Most of the toppings on your pizza are cooked. Green peppers, mushrooms, onions, and other toppings are subject to the hot heat of the pizza oven, giving them a soft texture. At some gourmet pizza restaurants, however, you can customize your pizza by adding various fresh ingredients. These are ingredients that don't go through the oven. Instead, a cook places them on top of the pizza after it comes out of the oven. Various greens are commonly available to enjoy in this way, which not only gives your pizza a unique look, but also helps to create a fresh taste with each bite. Here are some greens that you can often add to the top of gourmet pizzas.

Arugula 

Arugula is arguably the most popular fresh green that you can add to the top of a pizza. When you browse the menu at a gourmet pizza establishment, it's fairly common to find at least one pie that features fresh arugula on top—or that you can add to any pizza you wish. This green has a frilly appearance and is known for its peppery taste. While many greens taste mild, arugula certainly doesn't. If you're the type of person who enjoys bold flavors and who doesn't shy away from peppery notes, look for a pizza that features fresh arugula as a topping.

Microgreens

Microgreens are a fixture at many vegetarian restaurants, but you'll occasionally find them available as a fresh ingredient for the top of your pizza. This term describes assorted baby greens; these are greens that are picked before they reach full maturity. There are all sorts of different greens that are common in microgreen mixes. Their flavors vary considerably, with some offering sweet notes that can be a nice addition to the top of your pizza. Microgreens are known for containing high levels of nutrients, which means that choosing a pizza that features them will give you a healthier meal than certain other pies.

Watercress

You'll also find some gourmet pizza restaurants that add fresh watercress after a pizza comes out of the oven. Watercress has a peppery taste that some people find similar to arugula. Like arugula, it boosts the flavor of each bite and can be a good choice for someone who likes heat. If you're already choosing a pizza that has some spicy toppings, such as hot peppers, you may find that the addition of watercress boosts the spice and creates the taste that you want.

Contact a local restaurant, such as Scittino's Italian Market Place, to start making your own customized pizzas.