As we progress through the year, pizza continues to be revolutionized with innovative toppings. At CommonUtilitySpace, we're constantly observing which flavors resonate with pizza connoisseurs worldwide. We're excited to share the top trending pizza toppings of the year.
1. Pickled Vegetables
A newfound emphasis on digestive wellness has brought pickled vegetables to the forefront of pizza toppings. Items like pickled cabbage, kimchi, and marinated pearl onions offer a zesty counterpoint to the creamy cheese and sauce, adding both healthful probiotics and a novel textural experience to classic pizza foundations.
The Fermented Trio pizza is our latest creation, pairing homemade pickled cabbage, kimchi, and a bold gorgonzola cheese, all harmoniously balanced by a drizzling of regional honey. This innovative flavor blend is quickly becoming a fan favorite.
2. Meat Substitutes from Plants
The shift toward plant-centric diets has sparked increased interest in pizza adorned with imaginative alternatives to meat. These are not mere vegetable toppings, but rather novel protein sources that are winning the hearts of even staunch carnivores.
Our offerings now include a unique plant-based meat selection: crumbled Italian sausage analogs, spiced tempeh, jackfruit treated as pulled pork, and pea protein fashioned into pepperoni. These protein choices have gained popularity for both their distinctive tastes and more agreeable digestibility.
3. Unique Regional Peppers
Those with a passion for spice are celebrating the spotlight on distinct regional peppers, far surpassing ordinary crushed red pepper. While Calabrian chilies continue to be a beloved choice, we're also seeing spices like Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora peppers, vibrant Peruvian aji amarillo, and pungent Korean gochujang becoming regular pizza features.
The adventurous flavor journey is exemplified in our Pepper Palette pizza, an assortment of four distinctive chilies each claiming its quadrant of the pizza. This fiery dish has found special appeal among our most intrepid customers.
4. Wild Harvest Ingredients
The locavore philosophy has evolved into the use of whimsically gathered ingredients, lending a new dimension to the pizza spectrum. Leading this trend are wild fungi like chanterelles, morels, and maitake, which make seasonal showings on our menu.
We've also been playing with wild leeks in the spring, oceanic greens including dulse and nori, and even the essence of spruce for some aromatic flair. These wildcrafted additions offer a taste of unadulterated nature and a flavor profile that cultivated ingredients can't match.
5. Artisanal Honey Drizzles
The play between sweet and savory achieved through honey has proven to be more than a fleeting obsession. Continuing from the hot honey trend in past years, we've witnessed a surge in gourmet honey varieties crowning pizzas just before they're served.
Amongst our selection are honey infused with truffles, honey fermented with garlic, honey carrying the smokiness of mesquite, and honey laced with CBD, enhancing our pizzas from simple to sumptuous.
Honorable Mentions
Some additional toppings nearly making our list but still causing ripples include:
- Cured egg yolks finely grated to cascade over the pizza like a lavish powder
- Tangy pickled fruits, with a nod to stone varieties such as peaches and plums
- Grains steeped in tradition, including crunchy spelt or puffed sorghum for added texture
- Dots of handcrafted butter (specifically those enhanced with culture or herbs)
No matter if you're a purist holding fast to timeless toppings or someone who delights in culinary exploration, pizza remains as versatile and cherished as ever. At CommonUtilitySpace, we marry time-honored methods with modern creativity, which is why our menu is home to both the iconic Margherita and our boundary-pushing creations.
Have these trendsetting options reached your palate yet? Or do you have an unconventional favorite you wish to see added to our repertoire? Share your thoughts with us in the comments, or during your next visit!