As pizza continuously evolves, each year brings fresh gastronomic trends into play, and the current year of 2023 is no different. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we keep a vigilant eye on what flavors and toppings are enchanting the palates of pizza aficionados globally. Here's our compilation of the top pizza toppings that are currently in vogue.
1. Fermented Vegetables
A growing interest in digestive health has propelled fermented vegetables to star status on pizza menus. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and tangy pickled onions offer complex flavors that enrich the traditional mix of cheese and sauce. Not only do these toppings offer healthy probiotics, but they also add intriguing textures to the pizza experience.
Introducing our Fermentation Festivity pizza, a blend of homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, all harmonized with a drizzle of local honey to soften the sharpness. It might sound out-of-the-box, but it's swiftly risen to be a top-requested item.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The ascent of plant-based diets has influenced the pizza market, leading to a burgeoning demand for toppings that offer a meat-free alternative. Beyond usual veggie toppings, innovative plant-based proteins are enticing even the most ardent of carnivores.
Items such as plant-based crumbles simulating Italian sausage, flavorful tempeh, jackfruit treated as pulled pork, and pea protein crafted into pepperoni have found a home on our menu. These options allure not solely vegetarians but those interested in their singular taste profiles and digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those craving heat are thrilled by 2023's embrace of distinctive regional chili types, moving past the standard crushed red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue their popularity, other varieties including smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are also garnishing pizzas with flair.
Try our Global Heat pizza for a sampling of four different chilies, each offering a distinct flavor note to every quadrant of the pizza. This spicy excursion has captured the hearts of our diner base yearning for culinary exploration.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-fork trend has expanded to include wild edibles, with foraged ingredients now making their way atop pizzas. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and maitake adorned atop pizzas in their prime season.
We're also incorporating other wild foods like spring ramps, seaweeds such as dulse and nori, and spruce tips noted for their distinctive scent. These ingredients offer a connection to the untamed outdoors and flavors that can't be replicated in commercial cultivation.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory brought by honey has secured its spot beyond mere fad status. With the ongoing affinity for spicy honey, 2023 has ushered in a variety of specialty honeys that are drizzled over pizzas just before service.
Exquisite selections like truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite flavor, and CBD-derived honey are popping up on menus nationwide. These finishing drizzles lend a complex flair and raise even the simplest pizza pairings to a level of finesse.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that are making their mark but didn't quite make our top list include:
- Grated cured egg yolks, dusted atop the pizza for a luxurious effect
- Preserved fruits, with a focus on stone fruits such as peaches and cherries
- Ancient grains for a crunchy aspect, including crisp farro or sorghum
- Gourmet butter splotches, such as cultured butter or those enhanced with herbs
Whether you're inclined towards timeless classics or are keen to discover pioneering flavor pairings, pizza remains one of the most universally adored and versatile dishes. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we honor enduring traditions while welcoming novel culinary ideas—hence you will find both the perennial Margherita and inventive signature pies in our repertoire.
Have you sampled any of these trendy toppings? Do you harbor a distinctive favorite blend you'd want to see on our menu? Share with us in the comment section or during your next visit!