So cheesy. By Nina Tucker

by Metropol | February 4, 2026 8:35 am

For six years running, my better half and I have marked Valentine’s Day with easy, cheesy, homemade pizzas. We make the dough, shape it into hearts, and cover it with our preferred toppings. It’s so simple yet so special – an incredibly intimate date night activity and dinner in one.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp dry yeast
• 5 1/4 cups high-grade flour
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1-2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Pizza sauce of your choice: marinara, classic tomato, pesto
• 1-2 cups grated cheese, or mozzarella
• Toppings of your choice: pepperoni, sausage, ham, smoked salmon, mushrooms, onions, cherry tomatoes, capsicum, olives, pineapple, basil – it doesn’t stop there – almost anything can be a topping.

METHOD

1. Stir to dissolve warm water and sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over and then combine.
2. Using a spatula, gently stir in olive oil, before adding 5 cups of flour and salt, until the mixture forms a sticky ball.
3. Transfer to a floured surface (using the other 1/4 cup flour) and knead until smooth and slightly sticky.
4. Place the ball back in the bowl, and drizzle olive oil to cover its surface area. Cover it with a tea towel and leave to rise until double its size (around 30 minutes to one hour). Preheat the oven to 220°C.
5. Once risen, return the dough to the floured surface and roll it into a log shape. Separate into 4 to 6 pieces depending on your preferred base size. If you’re patient enough, leave it to rise another 10 to 15 minutes at this step.
6. Cover your baking trays or pizza stones in baking paper and preheat.
7. To the dough balls, use a rolling pin to shape each into a circle and your desired crust thickness, and then use the ‘pinch and pull technique’ to form a heart. Fold up the sides to protect toppings. Repeat for each dough ball.
8. Distribute bases amongst your trays or stones, and top evenly with pizza sauce, cheese, and desired toppings. Transfer to oven and bake until golden and crispy.

TOP TIPS

• Throw (yes, throw) your initial dough ball onto a clean surface a few times. This helps to activate the gluten.
• Preheat pizza stones or oven trays so your masterpiece lands on a blisteringly hot surface straight away. This ensures a crispy crust and well-cooked toppings.
• Always start your toppings with sauce, then cheese to hold everything together. Add extra cheese on top if you want – although it can cover toppings like meat or vegetables that need the exposed surface area to cook.
• Opt for freshly grated cheese rather than store-bought, which is heavier and weighs your crust down.

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PINCH & PULL
This technique helps form well-shaped, semi-professional looking, Valentine’s Day-worthy loveheart pizzas. I didn’t adopt this method for a good few years and our pizzas always looked okay (it’s the thought that counts, right?) Simply pinch and pull the bottom of your circular base to form a point. Then, use one finger to drag the top middle downwards, towards the centre of the pizza, splitting it. Tweak it and shape it from there.

Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/so-cheesy-by-nina-tucker/

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