With each new year, the pizza industry sees a wave of new trends, and 2023 follows suit. At BraiseDome, we keep an eye on the flavors that are captivating the palates of pizza aficionados worldwide. We’re pleased to share this list of the most exciting and favored pizza toppings that are currently trending.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health's importance has found its way to our pizza creations, with fermented veggies emerging as this year's surprise sensation. Offerings such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are infusing pizzas with a rich, tangy taste that perfectly accentuates the traditional cheese and sauce. Not only do these toppings enhance gastrointestinal health with probiotics, but they also add a fresh twist on texture to the customary pizza experience.
The Fermentation Fiesta pizza, with its in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, all balanced out by a local honey drizzle, might seem outside the box, yet it’s quickly claimed a spot as one of our most sought-after specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The rise of plant-based diets has led to increased popularity in pizzas adorned with inventive meat substitutes. More than just your average veggie toppings, the arrival of next-generation plant-based proteins has brought with it options that even longtime meat enthusiasts can appreciate.
Menu regulars now include crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni. These toppings attract a following not just due to their environmental and digestive qualities, but also because of their distinctive tastes.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice lovers are celebrating the shift to distinct regional chilies over the generic crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies continue their popular streak, other peppers like Aleppo, Spanish ñora, Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are starting to make appearances, adding a world of heat to our pizzas.
Our International Zest pizza offers a quartet of these diverse chilies, bringing different flavor profiles to each segment of the pizza, much to the delight of our more daring customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The trend of directly sourcing from nature has extended to pizza with the ascent of foraged seasonal ingredients. Lead by wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, these toppings pop up in sync with their natural availability throughout the year.
We're experimenting with spring ramps, sea greens like dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These naturally occurring ingredients introduce eaters to authentic flavors from the wild, which are unobtainable through commercial means.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The delightful interplay between sweet and savory achieved with honey has become a stable trend. 2023 has seen a burst of unique honey varieties used as final flourishes on pizzas. From truffle to fermented garlic honey, mesquite-smoked to CBD blends, these special honey types are burgeoning on menus, augmenting the standard pizza to a culinary art form.
Honorable Mentions
Some additional toppings almost making the top list but still noteworthy include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over pizza for a lustrous topping
- Pickled stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Crunchy ancient grains such as crispy farro or popped sorghum for added texture
- Dollops of artisanal butter, like cultured or mixed herb butters
Whether you cherish traditional pizza styles or seek to explore new flavor territories, pizza remains one of the most versatile and adored dishes worldwide. At BraiseDome, we pay homage to the classics while also exploring the new. Our menu, thus, hosts both the classic Margherita and the avant-garde pies.
Have you had the chance to try these trendy toppings? Or perhaps you have an inventive favorite combination you'd love to see on our menu? Share with us in the comments, or during your next visit!