First Time Making the Nigerian Pizza

Pizza is one of those meals that just makes you feel good. It’s tasty, delicious and honestly, a little bit addictive. Nigerians love pizza because it’s easy to enjoy, whether you're hanging out with friends, having a chill night or celebrating something small. It’s fast and tasty. So what is there not to love?

I love eating pizza, but I always distance myself because I don’t want to gain unnecessary weight. That fear of “getting fat” used to stop me from eating it fully. So, I did a little research, watched a few videos on YouTube and found out I could actually make my own pizza but in a healthy way.

That’s how I came up with this idea to try a homemade pizza using wheat and oat flour instead of regular all-purpose flour. That way, I still get to enjoy what I love but with less guilt and more control over the ingredients. And of course, moderation is key.

• Wheat and oat flour (for the dough)
• Yeast (to help the dough rise)
• A pinch of salt to taste
• Tomato sauce (for the base)
• Fresh green, yellow, and red bell peppers
• Lots of mozzarella cheese (because pizza isn’t pizza without cheese)

I won’t lie, I was so nervous the whole time while making it for real. It was my first time making pizza like this, so I kept worrying about what if it doesn't turn out good.

I kept thinking, “What if it tastes awful? But I decided to just go for it anyway. Even if it wasn’t perfect, I told myself I will just try again next time. That’s how you get better, right? I’m just happy I gave it a try and didn’t back down. It feels so good to try something new.

I was so hungry and excited that I didn’t let the dough rise long enough. I just wanted to eat it already. And when I was rolling it out, I got a little lazy and didn’t flatten it enough, so some bits looked messy and even broke off a little, like you can see in the picture.

But it’s all good. That’s what first times look like. Next time, I will be more patient and take my time. Practice makes perfect, they say.