Every year brings fresh culinary movements to the world of pizza, and 2023 is no exception. At Crust & Ember Pizzeria, we continually track what captures pizza lovers’ palates worldwide. Here’s our roundup of the most thrilling and popular pizza toppings that have been making waves this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Attention to gut health has reached pizzerias, with fermented veggies turning into a surprising favorite on pies this year. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions introduce complex tangy notes that pair beautifully with cheese and sauce. These fermented toppings provide probiotic benefits and introduce intriguing new textures to classic pizza.
Our new Fermentation Celebration pizza features house-made sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, finished with a drizzle of local honey to balance the tang. The combination may seem unconventional, but it’s quickly becoming one of our most requested specialty pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As plant-based dining continues to rise in popularity, we’ve seen a notable uptick in pizzas with creative meat alternatives. Beyond traditional vegetables, innovations in plant-based proteins offer options that satisfy even devoted meat lovers.
Plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni are now regular features on our menu. These proteins aren’t reserved for vegetarians—many customers choose them for their distinctive flavors and lighter digestive impact.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice enthusiasts, rejoice! 2023 has seen pizza fans embrace specific regional chili varieties over generic red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies remain popular from prior years, but we’re also seeing Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang appear on pies.
Our Global Heat pizza showcases a medley of four different regional chilies, each delivering its own flavor profile to distinct quadrants of the pie. It’s a spicy adventure favored by our more daring diners.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement has evolved into forest-to-pizza with the growing popularity of seasonal foraged ingredients. Wild mushrooms lead this trend, with varieties like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods appearing across seasons.
Beyond mushrooms, we’ve experimented with spring ramps (wild leeks), sea vegetables like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for a unique aromatic note. These ingredients connect diners to nature while delivering flavors that can’t be mass-produced.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The sweet-savory contrast of honey has established itself as more than a fleeting trend. Building on the hot honey craze of recent years, 2023 has seen a surge of specialty honey varieties drizzled on pizzas just before serving.
Truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-infused honey are appearing on menus nationwide. These finishing touches add depth and elevate even simple pizza combos to gourmet status.
Honorable Mentions
A few other toppings that just missed our top five but are still making waves include:
- Cured egg yolks, micrograted over pizza like a golden snowfall
- Pickled fruits, especially stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Heritage grain toppings, such as crispy farro or popped sorghum for texture
- Artisanal butter dollops (notably cultured or herb-butters)
Whether you prefer the classics or are an adventurous diner eager for bold new combinations, pizza remains one of the world’s most adaptable and beloved foods. At Crust & Ember Pizzeria, we honor tradition while embracing innovation—that’s why you’ll find both timeless Margherita and cutting-edge specialty pies on our menu.
Have you tried any of these trending toppings? Or is there a unique favorite combination you’d like us to offer? Share your thoughts in the comments or next time you visit!