As pizza continues to evolve, 2023 brings its own flavor trends to pizzerias worldwide. At SnackHarbor, keeping a close eye on what gains popularity among pizza aficionados is essential. Below you’ll find the top trending pizza toppings of the year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
With digestive wellness in the spotlight, fermented vegetables have become a surprising star atop pizzas. Incorporations such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending intricate sour notes that balance rich cheeses and sauces. Besides their probiotic qualities, these toppings are adding intriguing new textures to classic pizza profiles.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza is topped with our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, and lightly drizzled with local honey to counteract the sourness. Though it's an unexpected combination, it’s rising to be one of our most favored specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-based diets sees a corresponding increase in demand for pizzas that feature inventive non-meat options. Beyond usual veggies, advancements in plant-based proteins have brought forth alternatives that can satisfy the most devout carnivores.
Options on our menu now include crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni. Not only vegetarians prefer these proteins, but a variety of customers are drawn to their distinct flavors and ease of digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who favor spicier flavors are celebrating the embrace of distinct chili varieties over generic pepper flakes in 2023. While Calabrian chilies are still a favorite, there's an emerging choice of regional seasonings such as Aleppo pepper, smoky ñora chilies, aji amarillo peppers, and gochujang sauce.
Our Spice Route pizza presents an assortment of four regional chilies, each providing an individual flavor to different sections of the pizza. It's a fiery journey that’s gaining traction with our more daring patrons.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Foraged ingredients are on the rise, transferring the farm-to-table concept directly to pizza. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, prominent during their seasons.
We're also experimenting with wild leeks (ramps), sea vegetation such as dulse and nori, and even fragrant spruce tips. These foraged additions offer a connection to the wilderness and impart irreplicable flavors.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The pairing of sweet and savory with honey drizzles has become a cherished staple. 2023 witnesses a variety of specialty honeys used as garnishes on pizzas. Truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, mesquite honey, and CBD-infused honey are being showcased in eateries nationwide. These drizzles add sophistication and can transform even the simplest pizzas into gourmet creations.
Honorable Mentions
Some additional toppings that are worth mentioning but didn’t quite make the cut for our top five include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the pizza like a cascade of yellow flakes
- Pickled fruits, in particular stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Grains from heritage crops, like crispy farro or popped sorghum, for added crunch
- Bits of artisanal butter, ranging from cultured to mixed with herbs
Whether you enjoy the timeless classics or seek out novel flavor infusions, pizza remains one of the most flexible and adored dishes globally. At SnackHarbor, we pay homage to time-honored methods while also exploring culinary creativity—you’ll find traditional Margherita alongside avant-garde specialty options on our menu.
Have any of these topping trends caught your attention? Do you have a personal topping combination in mind that you’d like us to consider? Share your thoughts in the comments or during your next visit!