Avocado on toast

Ingredients

• 4 slices good quality bread
• 1 ripe avocado
• Squeeze lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Avocado on toast is becoming increasingly popular in trendy cafes and bistros across the country. It makes a delicious and healthy alternative to scrambled egg on toast that's perfect for vegans or anyone wishing to reduce the amount of eggs or dairy in their diet. 

It's extremely quick and easy to make and, if you're a fan of avocadoes, you will probably wonder why you hadn't tried it sooner. A basic avocado on toast can be jazzed up in a whole variety of ways and can be as simple or as luxurious as you like.

Basic avocado on toast

To make the basic mixture, roughly mash your avocado in a bowl and add a sprinkling of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon to stop the avocado browning too quickly. How much you mash your avocado will depend on your preference - you can slice it or cube it roughly if you prefer more of a firm texture, but it is usually roughly mashed with a fork and it's normal to have a bit of a varied consistency.

Toast your bread, and spread your avocado mixture on right away. That's it! If you want a more buttery taste you can butter the toast beforehand, and a sprinkle of sea salt will give it more flavour.

It can be enjoyed on its own or topped with a poached egg, bacon or veggie bacon, fresh herbs, smoked salmon or a crumbling of goat's cheese or feta - or try one of our suggested toppings below.

Find out how to make the perfect poached egg.

Topping suggestions

Sweet and nutty

Toast some pine nuts in a dry frying pan, or roast in the oven, for a few minutes until starting to brown.

Quarter a handful of cherry tomatoes and mix in with the avocado. Spread the mixture on the toast and sprinkle with the toasted pine nuts with some salt and pepper.

Fresh and zinging

Be generous with the lemon and pepper in your basic mixture, and then add finely chopped fresh red chilli to the avocado and mix well. Spread onto the toast as normal. 

If you find you don't use up the whole red chilli it can be chopped and popped into a freezer bag and frozen for future use.

Packed with protein

If you want some extra protein to keep you going throughout the day, simply drain and rinse some tinned cannellini beans. Warm through on the stove to soften. Spread on top of your avocado on toast and then top with a grinding of black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. 

Herb or truffle infused olive oil works really well here, plus any fresh herbs or salad leaves.

See our vegan recipe collection for more dairy and egg-free ideas, or browse our breakfast and brunch recipes for more kitchen inspiration.