As each year passes, new pizza culinary trends emerge, and 2023 has its share. At GentleHarborVista, keeping track of the latest flavors fascinating pizza aficionados globally is what we do. Here's our list of this year's most innovative and in-demand pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The spotlight on digestive health has reached pizza kitchens, with fermented vegetables cropping up as an unexpected but welcome addition to pizzas. Tangy delights like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending their complex flavors to the creamy cheese and sauce. More than taste, these fermented goods are also a source of gut-friendly probiotics and add intriguing textures to our beloved pizza.
Take, for instance, our Fermentation Fiesta pizza. It boasts our very own sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, all balanced out with a honey caramelization. It may seem odd at first, but it's rapidly gaining fans amongst our specialty pizza selections.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The rise of plant-based diets has not left pizza behind, with a noticeable uptick in the request for meat-free alternatives. Beyond ordinary veggie toppings, we're seeing an emergence in plant-based protein varieties that even hard-core carnivores enjoy.
Options such as plant-based crumbles imitating Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, pulled pork style marinated jackfruit, and pea protein pepperoni have found their way into our lineup. These alternatives are not just for plant enthusiasts—they're chosen by many for their distinctive tastes and easier digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who favor a spicy touch, 2023 is the year pizza lovers have started seeking out distinct chili varieties over generic flakes. While Calabrian chilies hold onto their popularity, we're spotting a rise in the use of specialized peppers like the aromatic Aleppo, smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and piquant Korean gochujang on our pizzas.
Our World of Spice pizza incorporates a range of international chilies, each with their own distinctive taste, spreading across different segments of the pizza. It's a fiery taste quest favored by our more daring consumers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The ethos of farm-to-table has expanded, with a trend for including foraged ingredients on pizzas. The forefront is marked by wild mushrooms, with chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods mushrooms gracing pizzas in their peak seasons.
We're not stopping at mushrooms, though. We've brought in wild spring ramps, sea greens such as dulse and nori, and even the piney spruce tips, all of which offer a connection to nature along with unparalleled flavors that cultivated crops can't replicate.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The harmonious blend of sweet and savory with honey has outlasted its reputation as a fleeting craze. Following the trend of spiced honey from the past years, 2023 has introduced a wave of unique honey variations that are dripped onto pizzas before they're served.
Exclusive varieties like truffle-infused honey, fermented garlic honey, aromatic mesquite honey, and even CBD-enhanced honey have started adorning pizzas, adding depth to the flavors and transforming even the most basic pizzas into gourmet experiences.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable toppings that didn't make the top five but are still creating a stir include:
- Sal cured egg yolks, finely grated over the pizza for a rich burst of flavor
- Sweetened pickled fruits, with a special shoutout to stone fruits such as peaches and cherries
- Ancient grain garnishes, like crunch-fried farro or popped amaranth, for added texture
- Exquisite spreads of cultured butter or herb-infused butters
Whether you firmly stick to the classic choices or are the type to try the boldest new mixtures, the allure and versatility of pizza make it one of the most treasured foods globally. At GentleHarborVista, we celebrate time-honored traditions alongside culinary creativity—that's the reason behind serving both time-tested Margherita and avant-garde specialty pizzas on our menu.
Have any of these new toppings graced your palette? Or maybe you have a distinct pairing in mind that you would love to see on our menu? Share with us in the comments or during your next visit!