Each year ushers in new pizza topping trends, and 2023 is no different. Here at MossyHarbor, we keep a close eye on what's captivating pizza aficionados worldwide. Below, we've listed this year's top pizza toppings causing a stir across the pizza landscape.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Paying homage to gut health, fermented veggies have emerged as a surprising pizza topping favorite in 2023. The distinct sour notes of kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions offer a delightful flavor contrast against the creamy cheese and sauce. Apart from their probiotic properties, these fermented additions introduce an intriguing textural variety to the classic pizza.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza includes our signature sauerkraut and kimchi paired with gorgonzola cheese, all balanced with a local honey drizzle. This combination may seem unconventional, yet it's quickly gained popularity as one of our most sought-after pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The plant-based diet wave is not slowing down, and the pizza industry has seen a notable surge in the use of imaginative meat substitutes on pizza. Moving beyond typical veggie toppings, pioneering plant-based proteins are now satisfying the palate of staunch meat eaters.
Options like crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit reimagined as pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni have become staples on our menu. These alternatives have garnered interest not only from vegetarians but also from health-conscious individuals due to their flavors and lighter digestive load.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who seek heat, 2023 has encouraged pizza enthusiasts to indulge in distinct regional chili varieties over generic pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies remain popular from prior years, varieties such as the aromatic Aleppo pepper, smoky ñora chilies from Spain, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are now becoming favored pizza additions.
Our Spice Voyage pizza presents a quartet of different chilies, each providing a distinct taste sensation to individual sections of the pizza. It's been a particularly big hit among patrons looking for a bit of culinary exploration.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Seasonal foraged ingredients are on the rise, transitioning from the farm-to-table concept directly to pizza. Notable in this trend are wild mushrooms, including chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, which make their debuts during their natural growing seasons.
We've also utilized spring ramps (wild garlic), seaweeds such as dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These wild ingredients forge a deeper connection between diners and the natural world, offering unmatched flavors that can't be replicated by cultivation.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The allure of honey's sweet complexity on pizza has entrenched itself as a lasting trend. In 2023, we've witnessed an explosion of exotic honey varieties being drizzled atop pizzas just before they're served.
Exquisite varieties such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, aromatic mesquite honey, and even honey infused with CBD are beginning to feature on menus nationwide. These unique final touches add depth and can elevate even a simple pizza to gourmet standing.
Honorable Mentions
Several other toppings that narrowly missed our top five but deserve mention for their popularity include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over pizzas like a dusting of gold
- Pickled fruits, particularly stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Ancient grain toppings, such as toasted farro or puffed sorghum, for a crunchy texture
- Gourmet butter dollops, like cultured or compounded herb butters
Whether you stick to the classics or are eager to sample innovate new flavors, pizza remains a universally adaptable and cherished dish. At MossyHarbor, we celebrate our roots in tradition while welcoming the new—that's why our menu boasts both the timeless Margherita and avant-garde pizzas.
Which of these contemporary toppings have you tried? Or do you have your own inventive combination to suggest? Share your thoughts in the comments or the next time you visit us!