5 creative ways to top your avocado toast

Classic avocado toast with flake salt, fresh pepper, and lots of extra-virgin olive oil (photography by Margo True)

At various points in my life, I’ve had too many burgers, too much wine, too much bacon, too much cheese. But I can never get enough avocado toast.

I don’t know about you, but I think this is the best food trend ever. All you need is the idea, based on what’s in your fridge and pantry. Plus an avocado and toast.

My only two principles:

1. Avocado toast should take less than 5 minutes to make (it is a craving, after all).

2. Avocado toast must use at least 1/2 avocado per toast.

The possibilities for avocado toast are endless. Just think about it!

Today I like these five.

1. Smoked salmon avocado toast

How to make it: toasted pumpernickle + smoked salmon + avocado + red onion + capers

2. Bonito-flake avocado toast

How to make it: soy sauce, white vinegar, and bonito flakes

Bonito flakes (shaved from dried skipjack tuna) are often used to make the Japanese soup stock, dashi. They taste unexpectedly great on avocado toast!

3. Black olive avocado toast

How to make it: toasted walnut bread + diced avocado and chopped black olives + parsley + extra virgin olive oil

4. Shichimi togarashi avocado toast

How to make it: toasted brioche + thoroughly mashed avocado + shichimi togarashi

Shichimi togarashi is a Japanese chile blend.

5. Tomato and roasted pepper avocado toast

How to make it: toasted brioche + mayo + mashed avocado + roasted piquillo peppers + tomato + torn basil

How do you make avocado toast? Clearly, I would like to know.