This week my wife is away on a business trip, so I’m left to look after myself. Since I usually do most of the cooking at home, this shouldn’t be a problem, but I rarely feel motivated to prepare a full meal just for one. Part of it is that I enjoy the compliments and shared appreciation when I cook for others, and cooking alone doesn’t provide that same boost. As a result, my default solo meals tend to be pizza and beer.
Rather than ordering a random pizza, I try to get a large plain cheese and tomato base so I can add my favourite toppings. I especially load up on items I wouldn’t choose when my wife is home. To her dismay, one of my preferred toppings is pineapple — a choice that often sparks debate. My go-to combination is chicken, sweetcorn, jalapeño and pineapple.
Chicken, sweetcorn, jalapeño and pineapple pizza
One quirky habit I picked up from my wife is dipping pizza in mayonnaise. To add a kick, I mix a generous spoonful of mayo with just a drop of my favourite hot sauce and stir it together. Since capsaicin, the compound that gives chillies their heat, is fat-soluble, the mayo helps distribute and slightly mellow the spice while still delivering a satisfying punch.
What are your unconventional pizza toppings, or how do you handle cooking when you’re on your own?