As with every year, 2023 brings fresh culinary trends to the realm of pizza crafting, and Crust & Crumble Pizzeria is ever watchful of the evolving preferences of pizza aficionados worldwide. Here's our top picks of the most exciting and in-demand pizza toppings this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health has gained prominence in pizza kitchens, with fermented veggies emerging as this year's unexpected favorite. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions lend a distinct, tangy taste that perfectly balances the classic flavors of cheese and tomato base. These toppings aren't just flavor-rich, they also introduce a unique complexity and nutritious probiotics to reinvent the traditional pizza experience.
Our Probiotic Party pizza is topped with our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and a bold gorgonzola cheese, and delicately finished with a drizzle of artisan honey to counteract the zest. Though these flavors might initially seem eccentric, they're swiftly climbing our list of top-requested pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The upsurge in plant-friendly diets has led to a significant increase in the request for pizzas adorned with meat substitutes. Modern advancements in alternative proteins mean that even the most staunch carnivores are satisfied with our array of unique vegetable-based toppings.
Savory crumbles mimicking Italian sausage, spiced tempeh, jackfruit in a pulled pork style, and pepperoni made from pea protein have been added to our menu. These alternatives aren't solely for plant-based diets—they're chosen by many for their special taste profiles and easier digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for heat are embracing pizza topped with distinctive regional chili peppers instead of the ubiquitous red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies retain their popularity, we're now spotting the likes of the smoky Spanish ñora, the fragrant Aleppo pepper, the aromatic Korean gochujang, and the fruity hues of the Peruvian aji amarillo gracing pizzas.
Our Four Corners of Fire pizza presents a quartered display of these unique chilies, each infusing a slice with its distinct flavor and adding a fiery kick sure to please thrill-seeking guests.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Forest-to-pizza is a trend born from the farm-to-table movement, with an increasing demand for foraged toppings. Wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods are at the forefront, harvested in their natural seasons and employed for their distinctive flavors.
We're also exploring wild ramps, sea vegetables, including dulse and nori, and fragrant spruce tips, infusing pizzas with soulful tastes that cannot be replicated with farmed produce.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The juxtaposition of sweet hints of honey on savory pizzas has become more than a fad. On the tails of hot honey's success, this year we're seeing a surge in the use of unique honey varieties as a final embellishment on pizzas just before they're served.
Exotic varieties such as truffle-infused honey, honey laced with fermented garlic, smoky mesquite honey, and various other innovative honey creations are enhancing pizza menus nationwide. These finishing drizzles add sophistication and nuance, taking even the simplest of pizzas into the realm of gourmet elegance.
Honorable Mentions
A few other innovative toppings that nearly made our top list but still deserve a shoutout include:
- Cured egg yolks finely grated over the pizza for a luxurious zest.
- Pickled tree fruits such as peaches and apricots for a tangy twist.
- Textured toppings from heritage grains like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum.
- Dollops of gourmet butter varieties, including those laced with herbs or cultured for richness.
Whether your tastes lean towards classic combinations or you're eager to brave novel ones, pizza remains an endlessly versatile and universally cherished dish. At Crust & Crumble Pizzeria, we honor time-honored recipes while also welcoming innovative creations, ensuring our menu offers everything from the iconic Margherita to the latest experimental pizza masterpieces.
Have any of these trending toppings caught your interest? Or perhaps you have a distinctive topping combo of your own that you'd love to see featured? Drop us a line in the comments or during your next visit!