Each year ushers in fresh flavors in the pizza scene, and the year 2023 is no different. At LevelPortal, we're constantly tracking which toppings are delighting pizza aficionados worldwide. Let's dive into this year's most beloved and trending toppings that are currently making a splash.
1. Fermented Veggies
Focus on digestive wellness has spread to pizza kitchens, resulting in fermented veggies becoming an unexpected favorite on pizzas. The addition of kimchi, sauerkraut, and marinated onions adds a rich, tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with the classical cheese and tomato base. These toppings not only enhance gut health with probiotics but also add an intriguingly different texture to the pizza.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza includes our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, all sweetened with a drizzle of regional honey to soften the acidity. While it may strike as an odd combination, it’s steadily climbing up to be one of the top-requested specialty pizzas.
2. Plant Proteins
Plant-based diets are becoming more prevalent, driving up the demand for pizzas that showcase clever meat-free alternatives. We’re offering more than just your standard veggie toppings: our menu now includes innovative plant proteins that stand in for traditional meats.
Options like plant-based Italian sausage crumbs, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit that mimics pulled pork, and pea protein fashioned into pepperoni have become staples at our establishment. These aren't solely for vegetarians - many customers are drawn to them for their distinct tastes and easy digestion.
3. Specialty Chilis
For those who love a bit of spice, 2023 has seen a shift towards particular chili types over the usual crushed red pepper. Calabrian chilies continue to be a staple, but now there's also a growing interest in distinct chilies, such as the smoky Spanish ñora, Peruvian aji amarillo with its fruity touches, and the Korean gochujang.
Our World of Scoville pizza presents a mix of four distinct chilis from different regions, each lending its individual taste to the pizza's quarters. This fiery selection has quickly won popularity amongst our daring clientele.
4. Wild Foraged Ingredients
The movement of forest-to-table is gaining ground with the current trend of wild foraged ingredients. Leading the charge are wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, which are featured during their natural growing seasons.
Apart from mushrooms, we’re experimenting with wild spring ramps, seaweeds such as dulse and nori, and even spruce tips to lend a distinct piney scent. These flavors not only tie customers back to the earth but offer a taste experience unattainable in cultivated produce.
5. Unique Honey Infusions
The interplay of sweet on savory with honey has become more than a fleeting fad. On the heels of the popular spicy honey, the year 2023 has ushered in a surge of unique honey types drizzled on pizzas just prior to serving.
Infusions range from savory truffle honey, pungent fermented garlic honey, aromatic smoky mesquite honey, and even honey with CBD. These honeys serve as a final flourish, adding layers of taste and transforming even the simplest pizzas into connoisseur delights.
Honorable Mentions
A few additional toppings that have made a considerable impression but didn't quite make our top five include:
- Preserved egg yolks, finely shaved over the pizza like a dusting of golden snow
- Pickled orchard fruits, particularly peaches and plums
- Ancient grains such as crispy farro or puffed sorghum added for an extra crunch
- Dabs of artisan butter (including cultured and mixed herb varieties)
Regardless if you're a purist favoring time-honored classics or a trailblazer keen to explore innovative flavor pairings, pizza remains a versatile and universally cherished dish. At LevelPortal, we stay true to the classics while also welcoming new culinary adventures—that's why you'll find both the iconic Margherita as well as groundbreaking artisanal pizzas in our selection.
Which of these trendy toppings have you sampled? Or perhaps you have a distinct combination you'd love for us to feature? Share with us in the comments or during your next visit!