As pizza continues to evolve, each year unveils new flavors that pizza aficionados enjoy. At EmberFenland, we keep a close eye on global trends to see what's delighting pizza enthusiasts everywhere. This is our guide to the leading pizza toppings that have gained popularity in 2023.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Emphasizing digestive wellness has transcended into pizza shops with fermented vegetables emerging as a surprising topping choice. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions provide intriguing sour notes that contrast with the creamy cheese and savory sauce. These additions offer not only probiotic rewards but also bring novel texture contrasts to typical pizza profiles.
Our own Fermentation Fiesta pizza boasts home-crafted sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, lightly drizzled with regional honey to offset the sourness. It might seem like an unconventional mix, but it's swiftly growing into one of our highly demanded signature pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With more diners choosing plant-based diets, there's been an uptick in requests for pizzas with inventive vegetarian substitutes. Beyond simple veggie toppings, the progress in plant-based proteins has introduced alternatives that even please staunch meat fans.
We offer plant-derived Italian sausage pieces, herbed tempeh, marinated jackfruit resembling shredded pork, and pea protein designed like pepperoni. These meat substitutes are chosen by our patrons not solely for their dietary preferences, but also for their distinct taste profiles and digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who enjoy some spice on their pizza are now opting for particular types of regional chili peppers over generic pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue their streak from the past years, we're also observing the introduction of spices such as the Middle Eastern Aleppo pepper, aromatic Spanish ñora chilies, Peruvian aji amarillo with its fruity touch, and the Korean fermented chili paste gochujang.
The Worldly Spices pizza at our restaurant is adorned with an assortment of these different chilies, each offering a divergent zest to the individual parts of the pizza, making it a favorite among our more intrepid customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The trend of eating what's found locally and seasonally has morphed into using foraged ingredients straight onto pizzas. Fungi such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods are more frequently found when they're in season.
Apart from mushrooms, we also experiment with wild leeks known as spring ramps, oceanic plants like dulse and nori, and the delicately scented spruce tips. These elements not only offer a unique blend of flavors that can't be commercially replicated but also create a connection to the natural environment.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The combination of sweet honey against the savory background on pizza has become well-established. Building on hot honey's successful introduction, the year 2023 marks the arrival of more specialized honey types being drizzled over pizzas just before they're served.
We offer an array of honeys such as truffle-infused, fermented garlic, aromatic mesquite, and CBD-enriched varieties that are making their way into pizzerias nationwide. These toppings add an enhanced depth of flavor that can transform even the simplest pizzas into premium fare.
Honorable Mentions
There are also other toppings that just shy away from making our top list but are nonetheless creating a trend:
- Cured egg yolks grated over the pizza for a velvety garnish
- Pickled fruits, especially stone fruits like nectarines and cherries
- Ancient grain toppings, such as crunchy spelt or puffed amaranth for added texture
- Gourmet butter dollops, including cultured or mixed herb varieties
Whether you're a staunch traditionalist who holds true to the time-tested toppings or a culinary explorer eager for novel flavor pairings, pizza remains one of the most versatile and adored dishes globally. At EmberFenland, we respect traditional recipes as much as we value inventive approaches—that's why our menu includes both the well-loved Margherita as well as pioneering specialty pizzas.
Have you sampled any of these trendsetting toppings yet? Or perhaps you have an inventive topping blend in mind that you'd love for us to feature? Share your thoughts in the comments section or during your next visit to our establishment!