Stop Eating Boring Avocado Toast!
Somewhere on the menu of a hipster coffee shop, chic café, or a corner restaurant lies this trendy sustenance. This dish is what many considered a blip phenomenon, something that would soon come to lie in the graveyard of post infamous “instagrammable” cuisine. Yet, it has proved to remain in the thralls of many, as it has even seeped onto the menu of fast-food chain Dunkin’ Donuts. This dish can be one of textural havoc, wherein flavorless mush sits atop a piece of structureless bread. Yet, if done right, this dish lends itself as a light and filling cover of tender, bright fruit lying atop a sturdy bed of gluten. Moreover, it should provide several levels of impactful flavor, all of which make your tastebuds glisten. It is with the antecedent description that I lend my guide to avocado toast:
- The most crucial component of this dish does not involve the avocado itself, but the structure to which it is built upon.
I can remember ordering this dish from a restaurant, only to end in a predicament where the fruit and bread disjoin. Flimsy bread serves as the bane of all respectable avocado toast. It can and will consistently lead to sub-par avocado toast. However, bread that is too thick and crusty can lead to an overpowering ratio of bread to avocado.
The bread should ideally lie on a 1:1 ratio with the avocado. Yet, there is a level of adaptation dependent on the type of bread, such as a thin slice of rye that can easily handle a dense heaping of avocado, or a thicker slice of brioche that provides the extra support to handle such heaping.
After choosing the bread of choice, I recommend toasting and buttering. Doing such provides the luxe silk bed any avocado desires to lay upon.
2. The proximal component of this dish is the avocado.
The avocado is a fruit that serves as a blank palate to which one can add whichever component of flavors they may wish. When choosing an avocado, one must decide which form they want their avocado to take. This step is one which one’s artistic endeavors may take flight-where aesthetics and food meet. The simplest, and quickest way to prepare an avocado for toast is smashing it. This involves a ripe to over-ripe avocado, and a fork to mash it. However, I typically urge away from this method, since it leaves irregular chunks and uneven levels of spice.
Instead, I opt to whip the avocado, as it combines all components together evenly- providing an effortlessly light and silky texture. Furthermore, it can be spread on the bread, or even piped to create textural anomalies. As with smashing, it is ideal to utilize ripe avocadoes since they soften easier. When whipping, I typically add a teaspoon of olive oil to smoothen further, alongside whichever spices of my choosing. It is pleasurable to mix components into the whipped avocado such as feta cheese, or even sauerkraut.
Another way to form the avocado is by slicing it. I would recommend using just ripe or slightly underripe avocados, as they retain shape better. I like to slice mine very thin, on a slant. This way, I can create different patterns or shapes that easily fit within the bounds of the crust. Sliced avocado serves as a nice juxtaposition to its whipped counterpart, since seasoning is added on top of the avocado rather than within it. In this manner, I like to play around with more upfront accoutrements, such as bold spice- for the avocado can provide the cooling effect to counter the heat.
3. Next comes the spice & toppings.
Toppings add necessary textural differentiation. They can be used to add a ping of umami, a spicy blip, or sweet lushness. When adding avocado, whether it be whipped or sliced, I season with just salt and pepper. Therefore, my toppings allow for intense punches of flavor to create as much layered seasoning as possible. Over my avocado, I like to add hot paprika, as it creates a sight hue of color and light spice. Za’atar, or white pepper mimic similar effects.
I like to incorporate the bulk of my flavor in nuts and seeds. These add necessary crunch and can quickly take on various forms of flavor. A quick sauté in cultured butter and bold spices can transform the dish. Some of my favorite combinations are minced jalapeño with pepitas, honeyed pine nuts, or mustard coated almonds.
Additionally, anything pickled adds yet another level of flavor. You cannot go wrong here, as the acidity provides a sensible balance to the avocado base. I recommend pickled red onions, beets, or capers.
4. Lastly, I would like to specifically highlight a necessary addition to any avocado toast: herbs.
Herbs provide crisp freshness, while balancing the eye from the avocado green. I have a raging affinity for dill, however; cilantro, parsley, chives, or any other herbs could be put into play. It is important to add only a sprig of one or two, for they can quickly overpower a dish.
With this basic lesson in mind, below are four of my most desirable avocado toast combinations. Take all as a guiding hand. I urge you to go out and create your own!
Whipped Avocado and Sauerkraut Toast
Placed atop thin rye halves topped with pickled red onion, fresh dill, and a generous sprinkling of hot paprika.
Ribboned Carrot & Prosciutto Avocado Toast
Placed atop thick lepinja slice topped with fresh cucumber, dill, and a light sprinkling of za’atar.
Slant-Cut Avocado and Pepita Toast
Placed atop a thin slice of dark rye smeared with browned butter. Topped with crushed red pepper, and fresh dill.
Butterflied Avocado Toast with Slightly Sautéed Chives
Placed atop a thick slice of whole-grain sourdough. Enhanced with a generous dollop of whole-milk yogurt, fair sprinkling of crushed red pepper, and fresh leaves of cilantro.
