Each year presents fresh trends in pizza gastronomy, and 2023 is no different. At ClearSwitch, we keep a close watch on the flavours captivating pizza aficionados internationally. Here's our curated list of this year's most sought-after and innovative pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
As gut health takes center stage in dining preferences, fermented vegetables are carving out a niche atop pizzas. The intricate sour tastes of kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are enhancing the creamy textures of cheese and sauce. Besides their probiotic effects, these fermented additions are introducing new textural plays into classic pizza paradigms.
The Fermentation Festivity pie at our restaurant—a concoction of in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and Gorgonzola, with a touch of local honey for balance—may have unconventional ingredients but is fast becoming a top contender amongst our specialty offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As more patrons opt for a plant-centric diet, there's been a noticeable uptick in pizzas adorned with inventive meat substitutes. Beyond basic veggies, the advancements in plant-based proteins have introduced alternatives that appeal to even steadfast carnivores.
Inclusions like crumbled Italian sausage from plants, flavored tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and a pea protein substitute for pepperoni are becoming staples on our menu. These toppings aren't solely for vegans; a number of our guests opt for them due to their distinctive flavors and digestibility.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for spice are celebrating! The year 2023 has seen a surge in preference for specific chilies with unique regional identities over the standard crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies continue to be popular, newer additions such as smoky Aleppo pepper, Spanish ñora chilies, fruity aji amarillo from Peru, and Korean gochujang are also gaining traction on pizzas.
Our Spice Voyager pizza offers a mix of these regional chilies, assigning distinctive flavor notes to each quarter of the pizza, proving particularly appealing to our customers with adventurous palates.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The philosophy of farm-to-table has morphed into a new concept: forest-to-pizza, marked by the growing prominence of foraged seasonal components. Leading this are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, popping up in their natural growing seasons.
Apart from mushrooms, our kitchen has been experimenting with wild leeks, oceanic greens like dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These ingredients forge a connection with nature while offering irreplicable tastes otherwise non-existent in cultivated offerings.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory enabled by honey has become more than just a fleeting fad. Expanding upon the hot honey trend of previous years, the current year has ushered in a spread of specialty honey variations to be drizzled over pizzas immediately before they're served.
Sophisticated honey types like truffle-infused, garlic-fermented, smoky mesquite, are gracing menus nationwide. These last-minute drizzles are pushing even simplistic pizza profiles into the realm of gourmet sophistication.
Honorable Mentions
Additional toppings which did not make our top five but still deserve mention for their impact include:
- Finely grated cured egg yolks, creating a decadent topping akin to a dusting of gold over the pizza
- Pickled fruits, particular stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Grains with a heritage touch, like crunchy farro or popped sorghum adding texture
- Spreadable artisan butter, including cultured varieties or those mixed with herbs
Whether you are a purist who favors timeless selections or an explorer keen on experimental flavor mergers, pizza remains an endlessly adaptable and deeply cherished dish. At ClearSwitch, we respect the classics while welcoming culinary creativity—which is why our menu hosts everything from the traditional Margherita to avant-garde specialty creations.
Have you experienced any of these trending toppings, or do you favor a distinctive blend you believe we should incorporate? Share your thoughts in the comments or during your next visit to our locale!