Pizza: Love Wrapped in Cheese

Pizza, for me, is love wrapped in veggies and cheese on an unhealthy maida base.
Okay, okay. I’m not trying to ruin it for anyone. That “unhealthy” word isn’t even mine. It belongs to my husband. Sangat ka asar, what to do. 😄

But love? That part is 100% mine.

My parents were never pizza or pasta people. Our food world was very clearly South Indian. Eating out meant meals or tiffins, always. Pizza was not even on the radar.

Until Pune happened.

One of my mom’s younger brothers was working in Pune, and a few years later, during our summer holidays, my mom, sister and I went to visit them. I was in 5th standard, and that trip felt huge. A new city. A long journey. A whole new world waiting.

That vacation is stitched together in my memory with tiny scenes. My sister, cousin and I fighting over UNO cards, crying like our lives depended on it. Today, we’re all working, settled, adults with real problems… and honestly, if we rewind those card games now, we’d probably laugh at how serious we took them. Business, as if that was all we had to fight for back then. 😄

There were outings, shopping, adventure parks… but two moments are permanently carved in my head.

One was this building-like structure we were walking past. I genuinely thought it was going to fall and collapse on us. I panicked. Only later did I realise it was just the structure’s design. I was amused then. I’m still amused now.

The other was a haunted house train ride. My mom sat behind me, and I was terrified every second. I swear I saw a skeleton while coming out. Nobody believed me. So obviously, I went again to prove my point. And yes, there was a skeleton. All thanks to my mom. Without her, I wouldn’t even dream of stepping into haunted setups. I’m still that scared. Till date.

Food memories from that trip are equally strong. My aunt cooked the most delicious majjiga pulusu I’ve ever eaten. She also made poori and aloo curry for our return train journey. I wasn’t even hungry. I just wanted to finish the aloo and poori the minute the train started. She cooks beautifully.

And then… pizza happened.

One evening, after a short walk, my mamaya ordered a large pizza from Pizza Hut for all of us. That was my first ever pizza experience. The slice was bigger than my hand. Cheese, oregano, chilli flakes… it felt like I had stepped into a completely different food universe. Maybe it was my first time tasting cheese too. That taste still lingers in my mouth and mind.

Back in Hyderabad, armed with that memory, I did what any determined child would do. I stole fifty rupees from my mom’s purse, walked almost one and a half kilometres to Pizza Hut, and bought whatever pizza was available for that amount. And yes, back then, you did get pizza for fifty rupees.

Some other memories followed. Going to Pizza Hut with my sister. Ordering their meal for one. Pizza, garlic bread, Pepsi. And almost always, masala lemonade. Even today, Pizza Hut feels nostalgic. No matter how many new pizza places come up, I’ll always have a soft spot for it.

Domino’s entered my life later, and their cheese burst pizza? Absolute heaven. I love it so much that during Covid, when deliveries were impossible and stepping out wasn’t an option, I made a cheese burst pizza at home using a store-bought base.

And honestly… it turned out amazing.

Some foods grow on you slowly.
Some hit you once and stay forever.

Pizza did that to me. 🍕

Ingredients

For the Pizza Base

• Wheat pizza base

For the Tomato Purée (Homemade Pizza Sauce)

• Ripe tomatoes, finely diced

• Salt, to taste

• Oregano

• Pepper powder

• Chilli flakes

• Minced garlic

• A little oil or butter

For Toppings

• Cream cheese

• Mozzarella cheese (shredded or diced)

• Onion, sliced

• Capsicum, sliced

• Sweet corn

• Paneer cubes
  (Use any combination you like)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Tomato Purée

Heat a little oil or butter in a pan.
Add minced garlic and sauté lightly until aromatic.

Add the diced tomatoes and salt. Cook until the tomatoes soften and start breaking down.

Now add oregano, pepper powder, and chilli flakes. Roast everything together until it thickens into a rich, paste-like sauce.
Switch off the flame and let it cool slightly.

Step 2: Prepare the Pizza Base

Take the wheat pizza base and carefully slice it horizontally, just like you would slice a burger bun, to create two thin layers.

Use only one layer for each pizza.

Step 3: Assemble the Pizza

Apply a generous layer of cream cheese evenly over the pizza base.

On top of that, spread the prepared tomato purée.

Now add your vegetables: onion, capsicum, sweet corn, paneer — whatever your heart wants.

Top it all with loads of mozzarella cheese.

Finish with a sprinkle of oregano and chilli flakes.

Step 4: Cooking the Pizza

Option 1: Oven

• Preheat oven to 180°C

• Bake the pizza for 12–15 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the base turns crisp

Option 2: Stove-top Method

Take a large, heavy-bottomed vessel or pan with a lid.

Add a thick layer of salt at the bottom and heat it on medium flame for 5 minutes.

Place a heat-safe stand or metal strainer inside (so the pizza doesn’t touch the salt).

Place the pizza on the stand, cover with a lid, and cook on low flame for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese melts completely and the base is cooked.

Srishti’s Secret Tip for the perfect pizza:

Cream cheese at the base makes all the difference.
It keeps the pizza soft, rich, and indulgent — just the way comfort food should be.

Srishti’s Healing Tip for the perfect pizza:

Sometimes, recreating a favorite food at home isn’t about perfection.
It’s about holding onto a feeling when the world outside feels uncertain.

 Why You’ll Love This:

• Uses simple, easily available ingredients

• Perfect for no-delivery days

• Comforting, cheesy, and nostalgic

• Feels like a warm hug on a plate