Each season introduces fresh gastronomic fads in the pizza sphere, and 2023 is no different. At GenericWave, our team is always on the lookout for what's capturing the palates of pizza aficionados worldwide. Let's dive into the top pizza topping trends that are currently redefining flavor this year.
1. Pickled Vegetables
The emphasis on digestive well-being has transitioned into the pizza industry, with pickled vegetables emerging as a surprising fan favorite on pizzas. Varieties like kimchi, preserved cabbage, and marinated onions are contributing sophisticated, sharp tastes that enrich the deep flavors of cheese and tomato sauces. These pickled delights not only offer digestive health benefits but also bring novel textural aspects to classic pizzas.
Our pioneer Ferment Fiesta pizza includes in-house preserved cabbage, kimchi, and blue cheese, topped off with a hint of local honey to counterbalance the sourness. The pairing may sound atypical, but it has swiftly become a commonly requested original dish.
2. Alternative Plant Proteins
As plant-based diets gain more followers, there's been a pronounced spike in the preference for pizzas adorned with inventive meat substitutes. Moving beyond typical veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based proteins supply choices that can even impress staunch carnivores.
Options like vegetable-based Italian sausage crumbles, savory tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork marinade, and protein derived from peas mimicking pepperoni now regularly appear on our roster. These protein choices have caught on with our patrons not only for their ethical attributes but due to their distinctive tastes and gentler effects on digestion.
3. Exotic Chili Types
A thrilling development for those who favor fiery flavors! This year, connoisseurs of pizza have been turning towards specific chili types from distinct regions instead of ordinary red pepper flakes for their spice fixes. While Calabrian chilies have sustained their fame, there is also a burgeoning interest in varieties like the smoky Spanish ñora, the fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and gochujang from Korea as pizza condiments.
Our Spice Voyage pizza presents a fusion of four distinct chilies, each bringing its own distinct taste to separate sections of the pizza. It's an intense tour de spice that's found a special place among our boldest customers.
4. Wild-Harvested Seasonal Elements
The locavore movement has grown to encompass the trend of forest-derived ingredients finding their way onto pizzas. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, each debuting during their peak seasons.
We've also been working with other wild ingredients like spring ramps (wild onions), oceanic greens like dulse and nori, and even spruce shoots for their unique fragrance. These foraged components offer a connection to the wilderness and impart irreplicable flavors that are unattainable in farmed conditions.
5. Distinct Honey Drizzles
The allure of honey as a sweet and savory addition has rooted itself well beyond a transient whim. Continuing from the hype around spiced honey, the year has witnessed a surge of unique honey types used as a finisher on pizzas right before they are served.
Diverse honey variations such as truffle-infused honey, fermented garlic honey, aromatic mesquite honey, and specialty honey enhanced with herbal extracts are now sprinkling across the nation's pizza joints. These final touches contribute layers of complexity, transforming even simple pizzas into fine dining experiences.
Honorable Mentions
Some other topping contenders that narrowly missed making our top five yet still show prominence include:
- Seasoned egg yolks, finely grated over the pizza for a savory dusting
- Marinated stone fruits, particularly peaches and plums
- Ancient grain garnishes, including crunchy farro or puffed sorghum for added crunch
- Gourmet butter dabs, like specialty culture or compound butters with herbs
Whether one stays true to time-honored classics or leans towards the thrill of novel flavor pairings, pizza remains one of the most versatile and universally cherished dishes. At GenericWave, we celebrate heritage while also fostering cutting-edge culinary creations—hence our menu sports both the traditional Margherita and the avant-garde pies.
Have any of these emerging toppings caught your interest? Or is there a particular topping combo you'd like to see us whip up? Drop your thoughts in the comments or tell us on your next visit!