Seasonal Pizza Toppings You Have to Try This Spring

Spring is the perfect time to get out in the garden, dust off your pizza oven and get cooking. Like many of us, you’ll likely have already thought about hosting your first pizza party of the year, inviting friends round, cracking open a few beers and showing off your skills with a peel (and beer) in hand! But this year, why not crank things up a notch when it comes to toppings? Let’s face it, we’ve all had the classic Marg, pepperoni and, dare we say it, ham and pineapple, and whilst there’s nothing wrong with those, isn’t it about time you thought seasonally?

Just a few carefully chosen seasonal ingredients can create incredible flavour and balance, and spring ingredients work especially well on pizza, allowing fresh vegetables, herbs and cheeses to shine. 

So, if you’re looking for inspiration for your next pizza night, here are three seasonal topping combinations you have to try this spring. Let’s get into it!

Asparagus, Prosciutto & Parmesan

Asparagus is one of – if not the best – springtime ingredients. And guess what, it works perfectly on pizza, especially one cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven. The intense heat of the oven lightly chars the asparagus tips while they cook, all while keeping a slight bite and freshness to the texture.

The key to this pizza is simplicity. Instead of adding too many toppings, allowing just a few quality ingredients to stand out creates a much more balanced pizza. This one works equally well with either a tomato base or a pizza Bianca. We tend to lean more towards a Bianca-style pizza, using fresh Fior di Latte mozzarella on the base.

Combine the asparagus and mozzarella with prosciutto to bring a saltiness in too. We add the prosciutto after baking to allow it to preserve its delicate texture. To finish, shave over some fresh parmesan, a light drizzle of olive oil, and a small amount of lemon zest. 

Perfect!

Pea, Mint & Burrata

Any springtime pizza should feel light, vibrant and fresh. And this one ticks all those boxes! Sweet, fresh peas are a must here. Get down to your local greengrocer and grab some garden peas. Yes, it’s a little bit of effort to shell them, but it makes a huge difference. Combining the sweet, tender peas with fresh mint and rich, creamy burrata is a marriage made in heaven, trust us.

Much like the asparagus pizza, this one also works well as a pizza Bianca. A light layer of mozzarella or simply olive oil and parmesan allows the fresh toppings to remain the focus rather than being hidden under a heavy tomato sauce. The intense heat of the wood fire chars and crisps the dough, which works really well with the lighter flavours of the toppings.

Mint may not be a traditional pizza topping in the same way as basil is, but when used carefully it adds a bright freshness that cuts through the creaminess of the burrata beautifully. You can elevate this pizza even further after cooking by adding some freshly cracked black pepper and chilli flakes if you like a spicy kick!

Mushroom, Confit Garlic & Thyme

This isn’t any old mushroom pizza. This is a gourmet mushroom pizza! We all know how well mushrooms work on pizza, but combining them with subtly sweet, confit garlic and fresh thyme takes it to a whole new level.

One of the reasons mushrooms work so well in a wood-fired pizza oven is that they absorb all the rich smoky flavours from the fire. We recommend you cook them off first in a little olive oil and butter to help remove excess moisture and prevent the pizza from becoming soggy during cooking.

By confiting the garlic, it gives a delicate flavour rather than being overpowering. You can easily confit the garlic in your Igneus pizza oven too. Just add a whole bulb of garlic to a cast iron pan and submerge it in oil. Any oil is fine, but we use extra virgin olive oil. Use the ambient heat (aim for around 120°C) of the oven to slowly poach the garlic for 1-2 hours until it’s soft to the touch and you can insert a knife without any resistance. Then simply squeeze out the garlic into a bowl.

A finishing touch of parmesan or mozzarella gives the pizza extra richness while still allowing the mushrooms and herbs to remain the stars of the show. You can use a Bianca base or traditional tomato base for this one, whichever is your personal preference.

Final Thoughts

Spring is the perfect excuse to experiment with lighter, fresher pizza toppings and make the most of seasonal ingredients in your wood-fired pizza oven. Whether you’re hosting friends, cooking for the family or simply trying something new, these simple but flavour-packed topping combinations are guaranteed to impress.

If you’d like to learn more about the range of Igneus Pizza Ovens, or have any questions you need answering, our friendly team is always happy to help. Call us on 01423 575885 or explore our full range of pizza ovens and pizza oven accessories online today.