With each passing year, the realm of pizza welcomes new flavorful trends, and the year 2023 is no different. At WindLarkvale, we continually observe and track the flavors that pizza aficionados globally are favoring. Here's our curated list of this year's standout pizza toppings that have gained significant popularity.
1. Fermented Vegetables
As the spotlight shines on gut health, fermented vegetables have made their mark in the pizza industry. Toppings like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions impart a burst of zesty taste that harmonizes with traditional ingredients such as cheese and tomato sauce. These toppings aren't just flavorful — they introduce a dynamic texture to the pizza and pack probiotic benefits, too.
The Fermentation Fiesta pizza includes our proprietary sauerkraut, home-style kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, with a sweet drizzle of artisan honey to counter the sour notes. It's an unconventional pairing that's quickly won over patrons, becoming a sought-after choice.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The ascent of plant-based diets has ushered in a heightened demand for pizzas adorned with innovative meat substitutes. These toppings extend beyond common veggies, serving up alternatives that impress even the most ardent meat fans.
We're now offering toppings like crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, aromatic tempeh, seasoned jackfruit fashioned into pulled pork, and pepperoni made from pea protein. These protein choices are popular not just with vegetarians, but also among customers who appreciate their distinctive taste profiles and lighter impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for spice are celebrating the adoption of distinct chili varieties specific to various regions, moving away from the conventional red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies have remained steady in popularity, we're now seeing the introduction of exotic flavors like Aleppo pepper, smoky ñora chilies from Spain, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang as new pizza enhancements.
Our Heat Quest pizza offers a combination of four distinct regional chilies, each section of the pizza providing its own unique spice profile. It's become a favorite among patrons who love a zesty culinary exploration.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The passion for farm-to-table has naturally expanded to encompass wild, foraged ingredients on pizzas. Leading the charge are wild mushrooms, with sought-after types like chanterelles, morels and hen of the woods appearing on pizzas in sync with their growing seasons.
We've gone even further, incorporating elements like wild spring ramps, maritime flora such as dulse and nori, and even pine tips to bring an aromatic twist to our pizzas. These ingredients forge a connection to nature while imbuing flavors which cultivated produce lacks.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The contrasting flavors of honey have confirmed their role as a perennial favorite rather than a fleeting fancy. 2023 has seen a surge in the use of distinctive honey varieties on pizzas, applied as the finishing touch just before serving.
Rare finds such as truffle-infused honey, garlic honey, smoky-sweet mesquite honey, and even CBD honey are being featured on pizza menus far and wide, with these drizzles adding a layer of sophistication to even the simplest of pizzas.
Honorable Mentions
Several other toppings just shy of making it to our top five but still worthy of attention include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the pizza to resemble fine yellow snow
- Pickled fruits, in particular stone fruits like peaches and cherries
- Ancient grain additions, such as crunchy farro or puffed sorghum for added texture
- Dollops of artisanal butter, especially those that are cultured or infused with herbs
Whether your palate favors time-honored classics or leans towards exploratory flavor pairings, pizza remains an infinitely adaptable and universally adored food item. At WindLarkvale, we respect traditional recipes while encouraging culinary creativity — our menu is home to both the classic Margherita and avant-garde offerings.
Which of these trendy toppings have you sampled? Or perhaps there's a unique topping blend you're eager for us to include? Share your thoughts in the comments or on your next visit!