3 Garlic Day Recipes That Stink (in the best way)

It's the breath day of the year! Garlic is the magical cousin to onion, serving as a pungent seasoning in basically any cuisine you can think of. Most commonly associated with Italian food (raise your hand if your Nonna put full cloves in everything), garlic is more than a seasoning – it's also packed with health benefits that are totally worth the stink.

Garlic's low in calories, but high in Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Manganese, to name a few. It's nutritional content has been linked to possible immune support and lowered cholesterol. So why not top your pizza with a healthy classic? Check out these three recipes that totally stink in the best way possible. Mints not included.

1. Here's one you can print off or prop up on your iPad. A classic white pie with more garlic than you'll ever need (or is it?). In this recipe, the garlic is the star, so it's the perfect way to start celebrating the wondrous ingredient:

2. For something unexpected, use our Plain Crust to bake up a more nutritious "garlic bread." Simply mix 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, 4 cloves of finely minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley, and 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt, then brush on the crust and bake for 12-15 minutes at 375°. Cut the crust up into dip-able squares, and dunk in marinara sauce or sprinkle with parmesan. Your friends will think you're an appetizer genius!

3. Last, but not least - a classic! If you're short on time, our ready-to-cook Margherita has a savory tomato sauce starring today's special ingredient. Sprinkle it with more minced or granulated garlic for a real kick. If you're planning an evening of culinary creation, you can also grab our Plain Crust and find inspiration from our fans on Instagram, as long as you're true to the colors of the Italian flag: red for tomato sauce, green for basil, and white for mozzarella. Margherita is a fave for its simplicity, so here are a few easy-to-make recipes we love – each with a little twist:

Margherita with Red Onion

If you're eating garlic, you're already playing with fire. Why not add its stinky cousin, red onion, for a spicy crunch, like @healthymidwest.

Sea Salt and Black Pepper Margherita with Kale

Adding a bitter green, like kale, can provide an earthy counter to the bright and floral flavors of basil and tomatoes. Not to mention, superfood nutrition. This one comes from gluten-free recipe developer and health coach, Tess French.

Margherita with Cashew Basil Avocado Sauce

Sometimes you can skip the tomato sauce (but not the tomatoes) and find a fresh way to get flavor and nutrition onto your pie. Another health coach, @onebalancedlife made her very own cashew basil avocado sauce for a nutty, superfood base to jazz up the classic. Without tomato sauce, make this a Garlic Day extravaganza by adding a handful of fresh, chopped garlic.

Whether you love garlic or not, it's a great day to get adventurous in the kitchen and celebrate all the great foods the earth provides – no matter how stinky!