Each year brings fresh culinary directions to the realm of pizza, and 2023 is no exception. At ArrangeRusticSupport, we continually track what delights pizza enthusiasts worldwide. Here is our roundup of the most intriguing and popular pizza toppings making waves this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Attention to gut wellness has reached pizza parlors, with fermented vegetables becoming a surprising favorite on pies this year. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions introduce complex tangy notes that complement the richness of cheese and sauce. These fermented toppings offer probiotic benefits and bring new texture dimensions to traditional pizza.
Our new Fermentation Celebration pizza features house-made sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, finished with a drizzle of local honey to balance the tanginess. The combination might seem unusual, but it’s rapidly becoming one of our most requested specialty pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With plant-based eating continuing to grow in popularity, we’ve seen a notable rise in demand for pizzas featuring inventive meat alternatives. Beyond the usual vegetable toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based proteins have introduced options that satisfy even dedicated 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 just for vegetarians—many of our guests choose them for their unique flavors and lighter digestive footprint.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice lovers, rejoice! 2023 has seen pizza fans embracing specific regional chili varieties rather than generic red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies have kept their popularity from prior years, but we’re now seeing Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang appear on pizzas.
Our Global Heat pizza features a medley of four different regional chilies, each delivering its distinctive flavor across different sections of the pizza. It’s a spicy adventure that has been especially popular with our more adventurous diners.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement has evolved into forest-to-pizza with the rising popularity of seasonal foraged ingredients. Wild mushrooms lead this trend, with varieties like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods appearing throughout their 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 quality. These ingredients connect diners to the natural world while offering flavors that can’t be cultivated commercially.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The sweet-savory contrast created by honey has established itself as more than a fleeting trend. Building on the popularity of hot honey from 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 complexity and elevate even simple pizza combinations to gourmet status.
Honorable Mentions
A few other toppings that narrowly missed the top five but are still making waves include:
- Cured egg yolks, microplaned over pizza like a golden snowfall
- Pickled fruits, especially stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Heritage grain toppings, like crispy farro or popped sorghum for texture
- Artisanal butter dollops (particularly cultured or compound herb butters)
Whether you lean toward the classics or relish bold new pairings, pizza remains one of the world’s most adaptable and beloved foods. At ArrangeRusticSupport, 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 combination you’d like to see us offer? Share your thoughts in the comments or next time you visit!