As each year unfolds, it brings novel pizza culinary trends to the fore, and 2023 follows suit firmly. Here at Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we keep a thorough watch on the pulse of flavors intriguing pizza connoisseurs globally. Below is our curation of this year's most enticing and in-demand pizza toppings shaking up the scene.
1. Fermented Vegetables
A burgeoning interest in benefits for gut health is influencing pizzerias, making fermented vegetables an unexpected au courant topping choice. Items such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending intricate sour tastes, perfect foils to the cheesy, saucy heartiness. Aside from their probiotic upsides, these toppings also contribute newfound textural layers to the standard pizza fare.
Featured on our menu is the Fermentation Festival pizza, adorned with our signature sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, all accented with a splash of local honey to counter the sour flavors. This blend may seem atypical, yet it's swiftly climbed the ranks to be a customer favorite among our creative pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-based diet preferences has sparked an uptick in the call for meat-free pizza toppings. Moving beyond conventional veggie garnishes, advancements in plant-based protein are now offering selections that delight even staunch carnivores.
Menu standouts include plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit in the style of pulled pork, and pea protein crafted as pepperoni. These proteins appeal not solely to vegetarians; many patrons select them for their standout tastes and easier digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with an affinity for spiciness are celebrating! The year 2023 has seen a shift in pizza lovers seeking distinct regional chili varieties over generic hot pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies preserve their revered status from past trends, we're now seeing spices such as Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang start to decorate pizzas.
Our Global Heat pizza is bedecked with an assortment of four distinct regional chilies, each introducing its distinct flavor and heat to different sections of the pizza. This concoction has enjoyed particular favor with our more intrepid customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
What began as the farm-to-table movement has transitioned into a forest-to-pizza concept, with the growing popularity of foraged offerings that change with the seasons. Dominating this trend are wild mushrooms, such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, which make impressive appearances throughout their growing periods.
Additionally, we've been experimenting with wild leeks known as ramps in springtime, sea harvests such as dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for a distinctive aromatic twist. These natural elements connect diners to the wild and introduce ineffable tastes that cultivated produce simply cannot replicate.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The honey-infused sweet and savory dichotomy has solidly imprinted itself as a lasting taste trend. Expanding on the renown of spicy honey, 2023 has seen a flourish of unique honey variations that are liberally drizzled atop pizzas right before serving.
Exotic offerings include truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even specialty honeys infused with health-centric extracts. These distinctive flavors add depth and promote even the most straightforward pizza pairings to gourmet levels.
Honorable Mentions
A few additional toppings that didn't quite make our top five but are nonetheless noteworthy include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the pizza for a rich umami finish
- Pickled fruit variants, with a spotlight on stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Whole grain accents such as crispy farro or popped sorghum for added crunch
- Gourmet butters, including cultured variations and compound butters mixed with herbs
Regardless if you're a purist who adores classic pies or a culinary pioneer eager for new taste sensations, pizza remains the ultimate canvas for culinary expression. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we pay homage to timeless classics while also celebrating innovative flavors, ensuring our selection includes both the revered Margherita and our avant-garde specialty creations.
Have any of these advancements in pizza toppings reached your plate? Or maybe you have an unconventional topping combo in mind that you'd fancy us to feature? Drop your thoughts in the comments or chime in the next time you swing by!