How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast

How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast, on polka dot plate with lemon half

As I was making avocado toast for, oh, the thousandth time, I realized that the recipe needed a home on the blog. 


How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast

While we've been making and loving lemony avo toast for years and years, this is the version of the recipe we're eating on repeat lately.


Our favorite avocado toast is bright and peppy with a kick of red pepper and oh, so satisfying. 


Our Favorite Avocado Toast

Inspired by La La Land Kind Cafe's avocado toast, ours has lemon and chili flakes, but I opt for cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. 


good culture cottage cheese with lemon

I'm going to insist that you look for good culture cottage cheese. I'm a first-born and bossy like that. It IS, as they say, "ridiculously good." I've found it at my local H-E-B, Whole Foods, and Target. 


Cottage cheese makes avocado toast more filling and satisfying - and adds protein, too! 


First, let's talk about how to pick an avocado.

I look for firm avocados that don't squish when lightly pressed. When I get home from the store, I place the avocados in a paper lunch bag on the counter. I check every day or so until I notice that when pressed, there's a little "give." Transfer them to the refrigerator, where they'll stay fresh for several days. 


Keys to making avocado toast:

  • thin-sliced bread. My preference is sourdough but sometimes use thin Dave's Killer Bread. While I love a thick slice of bread toasted with butter, eating avo toast on a thin piece is easier.
  • bread should be toasted but cooled. Toast the bread, then let it rest on top of the toaster or on a wire rack to cool so it stays crisp and doesn't get soggy.
  • perfectly ripe avocados (see above)
  • finishing salt. I love FalkSalt with its large crystals for avocado toast (and, um, ice cream pie), but fleur de sel is great, too. 

How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast


silver two-slice toaster with sourdough bread in slots

Toast bread, setting aside to cool while you prep the rest. 

lemon zest in microplane

Start by zesting a lemon. Not a baby lemon, one of the big ones. Do this before cutting the lemon in half; it's much easier! (I love my microplane for zesting!)


Cut avocado in half. I like a serrated sandwich knife like this one for the job. Squeeze lemon juice over the halves. 

cut and slice avocado collage

While still in the peel, slice the avocado (this will make mashing easier), then scoop slices out with a spoon. 

avocado mash for avo toast
Squeeze more lemon juice over the avocado slices, along with a large pinch of kosher salt. Mash until smooth or slightly chunky. Add freshly ground pepper and mash until combined.

cottage cheese base for avocado toast

Spread cottage cheese on top of toast. Add freshly ground pepper on top. 

How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast

Spread the mashed avocado on top. 

How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast

Sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt, then crushed red pepper, then the lemon zest. 

Eat immediately! 

How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast

Optional avocado toast toppings:

  • crumbled bacon
  • sprouts
  • halved grape tomatoes





Our Favorite Avocado Toast
{makes 2}

2 thin slices sourdough bread
1 large lemon
1 large ripe avocado
pinch kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
5.3-ounce container cottage cheese (whole milk or low-fat), about 2/3 cup
flaky sea salt, such as Falksalt
crushed red pepper

Toast bread. Remove from toaster and let cool. Place on a wire rack or just across the top of the toaster to keep the toast crisp.

Use a microplane to zest a large lemon. Set zest aside and cut lemon in half, reserving one half for another use. 

Halve an avocado, remove pit, and squeeze lemon juice over the exposed flesh. Slice avocado while still in the peel, then use a large spoon to scoop out onto a cutting board. Squeeze remainder of the lemon half over top, along with a large pinch of kosher salt. 

Use a fork to mash until smooth or slightly chunky. Add freshly ground pepper and mash lightly to incorporate. 

Divide cottage cheese over the two pieces of toast. Top with freshly ground pepper. 

Gently spread avocado mixture on top of the cottage cheese. 

Top toasts with a sprinkling of flaky sea salt (breaking apart large flakes with your fingers as you sprinkle), crushed red pepper, and reserved lemon zest. 

Serve immediately. 


How to Make Our Favorite Avocado Toast

Sending you an avocado toast cheers from Texas, where this is in our weekly (or more!) rotation! 


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