Each year pizza's culinary landscape welcomes fresh trends, and 2023 is ripe with novelty. Here at ExploringSystems, we keep a close eye on flavors capturing pizza enthusiasts’ palates worldwide. We’ve assembled a list of the year's most innovative and sought-after pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
As gut health becomes a priority, pizzerias have embraced an unexpected gustatory hit: fermented veggies. Adding a complex, tangy flair, kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions pair well with the lusciousness of cheese and tomato sauce. Besides bringing probiotic perks, these toppings add a thrilling new textural aspect.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza boasts in-house produced sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, rounded off with a touch of local honey to soothe the sour bite. It may seem an odd mix, yet it's swiftly turned into one of our top requested pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge of plant-based diets has led to a greater demand for pizzas adorned with inventive non-meat options. Beyond typical veggies, the advent of plant-derived proteins has offered choices that even staunch carnivores appreciate.
We've introduced plant-based crumbled Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni to our repertoire. These aren't solely for vegetarians; our clientele opt for these for their distinct tastes and how easily they digest.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those craving something fiery, 2023 has seen pizza aficionados gravitate towards certain regional chili types over the generic red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies still hold appeal, yet Aleppos, smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are now gaining traction on pizzas.
Four distinct regional chilies each award their unique flavor profile to our Global Heat pizza's quadrants. This spicy exploration has gained particular favor with our bolder customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Seasonal, foraged produce has transported the farm-to-table trend to the realm of pizza. Leading the charge are wild mushrooms, with chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods showing up in their prime seasons.
We’ve also been working with wintery ramps, sea greens like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips to lend an aromatic twist. These components form a connection with nature and offer robust flavors not found in cultivated produce.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Delicious harmony is achieved by drizzling specialty honeys atop pizzas, thanks to their sweet-savory dynamics. The current year has unveiled a burst of niche honeys like truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite, and CBD-infused honey gracing pizzas just before they’re served.
These honeys not only add depth but also transform simple pizzas into gourmet delicacies.
Honorable Mentions
Other ingredients nearly making our top five but still worth mentioning include:
- Cured egg yolks, grated finely over the pizza surface like dustings of gold
- Pickled stone fruits, notably peaches and plums
- Ancient grains for a crunchy flair, such as crispy farro or sorghum
- Artisanal butter varieties, such as cultured or herbed compound butters
Whether you're partial to timeless favorites or inclined towards pioneering flavor profiles, pizza remains one of the most versatile and cherished dishes globally. At ExploringSystems, we respect age-old recipes and welcome contemporary twists, which is why our selection spans from classic Margherita to innovative creations.
Ever sampled these trendsetting toppings? Got a unique pizza preference you'd love us to feature? Feel free to share in the comments or on your next visit!