Each year pizza connoisseurs witness a fresh wave of culinary preferences, and 2023 is no different. At Dough Maestro's Pizzeria, keeping abreast of which flavors are delighting pizza aficionados worldwide is our specialty. Here’s a glimpse into the top five pizza toppings that are the talk of the town this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Paying heed to digestive health has taken a fashionable turn in pizzerias, with fermented vegetables emerging as the trendsetters on pizza menus. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are bestowing complex sour notes which beautifully offset the creamy cheese and robust sauce. Not only do these fermented delights offer probiotic goodness, but they also add a novel textural element to the classic pie.
The modern Fermentation Fiesta pizza includes our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and bold gorgonzola, all harmonized with a drizzle of regional honey to alleviate the sour accent. This mixture may seem avant-garde, but it's swiftly turned into one of our most sought-after creations.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As the trend of plant-based diets maintains its momentum, the call for pizzas laden with innovative meatless alternatives has soared. Surpassing the traditional veggie assortments, the evolution in plant-based protein varieties has brought options that even die-hard carnivores can appreciate.
Options like plant-derived Italian sausage bits, flavored tempeh, jackfruit treated as pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni are now staples on our spread. These protein choices appeal not solely to vegetarians but to numerous patrons desiring their distinct tastes and gentler impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who chase the thrill of spice are in for a treat! This year has seen pizza enthusiasts gravitating towards distinct regional chili varietals rather than the ubiquitous red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies have sustained their allure, meanwhile, we now find Aleppo pepper, the smoky Spanish ñora, aromatic Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang gracing pizzas.
Global Heat, our pizza, delightfully combines a mix of these four distinct chilies, each lending their special savors to separate pizza sections. This flaming journey has gained favor particularly among our intrepid food explorers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Foraging's synergy with the culinary sphere has morphed into a movement from forest to pizza, with the surge in popularity of seasonally harvested ingredients. At the helm are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, famed during their natural growth periods.
We've also delved into wild greens like spring ramps, oceanic plants like dulse and nori, and even fir tree sprouts for their distinctive fragrant contribution. These wild harvests connect the consumers to nature's essence while presenting irreplicable flavors otherwise not achievable through cultivation.
5. Artisan Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory brought by honey has definitively etched itself in the domain of enduring food trends. Following hot honey's success, 2023 has witnessed an array of specialty honies being garnished on pizzas before they’re served.
Exquisitely flavored honeys such as truffle-infused, fermented garlic, smoked mesquite, and those blended with CBD have found their way onto menus far and wide. These final touches impart a depth of character and can transform even humble pizza combinations into gourmet fare.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable toppings on the brink of making it to our top list but nonetheless noteworthy include:
- Cured egg yolk, finely shredded atop the pizza for a touch of umami luxury
- Pickled fruits, with a nod to stone fruits such as peaches and apricots
- Heritage grains like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum adding a textural contrast
- Fancy butter dollops, particularly those cultured or infused with herbs
No matter if you’re a purist who favors timeless essentials or a daring palate seeking to explore novel flavors, pizza remains one of the most versatile and universally cherished dishes. At Dough Maestro's Pizzeria, we pay homage to conventional recipes while also celebrating culinary creativity—it's for this reason our menu features both the venerable Margherita and innovatively crafted specialty pies.
Have these trendy toppings graced your palate lately? Or perhaps there’s an unconventional favorite of yours you’d like to see added to our offerings? Share your thoughts in the comments or on your next visit!