Every other day, I crave an avocado toast. I don't want it to be plain either. If you're like me, you want that perfect mix of creamy avocados, maybe some more veggies to make it healthy, a bit of a kick from some spices.
But you also feel overwhelmed thinking about all the toppings you could potentially use. So, I've compiled six avocado toast ideas - from a basic one to a loaded one, several vegan options and some vegetarian ones. The best avocado toast with perfectly toasted bread, mashed avocados and other avocado toast toppings!
🥑 Avocado Tips
Buying the right avocado: At the right ripeness, the avocados are soft, but not mushy. They're usually a darker color (except for Haas avocados), and if they're soft like that, perfect to eat the same day. If they're a bit harder, buy and store in a brown paper bag to make it ripen faster (or add an apple to make it ripen even faster). Check out the California Avocado Commission's tips on how to ripen avocados!
Pro tip: Ideally, buy a few different stages of ripeness - this way, you can use one today to make an easy avocado toast, and save the rest for later! Make sure to remove the overly brown bits before mashing.
Slicing and mashing avocados: First, slice the avocado into two halves. Twist to pull them apart. Then, carefully use the edge of a knife to dig into the pit, twist and remove. Discard the pit (or save it on the side if you need to store half an avocado).
I typically use the knife to criss-cross the avocado and then use a spoon to scoop it into a bowl. If you decide to mash your avocados, it's good to do that in a separate bowl, to avoid destroying your bread.
If you want to make it look pretty, you can make thin slices too (see below).
Storing avocados: You can throw a ripe avocado in the fridge (when uncut) for two or three days. Ready for an easy avocado toast anytime.
If you cut it already, the secret is to use some lemon or lime juice (or any form of acid, like vinegar) on the open surface. Then throw it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge. That'll prevent it from turning brown.
If you have the pit, keeping that inside reduces surface area and prevents browning too. Why, yes, if you read that and thought - wait, can I do that to guacamole? Yep!
Freezing avocados: Freezing whole avocados doesn't really work too well (they get ultra mushy). However, if you slice them into smaller chunks (say, slices or cubes) then they freeze rather well. So, the key is to wash them well, peel them, slice them into smaller chunks, and then store them in an airtight container or bag! If they are properly stored, they remain at their best quality for 3 to 6 months. So, really that's forever.
🥖 Best bread for avocado toast
The best bread for avocado toast is the bread you have in your house or what you typically prefer. However, a sturdier bread (like whole grain) is a stronger base to hold the avocado (especially if you pile it on like I do). I love using sourdough bread because it offers a nice complement to the toppings, but really just use whatever you have on hand.
But the key is to toast it well. I like my toast to be nicely browned, so when I bite in, it's a perfect mix of soft avocados and crisply toasted bread. Delish!
The world of avocado toast toppings is endless. There's two that I think you should absolutely include on every avocado toast (salt and lemon). And then there's five more toppings that I love. Make all of them and enjoy!
🥙 Basic Avocado Toast
All you need is perfectly mashed avocados, some salt and a squeeze of lemon. Add a pinch of salt when you're mashing avocados and then add some flaky sea salt to the top when you're done. Devour.
🍅 Caprese Toast
Caprese bruschetta, meet avocado toast. Avocados and cherry tomatoes go hand-in-hand with each other. So, mash those avos, then top your toast with some delicious cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and a small splash of balsamic to round out the flavors.
🌽 Mexican Street Corn Toast
Who doesn't want to put their guacamole on toast? Well, not this girl. Because seriously, nothing goes better with avocado than Mexican flavors.
If you're using fresh corn, throw them in the microwave with a paper towel on top for about 3 minutes. Remove the kernels, add a tablespoon of butter. If you're using frozen corn, just microwave for 30 seconds, and add butter.
Top your avocado toast with some of this buttered corn, crumbly cotija cheese, and a dash of red pepper flakes. If you have some red onions on hand, pickle them with some salt water, and add for a delicious kick. Ready to rock and roll!
🍲 Korean Cauliflower Toast
Ok, I know. You're thinking, who puts cauliflower on toast? Well, this girl! I was inspired by Ina Garten's cheesy cauliflower toasts and decided to do a play on my gochujang cauliflower tacos. In fact, the best way to use up those leftovers is to put it on toast.
To make gochujang cauliflower, you can check out the detailed post above. But to give you the TL;DR - toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt and pepper and throw in the oven at 450F for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, mix gochujang and tahini to make a sauce. Toss the florets in this sauce, then throw back in the oven for 20 minutes. Crispy, gochujang cauliflower! Just have a whole cauliflower in your house? Don't fret - check this post on roasting a whole cauliflower instead.
Then, grab this gochujang cauliflower, throw them on the avocado toast and finish with some thinly diced red onions. Want to make it vegetarian instead of vegan? Add some cheddar cheese on top. Delicious!
🥘 Simple Avocado Toast with Egg
Take your basic avocado toast, then add a fried egg on top. Simple as that.
How do you make a perfect fried egg? Melt butter, crack the egg on the pan and wait 2 minutes for the whites to set. Then, gently baste the egg with butter (i.e. use a spatula or spoon to splash the butter back on the egg).
Cook for another minute to fry the egg perfectly. If you like your eggs firmly cooked, cook for 4-5 minutes total. Sprinkle freshly ground pepper on top!
🥪 Loaded Spicy Avocado Toast
This is the ultimate avocado toast. Base of smashed avocados, topped with radishes, jalapenos, scallions, and a sprinkle of fresh ground black pepper and red pepper flakes. Or if you'r vegetarian and eat eggs, add a fried egg and feta or cotija cheese to balance the heat!
If you enjoy avocado toast, chances are you'll enjoy these recipes too:
If you try this recipe, please consider leaving a comment and a star rating. Don't forget to tag #urbanfarmie on Instagram or @urbanfarmie on Pinterest!
📖 Recipe
Easy Avocado Toast
Ingredients
- 1 slice of bread
- ½ avocado
- 1 teaspoon salt
- squeeze of lemon
- 1 teaspoon Flaky salt to garnish
Instructions
- Toast a slice of bread
- Cut an avocado open and toss the pit. Cut the avocado in a criss-cross pattern and scoop with a fork and onto the toast - smash the avocado down on the toast
- Smash down with a fork till it mixes well
- Serve on top of the avocado and garnish with fresh ground pepper and salt - serve hot!
Notes
- The best bread to use is the bread you already have, but if you're buying or making some - sourdough tends to work great with avocado toast!
- Check the post for topping suggestions! There's some from all over the world (Mexican street corn, Caprese toast, Korean gochujang cauliflower, loaded spicy jalapenos, simple avocado toast with egg, etc.)
Nutrition
Note: This post was originally published on Feb 27, 2020. It was updated on December 13, 2020 to include more pictures and clearer instructions.
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