20 unique pizza toppings from around the world everyone should try once

Given that we put pineapple on pizza in America, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that other countries are putting fruit on their pies, too. In the Philippines, it’s common to put mango on pizza. 

In Sweden, you can find pizzas that have banana slices on top. They’re usually paired with curry and ham. If you like a good old Hawaiian pizza, then bananas, curry, and ham might be worth trying. 

Seafood isn’t the rarest pizza topping in the United States, but it certainly isn’t the most common. And there aren’t many creatures under the seafood umbrella that actually make it as a topping. But in Japan, the reverse is true, and squid is a topping you can readily find on your pizza. 

In Australia, you can have kangaroo on your pizza. Kangaroo is lean and high in protein, so it’s not unlike having certain cuts of beef on your pie. 

Another common pizza topping in Australia is emu. In fact, you can get a half-kangaroo, half-emu pizza if you’d like. 

They’re putting all sorts of unique toppings on pizza in Australia. Down Under, you can also find crocodile pizza. It would be difficult to try any of these Australian pizza toppings while in the United States, but if you happen upon them while in the Southern Hemisphere, the toppings might be worth a bite. 

Yes, we are talking about stroganoff, the creamy mushroom-based dish of Russian origin. Surprisingly, this dish isn’t a common pizza topping in Russia, but it is in Brazil. The more you know. 

Eggs, of course, are common on breakfast pizzas, and it’s not uncommon to see an egg cracked atop a pizza. However, in Brazil, you’ll find slices of hard boiled eggs on pizza, an ingredient in the popular Portuguese style. 

You might be able to guess where it’s popular to find reindeer on your pizza. Yep, you guessed it - it’s Finland. The country is home to lots of reindeer, and the antlered animals are eaten quite frequently there, so it’s no surprise that reindeer is used as a pizza topping, too. 

Haggis is a traditional dish of Scotland. It’s a savory pudding containing sheep heart, liver, and lungs (known as the pluck); oats; suet; onion; and spices. Haggis is most commonly encased in a sheep’s stomach, and it’s a common pizza topping in Scotland. 

Coconut is another fruity pizza topping that’s popular in other parts of the world. In Costa Rica, the ingredient is often paired with shrimp and pineapple, creating a savory-sweet combination. 

In Israel, corn is a common pizza topping. The vegetable is readily available in the country, and it is often used. Many locals like to pair corn with tuna and olives on their pizza. 

Durian is a fruit that’s popular in Southeast Asia. Though it has an awful odor, people love its taste, and it’s a common pizza topping in China. In fact, it’s a best-selling pizza topping at Pizza Hut in China. 

Mayonnaise often gets drizzled on top of pizza in Vietnam. Though the practice is becoming more and more popular in the United States, it still hasn’t caught on the way other drizzles have. 

The United States puts BBQ chicken on pizza. In India, they do something similar - chicken tikka on pizza. The pie is still made with tomato sauce and mozzarella, but it also includes onions, peppers, cilantro, and possibly chili flakes. 

In the Netherlands, you can find pizza with falafel on top. It’s a dream come true if you’re a street food fanatic. 

Countries near the Arctic aren’t exactly known for their fresh produce, but they are known for doing incredible things with meat. In Iceland, it’s common to find hot dogs on top of pizza. Some pizzas are even made with a hot dog-stuffed crust. 

In Palestine, cinnamon is a common pizza ingredient. The spice gets used in both standard and dessert pizzas. 

Where else are you going to find a poutine pizza than in Canada? Okay, it might be available in other places, too, but it’s somewhat of a staple in Canada. And it’s not hard to see why. 

You don’t have to travel outside of the United States to find pizza toppings you might not have heard of. In Hawaii, SPAM is a popular pizza topping, often used as a substitute for fresh ham or Canadian bacon on Hawaiian pizza.