Make this plant-based avocado toast If you have a ripe avocado laying around...it's perfect for breakfast, lunch, snacktime, or a light dinner, and the possibilities are endless!
Keep it simple with just avocado on toast with a little sea salt, or amp it up with some sprouts, chickpeas, pickled red onions, and sesame seeds.
There are so many ways to make a unique and tasty avocado toast. Let's dive in!
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📋 Ingredients
Basic avocado toast ingredients
To make this vegan avocado toast, you'll need a few basic ingredients:
- Bread slices - I prefer whole wheat. If you're feeling fancy, grab a bakery loaf
- Ripe avocados - pro tip: if your avocados aren't ripe (e.g. they're very hard and don't squish at all when you squeeze them), place into a paper or plastic bag for 24-48 hours. The ethylene gas that ripening fruit emits will help them ripen. Bonus points for adding a ripening banana to that bag. This is key for an extra creamy avocado mash.
- Pinch of salt and black pepper - season to taste
- Good olive oil for extra flavor
- Lime juice for extra tang and longer-lasting mashed avocado
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Vegan Topping Ideas
Now for the fun stuff...let's talk about things you can add to your plant-based avocado toast.
- Anything pickled - red onions, mushrooms and jalapenos are my favorite, and I almost always have a jar in my fridge for such occasions.
- Greens - sprouts, arugula, spinach are all great!
- Mango for a sweet and tropical vibe
- Herbs like thyme, parsley or basil for something a little more savory
- Sesame seeds or bagel seasoning - personal choice, they add a nice little crunch
- Pine nuts for a hint of nuttiness
- Tomato - summer is tomato season, and I love adding fresh slices to my avocado toast. Cherry tomatoes also works!
- Chickpeas - nothing like some soft chickpeas to make a protein-packed avocado toast, or crispy chickpeas for a little extra texture
Spreads
Smear these spreads on with your avocado for extra flavor...
- Hummus - if you're a hummus person, go for it! You'll get some extra protein and some smooth lemony flavor. It's a win/win!
- Harissa - harissa is a fabulous spicy mediterranean condiment
- Sriracha - but just a couple of drops! Very spicy...
Avocado mix-ins
- Red pepper flakes - if you like spicy food, add these to your avocado mixture
- Lemon or lime juice - a little citrus juice goes a long way. Bonus: this will slow down your avocado from browning
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
This avocado toast recipe and ideas are naturally vegan, dairy-free, refined sugar free and nut-free. As always, if you have a food allergy, always double check the packaging of any product.
For gluten-free avocado toast, use gluten free bread, or use these toppings on a roasted sweet potato instead!
If you're not a fan of avocados, use hummus instead. For a sweeter breakfast toast, try peanut butter or almond butter toast with sliced bananas, and fresh fruit.
In my humble opinion, the best avocado toast is a simple one. Here are my favorite combinations:
- Classic avocado toast: avocado with sea salt, pepper, and a spritz of lime juice
- Simple avocado toast: sesame seeds or bagel seasoning
- Open-faced avocado sandwich: avocado, hummus, tomato, pickled red onion, sprouts
- Spicy avocado toast: red pepper flakes, harissa
- Avocado toast with extra protein: avocado, hummus, chickpeas, sprouts, sesame seeds
Equipment
The equipment required to make a plant-based avocado toast is pretty simple, especially if you're willing to be lenient with the term "toast." The equipment below is for the simplest version of this toast.
- Sharp chef's knife - you'll use this knife to cut open your avocado and carefully remove the core
- Serrated knife or bread knife - for slicing your bread if you're using a bakery loaf
- Spoon - to scoop out the avocado
- Bowl - to mash the avocado
- Fork - not required, but mashes better than a spoon
- Toaster - if you're sticking with the traditional definition of toast, heat is required. If you don't have a toaster or toaster oven, you could toast your bread in a frying pan keeping a close eye on it (no walking away). For extra decadence with the frying pan method, add a little vegan butter. Given my experience with broiling this week, I would NOT recommend broiling anything. TL;DR - I unintentionally set my casserole on fire using the broiler.
Side note - it makes me feel a tad better that nearly all of the stories from these pros were broiler related. Do not pass go, do not use the broiler, do not collect $200. This article does a great job outlining the basics of kitchen fire safety.
If you plan to add some extras, you might need additional equipment:
- Jar for making pickled red onions, though a covered bowl will suffice in a pinch
- Cutting board for slicing pickled red onion
- Can-opener for opening can of chickpeas
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
First, open the avocado by slicing it in half lengthwise (hotdog style).
Now, carefully remove the pit with your knife. With your hands out of the way, place knife into pit of avocado. Carefully twist until pit is loose, then tap knife gently on side of trashcan to release pit.
