As each new year unfolds, it brings with it fresh trends in pizza gastronomy, and 2023 is filled with innovative twists. At SilverPoint, our attention is always captured by new toppings that are seizing the palate of pizza enthusiasts internationally. Below is a compilation of the trendiest and in-demand pizza toppings that are current favorites.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health has carved a niche in the pizza industry, with fermented vegetables surging as a hit topping this year. Flavors like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are empowering pizzas with their intricate tart flavors that enhance the cheese and tomato base. These toppings do more than just tantalize taste buds with probiotics; they also add an unexpected texture to the typical pizza experience.
Our signature Fermentation Festivity pizza is garnished with in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, with a final touch of local honey to counteract the sourness. It might seem like an unconventional combo, but it's soaring to the top of our specialty pie requests.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As the trend for plant-based diets endures, we've noted a heightened desire for pizzas dressed with inventive meat substitutes. Beyond ordinary veggie toppings, new advancements in plant-based proteins offer choices that even the most ardent meat aficionados appreciate.
We now regularly include toppings like plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, flavored tempeh, marinated jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni on our pizzas. Not exclusively for those who eschew meat, these proteins draw patrons for their distinct tastes and more digestible nature.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a passion for spiciness are celebrating! We have noticed a shift in pizza lovers' preference towards particular regional chilies, as opposed to generic crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies continue to be cherished, other varieties such as Aleppo pepper, smoky ñora chilies from Spain, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are gracing our pizzas.
For those who crave heat, our Global Heat pizza offers an assortmen of four different regional chilies, with each lending a distinct taste profile to sections of the pizza. It’s a fiery escapade that's become quite popular among our daring clientele.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Embracing foraged ingredients is the latest evolution of the farm-to-table trend, now evident as forest-to-pizza. A leader in this trend, wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods surface on pizzas in sync with their growing seasons.
In addition to mushrooms, we've ventured into wild spring ramps (leeks), seaweeds like dulse and nori, and even the tips of spruce trees for their distinctive aromatic essence. These wild ingredients provide a connection to nature and flavors that are impossible to replicate on a farm.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay between sweet and savory brought about by honey has established it as a staple trend. This year has welcomed a variety of specialty honeys, which are drizzled on pizzas just before they're served, continuing the hot honey trend of previous years.
Pizzas are now being adorned with unique options such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and CBD-enriched honey. These final touches bring added intricacy and elevate even the most straightforward of pizzas to a luxurious level.
Honorable Mentions
Some additional toppings that narrowly missed our list but still deserve recognition include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over the pizza like threads of golden powder
- Pickled fruits, notably stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Antique grain garnishes like crisp farro or fluffy popped sorghum adding crunch
- Artisanal dollops of butter, particularly ones mixed with cultures or infused with herbs
Whether you're someone who cherishes classic pizza flavors or an enthusiast eager to explore innovative combinations, pizza remains amongst the most adaptable and universally cherished dishes. At SilverPoint, we pay homage to time-honored recipes while welcoming new creations—that's the reason why our menu features the iconic Margherita alongside pioneering specialty pizzas.
Have any of the trending toppings piqued your interest? Or do you have a distinctive topping idea you'd love us to try? Share with us in the comments or on your next visit!