Each year ushers in fresh epicurean waves in the pizza sphere, and 2023 is brimming with innovation. At SavoryPantry, our commitment lies in tracking the flavors that are captivating pizza aficionados across the planet. Allow us to present our curated list of the year's top, most buzzworthy pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Digestive wellness has made a leap into the pizza scene, with fermented vegetables emerging as this year's unexpected topping trend. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions infuse a burst of sophisticated sourness that perfectly meshes with creamy cheeses and robust sauces. Besides their probiotic goodness, these fermented additions bring novel textural layers to esteemed pizza classics.
Featured in our Fermentation Fête pie, we combine homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, and bold gorgonzola, with a light drizzle of local honey to mellow the sharpness. Despite its novelty, it's quickly ascending as one of our most acclaimed specialities.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As plant-centric diets gain traction, there's been a spike in interest for pizzas adorned with inventive meat substitutes. These aren't your average veggie toppings; advances in plant proteins have birthed alternatives that impress even staunch carnivores.
Entries such as plant-structured Italian sausage, spiced tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni are now staples on our menu. Not exclusively for the vegetarians, these options are picked for their distinctive tastes and gentler gastrointestinal impact.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice enthusiasts can celebrate as 2023 has discerning pizza lovers seeking out exotic, regional chili variants over ubiquitous pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies continue to be a favorite, but now Aleppo pepper, Spanish ñora chilies, Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are also gracing our pizzas.
The Global Heat pizza brings together four distinct regional chilies, each lending its own flavor narrative to our artisanal crust. It's the perfect blend for our patrons who favor a walk on the fiery side.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Local sourcing is now moving beyond the farms, with the embrace of seasonal foraged ingredients. Among these, wild mushrooms are particularly prominent, featuring sought-after varieties such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods during peak periods.
Apart from fungi, we're exploring with wild ramps, seaborne greens like dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These elements bring a connection to nature and offer irreplaceable flavors that cultivated varieties just can't match.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay between sweet and savory exemplified by honey has transcended the fad state. Following the surge of hot honey in previous years, 2023 welcomes an array of specialty honey types used as finishing touches on pizzas.
With options like truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and distinctive CBD-infused honey, an extra splash ensures even the simplest pies attain a gourmet flair.
Honorable Mentions
Several other toppings nearly made our cut but are nonetheless leaving an impression include:
- Preserved egg yolks, delicately dusted over the pie's surface
- Pickled fruits, particularly drupe fruits such as peaches and plums
- Ancient grain embellishments, including crunchy farro or popped sorghum for added texture
- Specialty butter spots (notably cultured or herb-infused varieties)
No matter if you cling to time-honored favorites or seek out the new and audacious, pizza perpetually reigns as one of the most versatile and cherished dishes. At SavoryPantry, we revere age-old traditions as much as we do pioneering culinary artistry—that's evident in our offering of both traditional Margherita and avant-garde special pizzas.
Have you indulged in any of these trending toppings? Or perhaps you have a novel topping blend in mind that you'd wish to see on our menu? Share with us in the comments or during your next visit!