Toasted Avocado (Plus Tips & Variations)

This summer, let’s get back to the fundamentals, so let’s speak about Toasted Avocado! One of my favorite quick dinners is bread with a creamy avocado spread on it. It’s actually one of my all-time favorite dinners. One of life’s basic joys, it’s so sweet.

I have strong feelings about what makes the finest Toasted Avocado, as always. So I decided to offer my basic recipe today along with my top suggestions and preferred modifications.

If you’ve never had Toasted Avocado, you’ve been missing out, and we need to change that right away. If you enjoy Toasted Avocado frequently, I hope you will find some useful advice and some interesting new methods to spice up your toast. Onward!

How to Make the Best Avocado Toast

1) Select superior avocados
You want Hass avocados that are ripe but not overripe. Use avocados that give slightly under gentle pressure rather than those that are stringy or mushy inside. When you cut them open, scrape out any damaged or brown portions and throw them away before crushing the remainder.

2) Get quality bread and toast it properly.
I believe that whole grain bread with firm, thick slices makes the best Toasted Avocado. Against the creamy avocado, the golden, well-toasted bread provides a solid foundation and a crisp, jarring contrast.

3) Separately mash your avocado.
Compared to sliced avocado, mashed avocado is creamier and more opulent (think guacamole vs. plain avocado). However, avoid spreading it on toast! You run the danger of crushing or poking holes in your toast. Cut your avocados in half, scrape out the pit, and then mash the flesh with a fork in a bowl or on the side of your plate.

Are several avocados being mashed at once? Instead of a tiny fork, use a potato masher or pastry cutter.

4) Remember to add salt.
Per avocado half, you should add at least a pinch of salt. Extra points? Add some flaky sea salt to the bread with avocado as the last touch.

Bonus Advice for Toasted Avocado

Here are a few easy ways to take your avocado toast up a notch. Pick one or a few!

• Add garlic: You may either incorporate a little teaspoon of garlic powder into the avocado or lightly massage a peeled, raw garlic clove over the toast before adding the avocado.
• Add your favorite herbed sauce or fresh, leafy herbs: Avocado pairs well with chopped fresh parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, or cilantro. A sprinkle of pesto, zhoug sauce (a fiery cilantro sauce), or chimichurri is also acceptable.
• Add an egg: I like to add a fried egg to my Toasted Avocado for more protein (example here). If you prefer, you can make a scrambled or poached egg.
• Additional toppings include quick pickled onions, radishes, or jalapenos, your preferred hot sauce, or a scattering of cherry tomatoes that have been sliced.

Toasted Avocado Variations

These are my top three choices for avocado toast, listed from top to bottom.

Toast with avocado and everything bagel
Top your avocado toast with a liberal sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning. Make your own using my recipe for homemade everything bagel blend, or get it from Trader Joe’s or Williams-Sonoma (affiliate link). Take care not to oversalt your avocado because these seasonings have a tendency to be salty.

Avocado Toast with Loads
Combine finely sliced fresh radish, green onion, rib-free jalapeno, and toasted sunflower seeds. generously sprinkle over your bread.

Avocado Toast with Tomato, Basil, and Balsamic Drizzle
This is fantastic if you have great tomatoes on hand. Sliced tomato, a thin drizzle of premium thick balsamic vinegar or defined balsamic glaze, and some torn fresh basil leaves should be placed on top of the avocado toast.

Avocado toast in the style of Cafe Gitane
The avocado toast craze is said to have begun in this NYC café. Spread a thick layer of smooth, mounded mashed avocado over your bread. Drizzle 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and a generous amount of red pepper flakes and flaky salt over the avocado layer.

How does your avocado toast taste? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Really, I’d like to know

Try my guacamole, avocado dip, or any of these recipes if you find yourself with extra avocados (lucky you).