Each year, pizza enthusiasts witness emerging culinary fads, and 2023 has its own share. At CrumbleDine, we're keen on tracking the preferences that are captivating pizza aficionados globally. Here's our list of the top pizza toppings that have become a sensation this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Digestive health has entered mainstream pizza-making, with fermented vegetables appearing as unexpected stars atop pizzas in 2023. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions offer an intricate sour flavor that enhances the creamy cheese and sauce base. These probiotic-rich toppings add an entirely new textural layer to conventional pizza styles.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza features in-house fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, paired with a splash of artisan honey to temper the acidic taste. Despite seeming unconventional, it's become a fast favorite among our specialty offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-based diets has led to a noticeable increase in the demand for pizzas topped with inventive meat substitutes. Diversifying from typical veggie toppings, the development of plant-based proteins has brought forth selections that even steadfast carnivores can appreciate.
Our menu now includes plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, flavoured tempeh, pulled pork style seasoned jackfruit, and pea protein pepperoni. These alternatives are chosen not only by vegetarians but also by customers who enjoy their distinctive tastes and gentler impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with an affinity for spicier fare will be pleased to know that in 2023, pizza lovers are opting for specific regional chili types over generic red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies remain well-liked, distinctive varieties like Aleppo pepper, smoky ñora chilies from Spain, vibrant Peruvian aji amarillo, and flavorful Korean gochujang are now featured on pizzas.
Our International Zest pizza harmonizes a variety of four distinct regional chilies, assigning each a quarter of the pizza for a fiery gourmet journey, particularly favored by our more daring customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The concept of utilizing locally-sourced ingredients has expanded from the fields to the forests, with foraged seasonal elements gaining traction as pizza toppings. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, which appear frequently when in season.
Moreover, we've been experimenting with wild spring ramps, oceanic greens such as dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These foraged components offer dining experiences that create connections with the wild and deliver flavors unattainable in cultivated products.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The dynamic interplay between savory and sweet, brought on by drizzling honey on pizza, has become a mainstay. Advancing beyond the once-novel hot honey, 2023 has unveiled a proliferation of unique honey varieties as final garnishes on pizzas.
We've seen the emergence of truffle-infused honey, garlic-fermented honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-laden honey across eateries nationwide. These specialty drizzles take a simple pizza to a sophisticated level by adding nuanced complexity.
Honorable Mentions
Some additional toppings that are becoming increasingly popular, though not making our principal list, comprise:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over the pizza for a luxurious effect
- Pickling of summer fruits, notably stone fruits such as apricots and nectarines
- Whole grains for texture, like toasted farro or puffed sorghum
- Gourmet butter varieties, including cultured or herbed compound butters
Whether your taste leans towards timeless classics or you're inclined to try inventive flavor blends, pizza's versatility continues to endear it worldwide. At CrumbleDine, our menu respects traditional recipes while also embracing novel creations; you’ll find both the iconic Margherita and trailblazing specialty pies available.
Are any of these trendsetting toppings on your go-to list? Or perhaps there's a distinctive combination you'd love to see featured? Share your thoughts in the comments, or during your next visit!