With each new year, the pizza realm experiences an influx of exciting gastronomic trends, and 2023 is no different. At CoveJournalStudio, we constantly track international preferences in pizza flavor profiles. Below, find our list of the most thrilling and favored pizza toppings gaining traction this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The emphasis on digestive health has infiltrated pizza kitchens, with fermented vegetables emerging as an unexpected favorite atop pizzas. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are infusing pizzas with intricate, zesty flavors that perfectly balance out the creamy cheese and robust sauce. These toppings don't only unlock probiotic health advantages, but they also add a fresh element of texture to pizza classics.
The adventurous Fermentation Fiesta pizza incorporates in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, topped with a local honey drizzle to soften the sour notes. Despite sounding unconventional, it's rapidly gaining popularity among our specialty pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As plant-based diets gain more followers, we've noticed a surge in the demand for meatless toppings. Beyond ordinary veggies, advancements in plant-derived proteins have paved the way for alternatives that even staunch carnivores can appreciate.
Our menu now regularly boasts plant-inspired Italian sausage crumbles, flavored tempeh, seasoned jackfruit as a stand-in for pulled pork, and pea protein mimicking pepperoni. These options cater not only to vegetarians but also attract customers keen on exploring novel tastes and enjoying a meal that's less heavy on the stomach.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice aficionados can celebrate; this year, pizza lovers are moving away from generic red pepper flakes and are now enthusiastically exploring specific regional chili peppers. Calabrian chilies are keeping their stage from the past years, but now there's room for Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang on the topping roster.
The International Spice pizza is a hot selection that offers a blend of four distinct regional chilies, each delivering its special bite to different sections of the pizza—a fiery gastronomic quest that's a hit with our more daring customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
What was once farm-to-table has now extended from woods-to-pizzeria with the burgeoning trend of seasonal foraged additions. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms with sought-after types such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods appearing during their natural growing seasons.
Exploring beyond fungi, we have experimented with wild spring ramps (leeks), seaweed varieties including dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for a distinctive aromatic twist. These ingredients give a nod to Earth's bounties while providing flavors hard to replicate by commercial means.
5. Special Honey Drizzles
Honey's talent for creating a sweet and savory play on flavors is firmly staying beyond a mere fad. Building on the success of spiced honeys in previous times, we've now observed a trend of various specialty honey types gracing pizzas at the final stages before serving.
Options such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-enriched honey have found their way into eateries nationwide. These final drops enhance the pizzas' complexity, uplifting ordinary pizza offerings to a more exquisite experience.
Honorable Mentions
A few other toppings that just narrowly missed making our principal list but are deserving of acknowledgment include:
- Sal cured egg yolks finely shaved over the pizza surface
- Pickled fruits, with a preference towards stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Alternative grains for crunch, such as crispy farro or puffed sorghum
- Artisan butter spots, particularly cultured or herb-infused varieties
No matter if you uphold classic tastes or are open to experimental and bold flavors, pizza remains one of the most versatile and universally adored dishes. At CoveJournalStudio, we pay homage to time-honored recipes while equally welcoming innovation—evidenced by our offering of both the iconic Margherita and avant-garde creations on our menu.
Have you sampled any of these contemporary toppings? Or maybe you have a unique topping combo you're eager to see us add? Share with us in the comments below or on your next visit to our establishment!