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I think I was a full-blown adult before I even saw an Avocado. It was not something that I had ever seen in the shops when I was growing up, and if you did see them, they were considered to be so exotic that they were not something my mother’s budget ever stretched to include.

A native fruit of the Americas, most specifically Central America, Avocadoes are not a particularly attractive fruit to look at. In many ways, they resemble strange eggs, seemingly from outer-space with their skin colour (which can vary drastically) and roughly pebbled surface. Although, having said that, I have also seen perfectly smooth avocados. They can vary greatly in colour as well from a bright green to a very dark and almost black green.

My first experience with avocado was in a Mexican food restaurant in my late twenties-early thirties. I had the guacamole and fell in love with this rich and creamy, almost indulgent tasting fruit. And yes it actually is considered to be a fruit. It is also referred to as an Avocado Pear, Alligator Pear or Butter Fruit.

There are also many benefits to eating avocados. They are rich in nutrients, contain healthy fats, and are amazingly high in fibre, which can help to improve digestion, prevent constipation, and lower the risk of colon cancer. They are also considered to be heart healthy. No wonder they are called a super-food!

So what exactly is Avocado Toast?

In a nutshell, at its very basic, it is creamy mashed avocado mixture, which is then spread across the surface of crisp, well-toasted bread. I have to say it is one of my favourite ways of enjoying fresh avocados.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE BASIC AVOCADO TOAST

Simple ingredients put together well. That is my mantra!

INGREDIENTS

1 thick slice of bread, preferably a whole grain

½ of a ripe avocado

Fine sea salt to season

Shredded romaine lettuce

HINTS & TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST AVOCADO TOAST

Use a good, sturdy and hearty bread. Soft white bread will not give you a proper or a tasty base for your avocado mixture. You want a sturdy bread, preferably a whole grain and thick sliced. What you are looking for is a bread that will crisp nicely and provide a beautiful contrast to the creaminess of the avocado. Whole grain Sour Dough breads are perfect for making Avocado Toast.
You want a ripe avocado, but not an overly-ripe avocado. You want to use an avocado that will yield slightly to a gentle pressure. Avoid using avocados which are mush or stringy inside. Hass Avocados are the best variety to use. If you see any bruised or brown areas when you cut the avocado open, scoop them out and discard.
On their own, the avocado has a really mild almost bland flavour, despite its creamy rich texture. A bit of salt is a must. I like to use sea salt for its clean flavour. I use a mix of fine sea salt when mashing the avocado and a sprinkle of flaked sea salt to sprinkle over my avocado toast finish.
Use a fork to mash your avocado and mash it in a bowl, separately from your toasted bread. To actually mash the avocado on the bread defeats the purpose of toasting the bread to begin with. Also, do not mash your avocado until just before you plan on eating it as avocado will discolour if left to the air for too long.
If you are not fond of the texture of mashed avocado feel free to simply slice it and lay it across the surface of your toast.
To add even more flavour to your Avocado toast rub the cut side of a fresh clove of garlic over the top of your toasted bread before adding the mashed avocado.

HOW TO MAKE AVOCADO TOAST

Toast your bread until golden and firm. I find that the best way to do this is underneath the broiler of my oven. Toast first on one side, then flip over and toast on the other. Keep warm while you are mashing the avocado.

Scoop the flesh out of the avocado using a spoon, gently scraping it away from the skin.

Put the flesh into a bowl and mash it up with a fork until you get the consistency you desire. Some people like it smooth, and others like it a bit on the chunky side. Season with the salt to taste.

Spread the mashed avocado onto your toast and enjoy as is, or top with any extras as you desire. If I am going really basic, I enjoy some flakes of either a good plain or smoked sea salt on sprinkled on top, with perhaps a good grinding of black pepper.

So there you have it. Basic Avocado Toast. Quick and easy to make, incredibly nutritious and quite adaptable to a variety of different seasonings and toppings. Always delicious!

VARIATIONS OF AVOCADO TOAST

All of the following are excellent options to enjoy when it comes to Avocado Toast.

All Dressed Avocado Toast

Mix together some chopped crisp cooked bacon, thinly sliced scallions, minced jalapeno peppers (minus the seeds and ribs), and toasted sunflower seeds. Sprinkle this mixture generously on top of your avocado toast.

Everything Bagel Avocado Toast

Sprinkle the top of your Avocado Toast with some Everything Bagel Seasoning, either purchased or you can make your own. (To make your own Everything Bagel Seasoning mix together 2 TBS of sesame seeds, 2 TBS poppy seeds, 1 TBS dried minced onion flakes, 2 tsp dried garlic granules, ½ tsp fine sea salt and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Toast this in a dry skillet over medium heat until quite fragrant and the sesame seeds are beginning to turn golden brown. Stir constantly while toasting to prevent burning. This will take about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl to cool and then store in an airtight container for up to one month.)

Italian Avocado Toast

This is fabulous during tomato season when fresh tomatoes are at their finest! To make simply slice your fresh tomatoes thickly and pile them on top of the avocado toast along with some torn basil leaves and a drizzle of good Balsamic vinegar.

Café Style Avocado Toast

Spread your mashed avocado thickly on top of your toasted bread. Drizzle with a good extra virgin olive oil, some fresh lemon juice and scatter some crushed red pepper flakes and sea salt flakes on top. Finish off with a coarse grinding of black pepper.

Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast

Top your mashed avocado with thin slices of smoked salmon. Drizzle with a spicy mint, chili, lemon and tomato dressing and sprinkle with some minced chives and a scattering of black pepper.

Feta and Mint Avocado Toast

Spread your mashed avocado onto your toasted bread. Crumble over some feta cheese, a few torn mint leaves, a pinch of sumac seasoning and finish with a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil.

Fried Egg and Guacamole Avocado Toast

Mix your mashed avocado gently together with a TBS chopped red onion, a TBS chopped fresh cilantro, a tsp minced fresh red chili pepper and a squeeze of lime juice. Season with some salt and then spread over your toast. Top with a fried egg. If you are not fond of fried eggs, why not try a poached egg or some scrambled egg, all are delicious!

Yield: For one serving