The pizza landscape keeps evolving with each year's fresh culinary trends, and 2023 is no different. We at SavoryNook keep a close watch on the flavors that resonate with pizza aficionados worldwide. Here's our list of the top exciting pizza toppings that have dominated this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health has recently become a culinary focus, leading to the surprising popularity of fermented vegetables on pizzas. The complex, zesty tastes of kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions perfectly balance the creamy cheese and tomato base. These toppings contribute probiotic advantages and new textural aspects to conventional pizzas.
Our Fermentation Festivity pie includes our proprietary sauerkraut, kimchi, and a unique variety of blue cheese, sweetened with a splash of artisan honey to temper the sharpness. This may seem like an odd mix, but it has fast become a fan favorite.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-based diets has led to increased interest in protein alternatives on our pizzas. Aside from the typical veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based proteins have presented options that even appeal to staunch carnivores.
These new additions include plant-inspired Italian sausage crumbles, flavorful tempeh, jackfruit in a pulled pork style, and pea protein resembling pepperoni. These innovative proteins are a hit not just with vegetarians but also with those who prefer their unique taste and ease of digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for spice are welcoming specific regional chilies instead of the standard red pepper flakes on their pizzas. While Calabrian chilies continue their longstanding appeal, other chilies like the smoky Spanish ñora, the fruit-flavored Peruvian aji amarillo, and the Korean gochujang are becoming popular toppings.
Our Global Spice pizza is an assembly of four diverse regional chilies, delivering distinct flavors to each section of the pie. It's a fiery journey beloved by our more daring clients.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The local farm-to-table trend has expanded to encompass wild, foraged ingredients, with wild mushrooms being at the forefront. Varieties such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods are sought-after during their seasons.
We're also experimenting with spring ramps, oceanic greens including dulse and nori, and even spruce tips to lend a distinctive aromatic touch. These natural ingredients offer diners a connection to the wild and flavors that aren't available through conventional farming.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The play of sweet against savory, with honey on top of pizzas, has become more than just a fleeting craze. The variation of honey types in 2023 has catapulted in popularity, offered as a final drizzle just before serving.
Unique honey varieties like truffle infused, garlic fermented, smoky mesquite, and even CBD-enhanced honey have been implemented into menus nationwide. These drizzles contribute to the complexity and transform a standard pizza into a refined dish.
Honorable Mentions
A few toppings didn't make our main list but still deserve a mention:
- Preserved egg yolks finely grated over pizzas for a rich, salty addition
- Sweet and tangy pickled fruits, particularly peaches and plums, from the stone fruit family
- Grain toppings that offer crunch, like toasty farro or puffed sorghum
- Dabs of specialty butter, like the tangy cultured or flavored herbal butters
No matter if you're someone who swears by time-honored favorites or is eager to explore new and bold flavor combinations, pizza remains one of the most versatile and universally cherished foods. At SavoryNook, we value the classics but also welcome inventive creations, which is why you'll find both the traditional Margherita and the avant-garde specialty pizzas on our menu.
Which of the latest toppings have you sampled? Or is there an exceptional mix you'd love to see offered by us? Share with us in the comments or on your next visit!