As each year unfolds, so do new pizza topping trends, and 2023 has been no different. At DistantView, we keep a close pulse on what's delighting the palates of pizza aficionados worldwide. Below is our curated list of this year’s top trending pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gastronomic trends have shifted to favor gut health, leading to the rise in fermented vegetables atop pizzas. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending a distinctive tangy zest that balances out the creamy cheese and savory sauce. These fermented additions offer probiotic gains while bringing a novel textural twist to classic pizza.
Our new Fermentation Fiesta pizza showcases a homemade blend of sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, with a hint of local raw honey to offset the sharp flavors. While it may seem like an unconventional mix, it's swiftly becoming a top-requested pie.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
Plant-based diets continue to surge in popularity, leading to a demand spike for pizzas adorned with meat-free alternatives. Beyond common veggies, recent innovations in plant-based proteins have introduced selections that can rival traditional meats in taste.
Options like plant-sourced Italian sausage bits, spiced tempeh, jackfruit prepared as “pulled pork,” and pea protein fashioned into “pepperoni” now prominently feature on our menu. These plant proteins attract not just vegetarians but also those who prefer their distinct flavors and easier digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who seek a fiery bite, the year 2023 has welcomed the embrace of specific regional chili varieties over common red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies hold their popularity from past years, we're now noticing a rise in specialty chilies like Syrian Aleppo peppers, Spanish smoked ñora chilies, Peruvian fruity aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang across pizza menus.
Our Global Heat pizza incorporates a quartet of diverse regional chilies, providing distinct flavor experiences in each quarter of the pie. This spicy concoction has been especially well-received by our more daring patrons.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Moving from the farm directly to pizza, foraged seasonal ingredients have become highly sought after. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, which appear on menus seasonally.
We also work with other foraged items like wild leeks (ramps), sea harvested vegetables including dulse and nori, and even spruce tips to add an intriguing aromatic element. Such ingredients offer a deep connection to the wilderness and introduce flavors that cultivated counterparts cannot mimic.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The play between sweet and savory achieved with honey has now become a staple. Expanding on the hot honey trend in earlier years, 2023 has seen a surge in unique honey varieties used as a finishing drizzle on pizzas.
Notable options such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, aromatic mesquite honey, and even CBD-enriched honey are being spotted more frequently on pizza menus. They add a layer of sophistication to even the simplest pizza varieties.
Honorable Mentions
There are other contenders that narrowly missed our top list but are nonetheless making an impression:
- Cured egg yolks, finely shredded over the pizza like a cascade of golden flakes
- Pickled fruits, in particular stone fruits such as peaches and cherries
- Whole grains for added crunch, such as crisped farro or burst sorghum
- Droplets of artisanal butters, especially those blended with herbs or cultured
Whether you adhere to time-honored classics or are open to experimenting with new flavors, pizza remains one of the most versatile and cherished dishes. At DistantView, we revere the classics while also welcoming novel creations—this is why you'll find both time-honored Margherita and eclectic specialty pizzas in our repertoire.
Have any of these trending toppings made it to your plate? Or maybe you have an inventive combination you'd love us to integrate? Share your thoughts in the comments or during your next visit!