As we advance through the year, the pizza arena witnesses a flux of innovative culinary trends, and 2023 is teeming with them. At PureProvisions, our pursuit revolves around tracking the flavors that capture pizza aficionados worldwide. Delve into our catalog of the hottest and most beloved pizza toppings surfacing this season.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health is now a key consideration in pizza recipes, with fermented vegetables emerging as an unexpected favorite. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are contributing their unique tang to counterbalance the classic cheese and sauce. These toppings aren't just tantalizing taste buds; they're offering probiotics and adding an unconventional texture to the quintessential pizza palette.
Our Fermentation Fest pie features an in-house blend of sauerkraut, kimchi, and a bold gorgonzola cheese, all accented with a hint of local honey to soften the zest. While unconventional, it's soared to become one of the top specialty pizzas we're known for.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The plant-based movement continues its ascent in the culinary world, with an increase in alternative protein-topped pizzas. Beyond ordinary vegetable garnishes, advanced plant-based protein options have emerged to please even the most ardent meat enthusiasts.
We're offering items like plant-based crumbled Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit 'pulled pork,' and pea protein 'pepperoni' on our menu. These aren't solely for herbivores—customers opt for them due to their distinctive tastes and less taxing digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who crave spiciness, there's a universal preference for distinct regional chili varieties over standard crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies stay popular, other chili type like Aleppo peppers, smoky Spanish ñora, Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang have found their way onto pizzas.
Global Heat, one of our pizza varieties, assembles a quartet of diverse chilies, each introducing its unique flavor to the pie. It's an audacious offering that's garnered favor with our gustatory thrill-seekers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The connection to the land has deepened with seasonal foraged ingredients climbing the popularity ladder. Leading this trend are various wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, featured prominently depending on the season.
Aside from fungi, our exploration includes wild ramps, sea greens like dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These wild elements captivate diners with flavors that cultivated ingredients cannot mirror.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory with honey has taken hold in the pizza sphere. Expanding on the beloved hot honey trend, a burst of novel honey varieties are now gracing pizzas post-bake.
Distinct honey such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite flavors, and CBD-infused varieties are showing up on dining tables nationwide. This final drizzle adds sophistication, elevating even humble pizzas to a refined level.
Honorable Mentions
Additional toppings narrowly missing our top five but still leaving an impact include:
- Cured egg yolks, thinly shaved across pizzas for a luxurious touch
- Pickled fruits, particularly stone fruits like apricots and cherries
- Whole grain elements such as crispy farro or puffy sorghum introducing crunch
- Fancy butter dollops, notably cultured or mixed with fragrant herbs
Regardless of whether one's palate leans towards the time-honored favorites or leans into bold new flavor combinations, pizza remains a universal and highly versatile favorite. At PureProvisions, we pay homage to time-honored recipes while also venturing into novel territories—that's why our menu features everything from the classic Margherita to avant-garde artisanal pies.
Have any of these contemporary toppings caught your fancy, or do you have an unconventional combo in mind for our kitchen? Share in the comments or during your next visit!