As the calendar changes, so do the pizza topping trends, and the excitement in 2023's pizza realm is palpable. At CenterlineNetwork, keeping an eye on what's making pizza aficionados' mouths water is our speciality. Below, we reveal the most sought-after pizza topping trends currently in vogue.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gastronomic trends have embraced gut wellness, catapulting fermented veggies to the forefront of pizza toppings this year. Exhilarating twisty flavors from kimchi, pickled onions, and sauerkraut are adding a delicious zing that balances the melty cheese and savory sauces. Not just for their probiotic power, these fermented choices add a fresh layer of texture to a traditional pie.
The Fermented Fiesta pizza we serve up boasts our own sauerkraut and kimchi alongside gorgonzola, all finished with a local honey drizzle to mellow the piquancy. Although it may seem offbeat, it's rapidly become a patron-favorite specialty.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The ascension of plant-based diets has encouraged a noticeable surge in the demand for pizza topped with innovative non-meat options. We're talking beyond ordinary veggie toppings; there's a realm of plant-based proteins that have even the most carnivorous customers hooked.
We're dishing out toppings like crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, flavored tempeh, marinated jackfruit as a pulled pork option, and pea protein crafted to mimic pepperoni. These toppings have won favor not just from vegetarians, but also for their distinct flavors and the ease they bring to digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those seeking a kick, the year has observed a trend towards specific regional chili types over the generic shake of red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies remain a fan-favorite, yet now we're incorporating the likes of smoky ñora chilies from Spain, fruity aji amarillo from Peru, Korean gochujang, and Aleppo pepper.
The International Spice pizza presents an assorted mix of these chilies, offering a distinct spicy flavor in each quarter of the pie, proving particularly popular among our daring clientele.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The path from wilderness to pizza is being paved with an upsurge in foraged ingredients popping up seasonally on pizzas. Leading the way are wild mushrooms like chanterelles and morels, which are being spotted out of their natural habitat and onto pizzas during their peak seasons.
We've also explored wild leeks known as ramps, various sea greens including dulse and nori, and the addition of spruce tips for a uniquely aromatic touch. These wild ingredients not only offer a connection to nature but also flavors that you just can't find elsewhere.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Honey's role in creating a savory-sweet palate sensation is proving to be more than a fad. Adding on to the well-received hot honey trend of the past, this year has welcomed a myriad of exotic honey drizzles over pizzas pre-service.
Options such as truffle-infused honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD honey have begun to make their mark. These drizzles are providing a final flourish that transforms even the simplest pizzas into epicurean delights.
Honorable Mentions
Not quite making the top five, but still splashing onto the scene, are toppings like:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over pizza for a rich umami topping
- Pickled fruits, with a special nod to stone fruits like peaches and cherries
- Crunchy heritage grains such as crispy farro or popped sorghum for added texture
- Touches of artisanal butter, from cultured varieties to those blended with herbs
Pizza, a global comfort food, remains adaptable and enduring, whether you love timeless classics or seek out the new and innovative tastes. Here at CenterlineNetwork, we hold the torch high for both tradition and avant-garde, which is why you'll find a heritage Margherita alongside our most forward-thinking concoctions.
Have any of these recently popular toppings made their way to your plate? Or maybe there's a unique combination you're keen to try? Share with us in the comment section below or on your next drop-in!