed farro or sorghum
- Dollops of artisan butter, including cultured or mixed with herbs
No matter if you're someone who swears by the time-tested classics or someone who’s eager to explore daring new flavor combinations, pizza remains one of the most versatile and cherished dishes in the world. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we respect the traditions while also welcoming new tastes — it’s why our menu features both the timeless Margherita and the avant-garde specialty pizzas.
Have you sampled any of these trending toppings? Or do you harbor a distinct combination in mind that you’d like to see introduced? Let us know in the comments or during your next visit!