Each year ushers in innovative gastronomic favorites in the pizza universe, and 2023 is certainly making its mark. At RiverStoneMeadow, we diligently keep track of what's attracting the palates of pizza aficionados globally. Here is our list of the leading pizza toppings that are currently trending.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Paying more attention to gut health has brought fermentations to the forefront of pizza toppings, witnessing an unexpected rise in popularity. Complex, sour flavors from kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are brilliantly contrasting the creamy cheeses and rich sauces. These garnishes provide digestive aid with probiotics and introduce a new variety of textures to the conventional pizza.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza is a crowd-pleaser, featuring in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, all capped with a touch of local honey to counter the acidity. This unusual pairing has rapidly become one of our flagship requests.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-centric diets hasn't bypassed the pizza scene, resulting in a higher interest in imaginative meat substitute toppings. Far from just your usual veggie toppings, the evolution of plant-based proteins like tempeh, jackfruit, and pea-based pepperoni have made their way onto our menu. These toppings have found a fanbase not just among vegetarians, but also among those who prefer their distinct flavors and ease of digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who chase the heat, 2023 has seen a shift towards more distinctive regional chili options over the common red pepper flakes. Chilies like the fiery Calabrian, the aroma-rich Aleppo pepper, the smoky ñora, the fruity aji amarillo, and the uniquely Korean gochujang are gaining popularity as toppings.
Try our Spice Tour pizza for an ensemble of four unique regional chilies, each adding a distinct taste to different parts of the pizza. It's a hit among our clientele that have a penchant for fiery culinary journeys.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
From the rustic to the indulgent, foraged ingredients have made a splash in pizza topping trends, leading the way with wild mushrooms like chanterelles and morels. We also embrace the trend with seasonal wild leeks, sea botanicals such as dulse and nori, and aromatic spruce tips. These unique toppings draw a connection to nature and offer unmatched flavors that commercial farming can't replicate.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The balance of sweet and savory that honey brings has become more than a fleeting fad. Expanding from the previously notorious hot honey, various novel honey varieties are now making their way onto pizzas. Enrichments like truffle-infused honey, fermented garlic honey, and the smokiness of mesquite honey are gracing pizzeria menus, adding a level of sophistication to any pizza pairing.
Honorable Mentions
Some other toppings that came close to making our top five include:
- Salt-cured egg yolks grated finely over pizza for a unique umami experience.
- Pickled fruits, notably orchard varieties such as peaches and plums.
- Whole-grain garnishes, like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum, for added texture.
- Spoons of artisan butter, including specialty cultured or herb-infused varieties.
Whether your preference leans toward time-honored classics or you're open to experimenting with innovative toppings, pizza remains a universal favorite that’s always evolving. At RiverStoneMeadow, we pride ourselves on honoring pizza traditions while also embracing modern twists—hence our menu features both the quintessential Margherita and avant-garde concoctions.
Have any of these latest toppings caught your fancy, or do you have a personal topping combination in mind that you'd love us to try? Share with us in the comments or during your next visit!