Every year brings fresh culinary highlights to the realm of pizza, and 2023 is no exception. At Crust & Ember Pizzeria, we continuously track what captures pizza lovers’ palates worldwide. Here’s our roundup of the most exciting and popular toppings making waves this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The focus on gut health has landed on pizza menus, with fermented vegetables becoming a surprising favorite. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions introduce complex tangy notes that balance the richness of cheese and sauce. These fermented toppings offer probiotic benefits and bring novel texture dimensions to traditional pies.
Our new Fermentation Celebration pie features house-made sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, finished with a drizzle of locally sourced honey to temper the tang. It may sound unconventional, yet it’s quickly become one of our most requested specialty pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As plant-based dining continues to rise in popularity, we’ve seen a strong uptick in pizzas that feature inventive meat alternatives. Beyond standard veggie toppings, innovations in plant-based proteins provide options that satisfy even devoted meat enthusiasts.
Plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit pulled pork, and pea-protein pepperoni are now regulars on our menu. These proteins aren’t just for vegetarians—many guests choose them for distinct flavors and lighter digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice lovers, rejoice! In 2023, pizza fans have embraced specific regional chili varieties over generic pepper flakes. Calabrian chiles remain favored, but we’re also seeing Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chiles, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang appear on pies.
Our Global Heat pie showcases a blend of four regional chilies, each bringing its own flavor to different sections of the pizza. It’s a spicy adventure especially popular with more adventurous diners.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement has evolved into forest-to-pizza with growing interest in seasonal foraged ingredients. Wild mushrooms lead this trend, with chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods appearing throughout their seasons.
Beyond mushrooms, we’ve experimented with spring ramps (wild leeks), sea vegetables such as dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for a distinctive aromatic note. These ingredients connect diners to the natural world while delivering flavors that aren’t easily cultivated commercially.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The sweet-savory contrast of honey has established itself as more than a fleeting fad. Building on the hot-honey trend from previous years, 2023 has seen a surge of specialty honey varieties drizzled onto 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 combinations to gourmet levels.
Honorable Mentions
A few other toppings that narrowly missed the top five but are still making an impact include:
- Cured egg yolks, grated 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 (particularly cultured or herb-compound butters)
Whether you’re a purist who leans on the classics or a curious eater eager to try bold new pairings, 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 do you have a unique favorite combo you’d like to see us offer? Share your thoughts in the comments or the next time you visit!