Each year introduces new pizza topping trends, and 2023 has certainly brought its own unique additions. At MeadowView, staying ahead of the culinary curve and understanding what pizza aficionados worldwide are craving is part of our mission. We present the list of this year's most intriguing and beloved pizza toppings.
1. Pickled Vegetables
The emphasis on digestive health has been incorporated into pizza making, with tangy pickled vegetables emerging as a surprise favorite on this year's pizzas. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and marinated onions are lending piquant flavors that perfectly balance the creamy cheese and robust sauce. These tangy additions aren't just tasty—they also bring probiotic perks and add an unexpected texture to the classic pizza experience.
Our Tangy Twist pizza is topped with in-house sauerkraut, made-from-scratch kimchi, and sharp gorgonzola, all of which is perfectly offset by a sweet local honey drizzle. This unique mix might sound unconventional, yet it's quickly become one of the most popular items on our menu.
2. Meatless Meat Proteins
The rise of vegetarian diets has influenced the pizza industry, notably with the introduction of imaginative meat-free alternatives. Eschewing typical veggies, the breakthrough in meatless meat proteins provides options that even the most ardent carnivores find satisfying.
We now offer a variety of plant-based protein choices such as Italian sausage made from plants, flavor-infused tempeh, pulled pork from jackfruit, and pea protein resembling pepperoni. These alternatives have garnered interest not only from vegetarians but also from customers who appreciate their distinct flavors and easier digestion.
3. Specific Chili Variants
Those with a penchant for spiciness are celebrating the rise in specific chili varieties adorning pizzas, moving beyond the common red pepper flakes. Chilies from Calabria have retained their status, and we're witnessing others like Aleppo pepper, the smoky ñora from Spain, the fruity aji amarillo from Peru, and Korean gochujang paste become hot favorites.
Our Spicy Sojourn pizza boasts a mix of different regional chilies, with each quarter of the pizza showcasing a different chili's distinct palate. This fiery exploration has won favor particularly among our patrons with intrepid tastes.
4. Wild Harvested Ingredients
The local farm-to-pizza wave is rising thanks to the burgeoning interest in wild foraged ingredients. Leading the way, wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods grace our pizzas during their peak seasons.
Apart from mushrooms, we've played around with wild ramps, oceanic greens like seaweed varieties dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These wild ingredients provide a connection to the untamed outdoors and offer incomparable flavors not achievable in cultivated produce.
5. Gourmet Honey Infusions
Honey's role in offering the perfect sweetness against savoury has transitioned from a fleeting craze to an enduring feature on pizzas. Continuing from the widespread use of spicy honey, the year 2023 is witnessing a surge in special honey varieties added just before the pizza serves.
Options like honey infused with truffles, honey laced with fermented garlic, smoky honey, and CBD honey are becoming more prevalent on menus nationwide. These exquisite final touches contribute a sophisticated nuance and raise simple pizza selections to the level of haute cuisine.
Honorable Mentions
Additional toppings that didn't quite make our top five but have nonetheless made an impact include:
- Preserved egg yolks, finely grated over pizza like a cascade of gold
- Marinated fruits, particularly stone fruits such as apricots and cherries
- Ancient grain garnishes, like crispy farro or popped sorghum for added crunch
- Handcrafted butter drops (especially rich cultured or mixed herb butters)
Whether you prefer enduring classics or are eager to experiment with modern flavors, pizza maintains its status as a beloved and endlessly adaptable dish. At MeadowView, we honor the timeless while embracing the new—that's why our menu features everything from the archetypal Margherita to avant-garde specialty creations.
Have you sampled any of these new topping trends? Or perhaps you have a signature combination you'd love to see us try? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or share them during your next visit!