Each year, the pizza industry sees new trends, and 2023 has its share. At Slices & Spices Pizzeria, we diligently track what toppings pizza enthusiasts worldwide are favoring. Here’s a list of the top pizza toppings that are currently in vogue.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Attention to digestive wellness has transitioned into the domain of pizza-making, with fermented veggies emerging as this year's unexpected hit. Varieties like kimchi, sauerkraut, and marinated onions bring a rich, tangy taste that pairs well with the creamy texture of cheese and the savory pizza sauce. These toppings offer probiotic advantages and new texture experiences to classic pizza profiles.
Our unique Fermentation Fiesta pizza is adorned with in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, all enhanced with a drizzle of artisanal honey, creating a fine balance of flavors. This innovative pizza is swiftly climbing the ranks in our list of customer favorites.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The trajectory of plant-based diets remains upward, leading to a surge in pizzas topped with plant-derived proteins, a step beyond usual veggies. The introduction of plant-based protein toppings like Italian sausage substitutes, flavored tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni has revolutionized our pizza offerings. Selected not only by vegetarians, our guests enjoy these toppings for their distinct tastes and less taxing digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For aficionados of spice, the year has brought delight in the form of specialized chili varieties, moving past the common red pepper flake options. While Calabrian peppers have preserved their standing, other peppers such as Aleppo, smoked ñora, vibrant Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are now gracing pizzas with their presence.
The World of Spices pizza at our establishment offers a concoction of four distinctive regional chilies, with each type infusing a unique flavor to the pizza, providing a spicy quest that has won favor with our more daring customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The trend of utilizing foraged ingredients has extended from farm to pizza, with a growing fondness for wild, seasonally foraged produce. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, each welcomed during their natural growing seasons.
Alongside mushrooms, our pizza experiments feature springtime wild ramps, seaweeds like dulse and nori, and spruce tips, each adding their unique aromatic kick. These natural elements offer distinctive flavors not found in cultivated ingredients.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The use of honey on pizza has cemented its place beyond a fleeting fashion. Progressing from the known hot honey, 2023 has seen a burst of novel honey varieties used as a final touch on pizzas, just before they're served.
Examples include honey with a hint of truffle, fermented garlic honey, honey with a smoky mesquite flavor, and unique varieties such as honey infused with CBD. These toppings add an intriguing complexity and turn even the simplest pizza into a gourmet experience.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable toppings that didn't quite make our top list but still deserve a mention include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over pizzas for a velvety finish
- Pickled denizens of the orchard such as peaches and plums
- Toppings made from heritage grains, like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum, for added texture
- Dollops of gourmet butter, including cultured or herbed butter varieties
Whether your preference lies with the time-honored classics or you're one to explore audacious flavor fusions, pizza remains one of the most adaptable and cherished dishes. Here at Slices & Spices Pizzeria, we pay homage to the time-tested while welcoming the new, which is why our menu boasts both the traditional Margherita and experimental pies.
Have any of these trendy toppings graced your palate? Or perhaps there's a unique topping blend you'd like to see us incorporate? Share your thoughts in the comments, or let us know during your next visit!