What is better than Pesto on pasta? This has always been one of my favorite pasta choices.

Pesto sauce, a tasty sauce first made in Genoa, Northern Italy, is a testament to how simple ingredients can come together to make something amazing. Traditionally, pesto is a blend of fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, salt, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Pesto is something that can easily be made vegan. Here is an amazing recipe that bumps up the flavor by adding super-foods that not only make it full of health benefits, but it also bumps up the flavor.

As an Italian, I understand that nothing can beat traditional pesto. But also, as an Italian who eats loads of Italian sauces, pesto being my favorite, there always come times when I want to experiment in the kitchen and see what I can craft up or elevate in my sauces.

When making this recipe, I actually didn’t have a lot of basil to make my sauce so I rummaged around my kitchen to see what I could find that would bulk up my sauce. That is how I ended up with this delicious take on an Italian classic.

Here is what I add to my super-food Pesto:

Fresh Basil – The base for any pesto, fresh basil adds a sweet and refreshing flavor. Basil is packed with aromatic oils that are released when crushed. This adds its powerful flavor.

Garlic – Garlic certainly packs a punch. It also is great for your body and has many health benefits due to the formation of sulfur compounds

Pine Nuts – These nuts add a hearty and buttery flavor with a strong nutty taste. They are important to any pesto to add a strong and rich taste.

Nutritional Yeast  – This is a great alternative to parmesan cheese in any recipe. This healthy item is a must for a vegan kitchen as it has a natural cheesy-like flavor to it.

Olive Oil – Extra-virgin olive oil is a wonderful addition to any Italian dish. It is great for its strong flavors as well as being packed with antioxidants.

Avocado – Avocado is a great way to get in your greens. It is also a great source of healthy fat that’s so good for your body.

Kale – This is a wonderful food super green that will be sure to make you and your gut feel good. It’s loaded with vitamins B and vitamin A

Let me know your favorite take on this classic Italian sauce and what fun things you might add to your pesto.