Finally, scoop out the flesh of the avocado from the skin and place into a bowl.
Now mash avocado with a fork and add salt, pepper and lime juice to taste. Meanwhile, toast bread.
Spread avocado onto bread, and add your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Storage
Avocado toast is best fresh. Avocados brown once opened, and the bread will get soggy after a while.
If you must store your avocado toast masterpiece, I recommend mixing some citrus juice in with your avocado and storing in an airtight container for no more than 12 hours.
To store an extra avocado half, store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Bonus points for covering the flesh with some lime juice. Same for mashed avocado, though its life will be shorter.
💭 FAQs
Gently squeeze prospective avocados at the grocery store. It should be just slightly squishy.
Think about an avocado like a potato. If it's not baked, it's like an unripe avocado - hard and impossible to mash. Baked, it's a little soft and mashes nicely.
If the avocado is overripe, it'll feel hollow and too squishy. When you cut open an overripe avocado, it'll be gooey with brown spots inside, not the bright vibrant green you'd see from a ripe or unripe avocado.
If the avocado isn't ripe yet, it'll be hard as a rock.
Don't be afraid to buy avocados at various stages between unripe and ripe - once they're ready, you only have a couple days to enjoy.
The answer depends on how much time you have. 12-24 hours before using, place unripe avocado in a brown paper bag or near some ripening bananas. The ethylene gas the ripening fruit emits will help the avocados ripen faster.
On the flipside, if you'd like to slow the ripening, place avocado in the fridge away from other fruit.
To slow down the browning, add a little bit of citrus juice when you're mashing. The avocado browns because flesh of the avocado reacts with the oxygen in the air to produce melanin. Yes, melanin, the same pigment that colors our skin. Science is fun. Moving on.
I wouldn't recommend it, given avocado tends to brown when mixed with air, and your bread will probably get soggy. If you must store your avocado toast masterpiece, I recommend mixing some citrus juice in with your avocado and storing in an airtight container for no more than 12 hours.
A fresh bakery loaf with a hard crust is preferred. Personally, I like whole wheat, but you do you! Using a serrated knife, make slices ½-3/4 in thick. A nice reference point is a little thicker than the length of your fingernail.
A good old fashioned toaster works, but you can use a toaster oven, a broiler, or frying pan if needed. Make sure to toast the bread before adding the avocado or any toppings to avoid a drippy brown mess.
Yes, especially when made with whole grain bread. Avocado is a fruit that has a higher fat content than most fruits, but that's not a bad thing! The fat will keep you fuller for longer. Add some protein like chickpeas to complete this filling and healthy meal.
Baby avocados are best, especially if you're making avocado toast for one. Around here, they typically come in a set of 4. The rounder, fatter part is a little smaller than the palm of my hand.
First, don't remove from skin if you can avoid, and leave the pit in. Second, store in an airtight container. Next, if you have some lime or lemon juice, squeeze a little on top to prevent browning. Finally, refrigerate for up to 24 hours. After that, it might be a little too brown. If the top looks brown after 24 hours, try scooping off the top layer. If it's green below, you're good to go!
Top Tips
The key to great avocado toast is a perfectly ripe avocado. To ripen an avocado quickly, place into a brown paper bag or near ripening bananas for 12-24 hours. To slow down ripening, place avocados in the fridge.
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Plant-Based Avocado Toast
Ingredients
The basics:
- 4 Slices Bread Homemade or store bought
- 1 Avocado Ripe
- Pinch Salt and Pepper To Taste
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Lime Wedges
Add Ons
- 1 tablespoon Pickled Red Onion thinly sliced red onion + rice wine vinegar marinated for 24 hours
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
- 1 tablespoon Chickpeas
- 1 tablespoon Sprouts
- 1 Tomato Sliced
Mix Ins
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice Use less than you think - maybe 1 tsp. Start with a quarter or eighth, depending on how big your fruit is
- 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tablespoon Hummus
- 1 teaspoon Harissa
Instructions
- Toast the bread: If bread is not sliced, slice into pieces ½-3/4 in thick. Using your equipment of choice, toast your bread as desired. If using a broiler, monitor closely.
- Mash the avocado: Slice open the avocado (hotdog style), and remove the pit with your knife carefully. Remove the skin, and place avocado into a bowl. Add desired mix-ins and gently mash with a fork.
- Add the toppings: To build your toast, add avocado to your toasted bread using a spoon. If you're using or hummus/harissa, add first. Then add toppings and enjoy!
Jenny says
Love this avocado toast - it’s so simple, and the pickled red onions are 🔥 🔥 🔥