Avocado Toast 3 Different Ways (And Tips)

Spice up your avocado toast with these 3 different techniques.

The Basics

Avocado toast starts with two basic ingredients: great bread and ripe avocados. My favorite bread to use is Dave's Killer Bread. I love the 21 Whole Grains and Seed variation. This bread has become my number one choice when it comes to anything toast related. It has 3g of protein, 12g whole grains and its organic! It also toasts beautifully and compliments the avocado flavor.

The bread in the image is Italian five grain bread from Publix Bakery (top left). Dave's Killer Bread is posted to the right.

Having a perfectly ripe avocado makes all the difference in the world. If it is too ripe you run into the issue of dealing with bruised areas. If it is not ripe enough it is hard and does not taste very good. The trick here is to feel the firmness of the avocado. If the avocado is too hard it is not ripe and if it is mushy when you grab it then it is overripe. A ripe avocado gives slightly to firm pressure but does not indent. Allow the avocado to ripen outside of the refrigerator. Refrigerating slows down the ripening process.

Season that little cado! One complaint about avocado toast is that it is "too bland". The reason that avocado toast can appear too bland is the lack of seasoning. The worst thing you can do to any dish is to under season it. Add salt and pepper either in your mashed avocado or on the toast itself. Some other great seasonings to add are garlic powder, lemon pepper, everything but the bagel seasoning (available at Trader Joes or Costco), and red pepper flakes.

To Mash Or Not To Mash?

When you are making avocado toast you have two options:

1. Mash the avocad0

2. Slice the avocado

Both options are delicious and the choice is 100% preference based. If you are slicing the avocado there are two techniques I want to share that allow you to create picture perfect slices every time:

The trick to slicing an avocado is to peel the outer layer off first. Half the avocado and gently peel the outer skin off. Flip the avocado so that the outside is facing up. Slice and serve!

If you are mashing the avocado, mash before you add it to your toast. This allows you to avoid squishing your toast. This technique also allows you to add seasonings to your mash and "taste test" the avocado mix.

Now that you are set on the basics lets get started on three different ways to make avocado toast. Lets upgrade that simple toast and take it to the next level!

Restaurant Style Avocado Toast

Ingredients

• 1 slice of bread ( I used Italian five grain bread from Publix bakery)

• 1/2 avocado

• 1/4 lemon

• 1/4 tsp lemon zest

• dried (or fresh) thyme

• Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

• 2 pieces of Bacon

• Arugula

• salt & pepper to taste

Steps:

1. Mash the avocado with a fork in a small bowl. Add the salt, pepper and lemon zest to the mash. Mix until incorporated. Toast the bread.

2. Pile the avocado mixture onto the toasted bread. Sprinkle desired amount of bagel seasoning and dried thyme over the avocado mix.

3. Place arugula on top of the avocado (optional) and then squeeze the juice of 1/4 of a lemon over the greens. Top with two slices of bacon and enjoy!

Avocado Toast with Blistered Baby Tomatoes and Basil

Ingredients

• 1 slice of bread

• 1/2 avocado

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• baby tomatoes

• garlic powder

• salt & pepper

• red pepper flakes

• fresh basil

Steps

1. Heat the olive oil on high in a small-medium skillet. Once the olive oil is heated, add the baby tomatoes (be careful the oil is hot and may pop when you add the tomatoes). Stir the baby tomatoes 3-4 times and cook until tomatoes start to blister (5 minutes).

2. Slice the avocado and toast the bread. Add the sliced avocado on top of the bread once toasted.

3. Season the avocado with garlic powder, salt & pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add the blistered tomatoes on top of the avocado.

4. Roughly chop the fresh basil and sprinkle over the toast. Enjoy!

Summer Citrus Avocado Toast

Ingredients

• 1 slice of bread

• 1/2 avocado

• 1/4 tsp olive oil

• 1/2 tsp lemon juic

• 1/8 tsp lemon zest

• salt & pepper

• 1/2 grapefruit

• 1/2 orange

Steps

1. Slice the grapefruit and the orange. Try to cut around the white pith. Add the citrus slices to a small bowl.

2. Drizzle the olive oil and the lemon juice on the fruit slices. Toss to coat evenly.

3. Zest the lemon and add the zest to the citrus mixture.* Roughly chop fresh cilantro and add it to the bowl as well. Toss again to incorporate all of the ingredients.

4. Slice the avocado and toast the bread. Add the sliced avocado on top of the bread once toasted. Season the toast with salt and pepper.

5. Finally, place the citrus mixture on top of the avocado toast. Enjoy!

*For zesting a lemon, this is my favorite zester. It is so easy to use and captures the zest in the attachable compartment. I have linked a similar product here

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