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Top-It-Your-Way Avocado Toast

By America's Test Kitchen Kids

Published on March 17, 2023

Time

15 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

What Kids Are Saying

“Tastes good. Pretty easy to make.” —Nicky, recipe tester, age 15

Top-It-Your-Way Avocado Toast

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons lemon juice, squeezed from ½ lemon⅛ teaspoon table salt Pinch pepper 2 (½-inch-thick) slices crusty bread Toppings (see note, below)

Before You Begin

Be sure to use small, dark-colored Hass avocados for your toast—they have a rich flavor and buttery texture. Larger, bright-green Florida or “skinny” avocados are too watery for this recipe; save them for salads. To tell if an avocado is ripe, gently squeeze it in the palm of your hand—if it’s a little soft, it’s ripe. Add even more flavor, texture, and color to your avocado toast with toppings such as pickled red onions, crumbled cooked bacon, quartered cherry tomatoes, mashed beans, fresh herbs, chili crisp, or even a fried egg. Or try sprinkling it with your favorite spice blend.

Instructions

  1. Remove pit from avocado following photos, “Step-by-Step: How to Pit an Avocado.” Use spoon to scoop avocado from skin onto cutting board. Use chef’s knife to cut 1 half of avocado into ½-inch pieces. Cut second half into thin slices.
  2. In small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add chopped avocado to bowl and use whisk to mash until mostly smooth and well combined with dressing.
  3. Toast bread until golden on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread mashed avocado evenly over each piece of toast.
  4. Arrange avocado slices evenly over top. Add your favorite toppings. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Top-It-Your-Way Avocado Toast
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Kendra Smith.

Top-It-Your-Way Avocado Toast

Save

Time

15 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

What Kids Are Saying

“Tastes good. Pretty easy to make.” —Nicky, recipe tester, age 15

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice, squeezed from ½ lemon
⅛ teaspoon table salt
Pinch pepper
2 (½-inch-thick) slices crusty bread
Toppings (see note, below)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice, squeezed from ½ lemon
⅛ teaspoon table salt
Pinch pepper
2 (½-inch-thick) slices crusty bread
Toppings (see note, below)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice, squeezed from ½ lemon
⅛ teaspoon table salt
Pinch pepper
2 (½-inch-thick) slices crusty bread
Toppings (see note, below)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Kids can make their avocado toast a delicious work of art with this recipe. Crunchy toast is topped with both mashed and sliced avocado, plus whatever toppings kids want! This recipe is all about contrasting textures, giving kids an opportunity to practice using adjectives as they make and eat their toast. Ask kids: What adjectives would you use to describe the toast? (some examples: crunchy, chewy, crisp) What adjectives would you use to describe the avocado? (some examples: creamy, buttery, thick) Have kids do the same for the toppings they add to their avocado toast.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use small, dark-colored Hass avocados for your toast—they have a rich flavor and buttery texture. Larger, bright-green Florida or “skinny” avocados are too watery for this recipe; save them for salads. To tell if an avocado is ripe, gently squeeze it in the palm of your hand—if it’s a little soft, it’s ripe. Add even more flavor, texture, and color to your avocado toast with toppings such as pickled red onions, crumbled cooked bacon, quartered cherry tomatoes, mashed beans, fresh herbs, chili crisp, or even a fried egg. Or try sprinkling it with your favorite spice blend.

Instructions

  1. Remove pit from avocado following photos, “Step-by-Step: How to Pit an Avocado.” Use spoon to scoop avocado from skin onto cutting board. Use chef’s knife to cut 1 half of avocado into ½-inch pieces. Cut second half into thin slices.
  2. In small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add chopped avocado to bowl and use whisk to mash until mostly smooth and well combined with dressing.
  3. Toast bread until golden on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread mashed avocado evenly over each piece of toast.
  4. Arrange avocado slices evenly over top. Add your favorite toppings. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

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