As each year unfolds, the pizza sector sees new taste trends emerge, and 2023 is no different. At MarshLanes Pizzeria, our mission is to stay on top of global trends captivating pizza aficionados. Allow us to present a curated list of this year’s pizza toppings that have become fan favorites.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Pizzerias are riding the wave of gut health awareness, and fermented vegetables are the unexpected stars on pizza this year. Flavors such as tangy kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are enhancing the creamy cheese and savory sauce. Delivering probiotic advantages, these toppings also add a new layer of texture to the quintessential pizza experience.
Our Fermentation Fête pizza, topped with our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, and finished off with a sweet local honey swirl, might seem peculiar, but it's quickly ascending the ranks of our most beloved specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The momentum of plant-based diets has spawned significant demand for innovative meat substitute toppings. Far beyond ordinary veggie garnishes, the new wave of plant proteins offers alternatives that even meat enthusiasts can appreciate.
We now garnish our pies with plant-derived Italian sausage bits, herbed tempeh, jackfruit akin to 'pulled pork,' and pea protein imitating 'pepperoni'. These proteins cater not only to vegetarians but also to those who prefer their flavors and digestive benefits.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Enthusiasts of spicy flavors, take note! In 2023, there's a discernible shift towards the use of specific regional chilies instead of ordinary red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies continue their dominance, but now we also see the incorporation of Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang into the mix.
Our International Inferno pizza is a concoction showcasing these four chilies, each adding its distinct flavor to separate sections of the pie—a fiery culinary voyage that’s become a hit with our more daring customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Foraged, seasonal ingredients are the frontrunners in adapting the farm-to-table concept to pizza. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and maitake mushrooms, showcased prominently in their seasons.
Apart from mushrooms, we’ve been exploring wild ramps, maritime greens like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for their singular aromatic touch. These components provide a link to the wilderness and offer incomparable flavors that cultivated produce cannot match.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory honey has become a mainstay. Building on the craze for spicy honey, 2023 has brought us a burst of specialty honey varieties used as a final flourish on pizzas.
Dressings of truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-enhanced honey are popping up across dining venues. These final drizzles add a layer of sophistication to simple pizzas, elevating them to gourmet pleasures.
Honorable Mentions
Additional toppings that narrowly missed our top five list but are nonetheless making an impression include:
- Cured egg yolks delicately grated over the pie, resembling a shower of golden flakes
- Pickled variants of stone fruits such as peaches and cherils
- Ancient grain garnishes such as crispy farro or popped sorghum for added crunch
- Dollops of specialty butter, particularly cultured or infused with herbal essences
No matter if you're a purist loyal to time-honored classics or an explorer eager to experience new tastes, pizza remains one of the most versatile and adored dishes worldwide. At MarshLanes Pizzeria, we pay homage to the classics while introducing novel marvels—that's why both the traditional Margherita and our avant-garde creations grace our menu.
Is there a trending topping you’ve sampled? Or perhaps you have a one-of-a-kind combination in mind you’d like us to feature? Share your thoughts in the comments or on your next visit!