Each new year ushers in fresh gastronomic waves, especially in the pizza scene, and 2023 has been no different. Here at PlainMirror, we vigilantly observe which flavors entice the palates of pizza aficionados worldwide. Below is our curated list of the most thrilling and embraced pizza garnishes of the current year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The emphasis on digestive wellness has infiltrated the pizza industry, with fermented veggies emerging as an unexpected popular choice. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are infusing pizzas with rich, pungent tastes that harmonize well with creamy cheeses and robust sauces. These toppings not only offer a probiotic boost but also add intriguing new textures to classic pizza compositions.
Featured on our menu is the innovative Fermentation Fest pie, showcasing our in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, all balanced out by a drizzle of artisanal honey. Though it may strikingly differ from the norm, this creation has swiftly climbed the ranks to become a top-requested dish.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The momentum of plant-forward dining continues unabated, and the call for pizzas topped with inventive meat substitutes has markedly increased. Straying from ordinary veggie assortments, the advent of plant-protein innovations now provide alternatives that even staunch carnivores can enjoy.
Choices such as plant-driven Italian sausage bits, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit treated to imitate pulled pork, and pea protein fashioned into pepperoni have found a permanent spot on our menu. These toppings entice not only vegetarians but also those seeking distinctive tastes and a meal that's gentler on the stomach.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for spice are now gravitating towards specific regional chili types over the typical hot pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue their sustained appeal from past years, this year has marked the debut of Aleppo pepper, smoky ñora chilies from Spain, the fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang as pizza accouterments.
Our Global Heat pizza presents an array of these regional chilies, each offering distinct flavor characteristics to individual quadrants of the pizza. It's a fiery gastronomic journey that's particularly hit off well with our more daring customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The connection between foraging and the dinner table has deepened, evident in the growing attraction to seasonally foraged items topping pizzas. Leading the charge are wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, featured prominently as they come into season.
We've also incorporated spring ramps (also known as wild leeks), sea vegetables such as dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These offerings link the taste of the pizza with the great outdoors and bestow flavors that cultivated ingredients just can't match.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Honey's capacity to counterpoint savory elements has secured its role as a mainstay in the pizza domain. Expanding upon the traction of spicy honey from recent times, 2023 has witnessed a surge in unique honey variations being drizzled on pizzas right before they're served.
Among the varieties are truffle honey, garlic honey undergoing fermentation, honey with a hint of smoky mesquite, and other gourmet types. These final flourishes raise the complexity and transform even the simplest of pizzas into a high-end dish.
Honorable Mentions
Some toppings that didn't quite make our top list but are nonetheless causing ripples include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the pizza giving a dusting of golden zest
- Pickled fruits, with a preference for stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Top-quality grain garnishes such as crispy farro or puffed sorghum adding texture
- Dollops of handcrafted butter, particularly those infused with cultures or blended with herbs
Whether you hold a torch for timeless classics or you're an experimenter keen on novel tasty fusion, pizza remains one of the most versatile and cherished dishes worldwide. At PlainMirror, we respect heritage yet welcome newness—that's evident from the timeless Margherita to boundary-pushing specialty pizzas found on our menu.
Have any of these trendy toppings caught your fancy? Or perhaps you have an uncommon favorite that you think we should introduce? Share your thoughts in the comments or during your next visit!