New pizza topping trends emerge each year, and 2023 is brimming with exciting flavors. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we diligently track the latest preferences captivating pizza aficionados everywhere. We've compiled an enticing list of this year's top pizza additions that are currently taking the culinary scene by storm.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health has made its mark on pizza menus, with fermented vegetables rising as a novel favorite atop pizzas. Various offerings like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions provide an intriguing tangy zest that pairs well with the creamy cheese and savory sauce. Beyond the probiotic advantages, these toppings introduce new textural layers to the pizza experience.
Our new menu highlight, the Fermentation Fiesta, showcases our in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese coupled with a drizzle of local honey for just the right amount of sweetness to offset the sour elements. While unconventional, it’s swiftly climbing the ranks to become a top-requested custom pie.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge of plant-based diets has driven the emergence of innovative non-meat toppings for pizzas. Beyond classic veggie toppings, new plant-derived proteins are now providing satisfying alternatives for even staunch carnivores.
We're featuring plant-derived crumbles mimicking Italian sausage, flavored tempeh, jackfruit processed as pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni on our pizzas. These toppings appeal to not only vegetarians but also customers looking for flavor-packed lighter options.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
2023 has brought forth a trend for pizza lovers who savor the heat – the adoption of distinct chili varietals instead of standard crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies continue their streak of popularity, new varieties like Aleppo pepper, the smoky ñora chilies from Spain, the fruity aji amarillo from Peru, and Korean gochujang are also gaining traction as pizza toppings.
Our Spice Route pizza presents an assortment of these regional chilies, each offering a distinct flavor kick to different parts of the pie. This creation has grown especially popular with our more daring patrons.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The idea of foraging has extended from forest to plate, with wild and seasonal foraged items increasing in popularity as pizza ingredients. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms, including chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, featuring prominently in their natural seasons.
Aside from fungi, our kitchen has been experimenting with wild leeks known as ramps, sea greens such as dulse and nori, and fresh spruce tips, adding a unique aromatic twist. These naturally sourced toppings create a connection with the environment and deliver flavors unattainable through commercial cultivation.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The dynamic interplay between sweet and savory that honey provides has become deeply ingrained in gourmet pizza-making. Following the trend of spicy honey in previous years, 2023 welcomes an assortment of unique honey varieties as finishing drizzles on pizzas.
Innovations include honey infused with truffles, garlic honey undergoing fermentation, smoky mesquite honey, and honey with CBD infusions. These unique honey types serve as the final flourish, lifting even the simplest pizza combinations to a new level of sophistication.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable toppings just outside our main list but still causing a stir are:
- Grated cured egg yolks, adding a luxurious topping akin to a dusting of gold
- Acidic pickled fruits, with a spotlight on stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Crunchy heritage grain add-ons, like crispy farro or burst popped sorghum
- Swirls of artisanal butter, particularly those cultured or mixed with herb infusions
Whether you're a purist who favors timeless recipes or an explorer of gustatory novelties, pizza remains one of the most versatile and cherished dishes globally. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we pay homage to time-honored traditions while also embracing contemporary twists—which is why our offerings range from the familiar Margherita to our avant-garde signature pizzas.
Have you indulged in any of these of-the-moment toppings? Or perhaps you harbor an exclusive topping combo you’d love us to try? Share your thoughts below or during your next visit!