Since pizza is considered an Italian creation, diners tend to top it with pepperoni, mozzarella, and red sauce. However, people all over the world eat pizza, adapting their flavorings to match their heritage and culture. Here are seven unusual ingredients that top pizzas in Asia, Europe, and South America.

Hungry for Pizza? Try One of These 7 Toppings

1. Eggs

Many people enjoy pizza for breakfast, so why not add breakfast ingredients to a traditional pizza crust? Eggs are a popular topping in the United Kingdom, where chefs often combine them with bacon, mushrooms, and blood sausage. They’ll even add toast to the pie—a bread-lover’s dream.

2. Banana Curry

Pizza doesn’t have to be exclusively savory. In Sweden, people order pizza topped with curry-flavored bananas. 

3. Shawarma

Middle Eastern shawarma—thinly sliced lamb with vegetables and tahini—makes a delicious topping with light cheese and red sauce. Shawarma-topped pizza is beloved in the Netherlands, where diners garnish it with curry powder, feta, and cherry tomato. 

4. Peas 

In Brazil, people dig into pizza topped with green peas, often pairing them with quail eggs, beets, raisins, and carrots.

5. Reindeer

Meat toppings—pepperoni, sausage, or ham—aren’t unusual on pizza, but smoked reindeer may be. Reindeer pizza with mushrooms and onions is a tribute to Finnish tastes and ingredients. 

6. Haggis

Many Scots love haggis—a dish of entrails stuffed with oatmeal, seasoning, and suet. In Scotland, you’ll find spicy and meaty pizzas with haggis, mozzarella, and black chili jam.

7. Mayo Jaga

In Japan, you may enjoy a mayo jaga pizza. This Asian inspiration with spicy mayonnaise and potatoes resembles a waffle.

If you’re interested in trying new pizza ingredients, head to Gondola Pizza House in Cumberland County, TN. The family-owned and -operated restaurant has been serving tasty Greek and Italian food to hungry Crossville residents for over 40 years. To make a reservation, call (931) 484-7647, or visit their website to view their menu, which includes gondola sandwiches, Grecian shish kebab, and specialty pizzas.