Give Pizza A Jolt Of Extra Flavor With One Sour Fruit Topping

Can you imagine how lackluster a margherita would be if there was no fresh basil or what a meat-lovers pizza would be without sausage and pepperoni? Toppings may just be part of a pizza, but they hold the key to its whole identity. It's a good thing you can use just about anything — even completely out-of-left-field ingredients — to jazz up your pizza. Rarely would anyone expect to find preserved lemons on a pizza, nor for them to elevate the whole flavor profile, but anything's possible when you have pizza as a creative canvas.

Simple as they may be, preserved lemons are good enough to rival many gourmet pizza toppings. Unlike fresh lemons, which hinge on an acidic brightness, they carry a deeper, more complex tang with slightly sweet, fruity nuances. Preserved lemons are also the vegan way to get an umami flavor boost without resorting to meat or other savory foods. They cut right through the pizza's richness, uplifting every bite while counterbalancing heavier flavors.

On a plain and simple pizza, preserved lemons add a special twist that takes away the mundanity. Scattered over heartier creations, they're an unforgettable pop of flavor. This fruit is proof that sometimes, a single, well-chosen ingredient is all it takes to make a huge difference.

Making preserved lemons is no hassle. At its simplest, the only essentials are fresh lemons and kosher salt. However, certain recipes also include spices and herbs for more complexity. These could be black pepper, cinnamon, saffron, coriander, bay leaves, and many others. If you don't have a few weeks to wait for these ingredients to sit, simply grab the store-bought version. Either way, your pizza (and countless other drinks and dishes) will thank you.

With a jar of preserved lemons, you've got a world of possibilities for pizza upgrades in your hand. For those who like it light, feel free to skip the tomato sauce to keep the focus purely on the fresh ingredients. Just imagine how beautifully the lemons will pair with sweet, jammy fig, caramelized onions, zucchini, baby broccoli, or perhaps grilled asparagus and leek. Sometimes, even just melted cheese, garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs (otherwise known as pizza bianca) can make a phenomenal background for the preserved lemons to shine. Sprinkled with crunchy nuts, microgreens, or balsamic vinegar, you've got a mouthwatering meatless pizza.

Leaning more into the meaty side, prosciutto is one of the best (and possibly easiest) options to accompany the preserved lemons. Add some fresh arugula plus a pinch of fresh herbs, and you're all set for a restaurant-worthy experience. Seafood, whether we're talking shrimp, crab, or other shellfish, is another lovely match. Back the lemons up with a bright, herbaceous pesto sauce if you want even more flavor.