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Pizzas go modern with non-traditional toppings
By Laura McGuire
February 14, 2012
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Top 10 proteins on Canadian pizzas
Pepperoni tops the list of most frequently featured proteins on pizzas in Canadian restaurants, according to MenuMonitor data. Pepperoni, an Italian salami, is a ready-to-eat protein requiring no cooking. Highly seasoned with red and black pepper, pepperoni easily adds spicy flavour to any pizza. Appearing on 23.2 per cent of pizzas on Canadian menus, pepperoni may be featured with cheese only or in combination with other protein toppings.
Chicken is the second most popular protein topping pizzas. Not often considered a traditional pizza topping, chicken is a very versatile protein—easily manipulated with seasonings and preparations to adapt to nearly any sort of pizza. Chicken may be listed as seasoned, grilled, roasted, spicy, barbecue, tandoori, herb-marinated or panko-crusted. One of the more creative chicken pizzas is Flying Wedge Pizza Co.’s Szechuan Chicken pizza, featuring marinated chicken, red peppers, snow peas, zucchini, herbs, sesame seeds, Cheddar and the chain’s signature cheese blend.
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Another popular protein featured as a topping for Canadian pizzas is ground beef. Like chicken, ground beef is not a traditional pizza topping; instead, it’s often found on themed specialty pizzas such as Mexican pizza and cheeseburger pizza. Romeo’s menus a Hot Mexican pizza featuring lean ground beef, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, mozzarella, Cheddar and tomato sauce.
Shrimp, another protein not stereotypically associated with pizza, appears on 37 pizzas on Canadian menus. Seafood pizzas topped with shrimp can be an appealing option for health-conscious diners seeking an alternative to standard pizzas featuring sausage and pepperoni. Lighter shrimp-topped pizzas include Joey Restaurants’ Pesto Shrimp Flatbread, with whole-milk mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, chipotle aïoli and fresh basil.
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Top cheeses on Canadian pizzas
By a wide margin, mozzarella is the most popular cheese for pizzas on Canadian menus. A mild cheese, mozzarella has a melting quality ideal for pizzas. Appearing on 365 pizzas, mozzarella serves as the go-to pizza cheese for both traditional and unique pizza varieties. Some basic pizza types topped with mozzarella include vegetarian, pepperoni, meat lovers and Hawaiian, while Pizza Donini of Montreal features a nontraditional Ribs Pizza topped with barbecue sauce, mozzarella, pork, red onions and roasted red peppers.
Feta, a traditional Greek cheese, is not a stereotypical pizza topping. It is, however, the third most featured cheese on pizzas on Canadian menus, appearing on 99 pizzas. Pungent and salty feta is often featured on Greek-inspired pies. Gino’s Pizza, for instance, offers a Mediterranean pizza with feta cheese, red onions, black olives, jalapeño peppers and garlic spread instead of traditional pizza sauce. Pizza Nova features a Greek Bruschetta Pizza featuring feta cheese, black olives, fresh herbs, diced red onions, roasted garlic and Roma tomatoes.
Soft goat cheese, also known as chèvre (French for “goat”), is often viewed as a good option by health-conscious diners. Compared to cow’s milk cheese, goat cheese is higher in calcium, potassium, iron, vitamin A and protein and lower in carbohydrates, is easier to digest and causes fewer allergic reactions. Ricky’s All Day Grill offers a Chipotle Chicken Pizza with chipotle chicken breast, fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, green onions and roasted artichoke hearts served on a thin crust.
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