With each passing year, we witness fresh gastronomic trends in the realm of pizza, and 2023 has introduced its own delicious twists. At MindfulHorizons, we keep an eagle eye on what's tantalizing the palates of pizza aficionados globally. We're excited to unveil this year's topmost coveted pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
This year, pizzerias are embracing gut health by topping pizzas with fermented veggies. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are bursting onto the scene, pairing their tangy complex flavors with the creamy textures of traditional pizza toppings. Besides offering probiotic perks, these fermented veggies add a novel twist to the customary texture of pizza.
Take our Fermentation Fiesta pizza as an example: a concoction of house-prepared sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, with a dash of local honey to soften the tang. Although it may appear unorthodox, customer demand for this specialty creation is soaring.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As a burgeoning number of people adopt a plant-based diet, the demand for pizzas adorned with ingenious vegetarian meat substitutes is on the rise. Far from the typical veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based proteins have brought forth options pleasing even steadfast carnivores.
On our menu, you'll find surprises like plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit that serves as a pulled pork alternative, and pea protein-based pepperoni. Enjoyed by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, these proteins are praised for their distinctive flavors and easier digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
If you have a penchant for fiery flavors, this year is for you as pizza lovers are specifying their heat sources, moving beyond generic crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies remain a perennial favorite, peppers like smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang have joined the ranks on pizzas.
Highlighting an array of diverse chilies, our World of Spice pizza treats each quarter of the pie to a distinct regional heat. It's a hit for those seeking a spicy culinary journey that stands out from the crowd.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
From farms to forests, foraged seasonal ingredients have emerged as a hit in the pizza industry. Leading this wild food wave are mushrooms, with chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods gracing our pizzas during their natural growing seasons.
We're not stopping at mushrooms. Our culinary experiments have ventured into including wild leeks known as ramps, sea greens such as dulse and nori, and aromatic spruce tips. These ingredients offer a link to nature along with irreplicable flavors.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Honey is making a definitive mark on the pizza landscape by creating the perfect sweet-savory balance. Specialty varieties of honey such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, and smoky mesquite honey are making their way onto pizzas, as are novel options like CBD-enhanced honey, adding a gourmet finesse to even the simplest pizza recipes.
Honorable Mentions
Although not in the top five, several other toppings are worthy of mention for their up-and-coming status:
- Cured egg yolks finely grated over pizzas for a velvety drape
- Pickled stone fruits, particularly peaches and plums
- Heritage grains like crispy farro or popped sorghum adding a crunch
- Dollops of artisanal butter, specifically those infused with herbs or cultured
No matter if you're a pizza purist or a culinary explorer eager to taste innovative pairings, pizza remains the ultimate customizable and widely cherished dish. At MindfulHorizons, we pay homage to classic recipes while charting new territories in pizza innovation, making sure our menu hosts both beloved traditional and avant-garde specialty pizza pies.
Have any of these topping trends graced your plate recently? Or is there a novel topping combo you're keen to propose for our menu? Share your thoughts in the comments or on your next trip to our pizzeria!