With a few simple tips and tricks I’ll show you how to turn a boring Smashed Avocado on Toast into something beyond delicious. A Cafe Style Smashed Avo in the comfort of your own home!
If living in Melbourne taught me one thing, it’s that eating overpriced smashed avocado on toast was a weekly occurrence for everybody. No matter your location or bank balance, you will find the most over the top smashed avo and pay a ridiculous amount of money for it. It’s just the way of life whether you like it or not, a disease that takes over you the second you land in the city. I’m here today to show you that you don’t have to part with $20 for a delicious smashed avocado on toast.
Smashed Avocado
We’ll get to the smashed avocado toppings in just a sec, but firstly let’s talk about the smashed avocado itself.
Tips for the perfect smashed avocado
- Perfectly ripe avocado: Nothing worse than an underripe avo. You want it soft, but not bruised. The skin should be dark and soft (but not mushy) to touch. Here’s a great article on how to pick and buy fresh avocados.
- Be gentle with the avocado: The key is to lightly smash, not completely mash. Leaving chunks in the bottom layer holds the whole dish together once you start stacking. I much prefer the rustic kinda style of smashed avo rather than a purée smeared on the bottom. Each to their own!
- Season well: Be sure to bring out the best in the avo with salt, pepper, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice BEFORE you start stacking. Keep the avo the star of the show by enhancing its natural goodness.
Process shots: dice avocado (photo 1), season then lightly smash (photo 2).
Best Bread for Avocado Toast
Without any hesitation I always reach for a good quality freshly baked Sourdough. It’s got a nice firm, almost chewy texture which makes the perfect base for the soft texture of the avocado. Also, you’re gonna be stacking it sky high so you need a firm base 🤣
Toasted Sourdough
I like to toast the bread for two reasons: first is it helps create that nice crispy and firm base. Secondly is it helps prevent the avocado toast from getting soggy. I like to toast the bread in a scorching hot pan to create a little bit of char (extra flavour) but you could just as easily broil under the grill.
Process shots: slice bread (photo 1), brush with oil (photo 2), place in scorching hot pan (photo 3), fry both sides (photo 4).
Avocado Toast Toppings
Right, here’s where things get a little crazy 😂 In true cafe style, slightly (very) over the top, yet classy enough to want to face plant. The great thing about this dish is you take it as far as you like, there are no rules with the smashed avo and that’s the beauty of it.
The perfect concoction contains a variety of textures and a gorgeous balance of sweet, salty and sour. You can truly follow your heart with what to top smashed avocado with, but just for a guide, here’s what goes down in my household:
Ingredients for the best Smashed Avocado
- Toast – I always go for Sourdough, but whatever you choose make sure it’s a nice, thick slice.
- Smashed Avo – As discussed, lightly smashed, with lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, s&p.
- Bacon – Must I really justify this!?
- Feta – One of my favourite cheeses that goes nicely with avocado. Also adds a nice saltiness to the dish. Substitutes for this could be halloumi (more salty) or ricotta (less salty)
- Radish – Adds a nice sweet and slightly peppery flavour, alongside a crunchy texture. No subs for this, just leave out if you don’t have it.
- Pumpkin Seeds – Adds a nutty flavour and little crunch. Can sub sunflower seeds or leave out.
- Cress – Finishes the dish. Can sub any other micro salad i.e pea shoots.
- Roasted Cherry Tomatoes – These are a must to serve alongside! Adds a nice bit of sweetness to the dish.
Avocado and Egg on Toast
Just ooooooone more ingredient. The egg of course (sorry, I felt like this needed its own section 😂). Avocado and egg is a match made in heaven, and smashed avocado on toast is no different. 90% of the time I’ll go for a poached egg on top of the smashed avocado, just so all that gorgeous yolk pours down, but sometimes I’ll switch it up and go for a fried egg. For a more in depth tutorial of how to poach an egg, check out my perfectly poached egg!
For more similar recipes check out these beauties:
Avocado Brunch Recipes
Alrighty, let’s tuck into this smashed avocado recipe shall we!?
How to make Smashed Avocado on Toast (Full Recipe & Video)
Cafe Style Smashed Avocado on Toast
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Equipment
- Pot, Ladle & Paper Towels (for poached eggs)
- Baking Tray (for tomatoes)
- Frying Pan (for bacon, or bake with tomatoes)
- Griddle Pan & Brush (for toast, or broil under grill)
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
Ingredients
Smashed Avo
- 2 large Perfectly Ripe Avocados, pitted & roughly diced (can sub 3 medium or 4 small avos)
- 1/2 tbsp EACH: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Juice
- 1/4 tsp EACH: Salt & Black Pepper, or to taste
Toast
- 2 large slices of Sourdough Bread
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, as needed
Toppings
- 1/2 cup / 70g Feta, crumbled
- 20 Vined Cherry Tomatoes, to serve (5 on each vine)
- 8 slices Bacon, cooked to preference
- 6 small Radishes, very finely sliced
- 4 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds, can sub sunflower seeds
- 4 pinches of Cress
- 4 Eggs
- sprinkle of Toasted Sesame Seeds, to garnish egg (optional)
Instructions
- Tomatoes: Drizzle tomatoes with a little oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper, then place in the oven at 200C/400F for around 10-15 minutes, or until the skin begins to wilt.
- Avocado: Meanwhile, in a bowl combine avocado with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Lightly smash with a fork. Place to one side.
- Toast: Brush both sides of the sourdough with oil then place in a scorching hot griddle pan until little charred on both sides. Can broil under the grill if you’d prefer.
- Eggs: Bring a pot of water to a very gentle simmer. Crack an egg into a small bowl or ramekin then gently lower in the egg. Quickly repeat with the other eggs. Cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly firm but still with a visibly runny yolk. Drain with your ladle and place on paper towel to absorb unwanted water.
- Stack: Build the toast in the following order – toast, avocado, bacon, radish, feta, seeds, cress, egg and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if using.
Video
Notes
b) Hot Toast – There’s nothing worse than a gorgeous smashed avocado on toast recipe, which is served on cold, chewy toast. Make sure you leave toasting the sourdough until the last moment/whilst the eggs are poaching so it’s served hot and toasty!
c) Simple Avocado Toast – If you’re after a simple smashed avocado recipe, just lightly smash the avocado in plenty of salt and pepper (and extra virgin live oil and lemon juice if you have it) and top with chilli flakes.
d) Substitutes – You can of course follow your heart (or fridge) with any toppings you desire, but if you’re looking to replicate this smashed avo, these subs might be helpful:
- Feta: Halloumi (more salty) or Ricotta (less salty).
- Pumpkin Seeds: Sunflower seeds or use a seeded bread.
- Cress: any other micro salad (like pea shoots)
- Radish: no sub for this, just leave it out if you don’t have it. Not a deal breaker.
e) Calories – per toast assuming 2 extra tbsp of oil in total:
Nutrition
Looking for more toast recipes? Check out these beauties:
Delicious Toast Recipes
- Fried Egg on Toast
- Avocado Cream Cheese Toast
- Creamy Mushrooms on Toast
- Tomato Avocado Toast
- Avocado Egg Toast
If you loved this Smashed Avocado recipe be sure to pin it for later! Already made it or got a burning question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
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