Unpopular pizza toppings that you love

[stamina888]

What are your favorite unpopular pizza toppings?  Note that there's a difference between unpopular and controversial.  Pineapple, for example, is a controversial topping, but it's not unpopular.  Many people hate it, but there are enough people that like it for restaurants to at sell it.  By unpopular, I mean ones that most restaurants don't even sell as a topping.

Some of mine include:
* Minced celery
* Minced boiled carrots
* Zucchini
* Sauteed cauliflower
* Corn (on some pizzas)
* Roasted potatoes
* Sun dried tomatoes
* Peppers (i.e. serrano, poblano, longpepper, anaheim, calabrian chiles)
* Any fried appetizers (i.e. diced mozz sticks, onion rings, etc)

And taking existing pizza popular pizza toppings and modifying them.  For example, roasting red peppers or mushrooms; or sauteeing red onions in a pan to carmelize them.

Also, there are many sauces/dressings that could go on top of pizza (i.e. barbecue sauce, or a ghost pepper ranch sauce)

[TXCraig1]

I wouldn't put peppers or roasted/sautéed vegetable on a list of unpopular toppings.

[TXCraig1]

Best unpopular pizza topping ever is brussels sprouts. When well-executed, it can hold up to any other topping, even with people who don't like brussels sprouts.

[stamina888]

I wouldn't put peppers on a list of unpopular toppings.

It depends on what kind of pepper.   There's many of them.  Red/green bell peppers, banana peppers and jalapenos are very common.  But other peppers are underused.

[Jackitup]

Many find pickles and sauerkraut off-putting on a pizza, we LOVE BOTH in my house, particularly my kids and grandkids!!!

[caymus]

I use sun dried tomatoes.  May be too expensive for a shop.  I stay away from toppings that give off water.

[rizzler]

brussels sprouts
pickles

and not sure it qualifies as unpopular, but an egg!

[Timpanogos Slim]

Best unpopular pizza topping ever is brussels sprouts. When well-executed, it can hold up to any other topping, even with people who don't like brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts earned their reputation but perhaps don't deserve it anymore.

There was a decades-long breeding program to make them less bitter.

So, do they get sliced or what?

[TXCraig1]

So, do they get sliced or what?

Individual leaves. They char on the tips and develop a rich sweetness. Pancetta (bacon doesn't work) and fresh garlic. Some EVOO and salt. May only work in NP.

It's an epiphany the first time you try it.

[bjk]

There was a decades-long breeding program to make them less bitter.

That's very interesting and it makes sense why I used to love them but now don't care much for them. In fact, it has been years since they've been part of my family's regular dinner rotations because I was constantly saying how bland they are and I might as well use cabbage as a replacement.

[bjk]

TxCraig1 -

That's a great looking pizza. I love the idea of individual leaves. Can't wait to start baking some NP's again soon and will work this into a pie or two.

Broccoli Rabe is a favorite of mine and I guess isn't a traditional topping, so I'm adding that to the list. One of my favorite NP's is just a little mozzarella, pecorino, chili, Broccoli Rabe, and a good amount of olive oil pre and post bake. Throw some sausage on if you're going for a full meal.

[TXCraig1]

TxCraig1 -

That's a great looking pizza. I love the idea of individual leaves. Can't wait to start baking some NP's again soon and will work this into a pie or two.

I can't take credit for coming up with it. As far as I know, Motorino was the first to do it. That's where I first had it.

[TXCraig1]

Broccoli Rabe is a favorite of mine and I guess isn't a traditional topping, so I'm adding that to the list. One of my favorite NP's is just a little mozzarella, pecorino, chili, Broccoli Rabe, and a good amount of olive oil pre and post bake. Throw some sausage on if you're going for a full meal.

I'm not sure if I was first on that combo, but if not, I was close. 

2012:

[bjk]

Motorino......now that's a blast from the past that I haven't thought about lately. Any idea if the quality has survived over the years of their expansion?

[bjk]

There was a wood fired, not quite NP, place in West Palm Beach called Kona  I believe back in 2006 and 2007 that made a great broccoli Rabe and sausage pizza. It's a difficult one to get right but theirs was always the best.  Anthony's, another South Florida coal oven small franchise made another good one.

[TXCraig1]

But did it have Calabrian chilies? 

[bjk]

The fact that you were using broccoli rabe in Texas in 2012 puts you in the head of the game for 99% of the country.

I think it was just dried chili flakes they used. And if they did use calabrian chili, the sausage and broccoli Rabe combo being such an Apulian staple and in true Italian regional rivalry, they would have called them Apulian peppers  .

Staying true to that region, plic plac or pipone would be a very "authentic" way to spice things up.

[bjk]

Not to say broccoli rabe and sausage isn't a calabrian favorite too.

[Whisky]

Sauerkraut
Cilantro
Sweet potatoe
Potato chips
Pickle

[Timpanogos Slim]

That's very interesting and it makes sense why I used to love them but now don't care much for them. In fact, it has been years since they've been part of my family's regular dinner rotations because I was constantly saying how bland they are and I might as well use cabbage as a replacement.

Could be. I'm mostly indifferent to them. I have a few if they are at a family dinner table but i don't cook them myself.

If you're growing your own, it may be possible to get varieties that have more punch to them