Here’s How Celebrities Like Ina Garten, Gordon Ramsay and More Make Their Avocado Toast
We’ve hunted down recipes from your favorite chefs and cooks, from Ina Garten to Gordon Ramsay, so you can get some brunch inspo from the folks who know best.
Garten: Noam Galai/WireImage/Getty Images. Ramsey: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images.
Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RDReviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RD
Avocado toast has become almost as ubiquitous as bacon and eggs for breakfast, and it’s not hard to see why. The infinitely customizable breakfast is a tasty combination of textures that you can whip together in minutes, whether you opt for something spicy, something hearty or something light and simple.
Plus, the star ingredient can be a nutritious breakfast solution. Avocados are a great source of fiber, which can help support your gut health, and their healthy fats have even been tied to a reduced risk of heart disease. Opt for a sturdy, filling whole-wheat bread—whole grains can help you stay satisfied longer—and you’re on your way to a tasty and balanced breakfast.
As with any classic dish, the experts have their tips for making avocado toast as delicious as it can possibly be. (Our own test kitchen, for instance, recommends taking the extra step of smashing the avocado in a separate bowl to prevent soggy toast.) That’s why we’ve rounded up the avocado toast methods and toppings from some of our favorite chefs and cooks, from Gordon Ramsay to Ina Garten. With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll be prepared whenever an avocado toast craving strikes, whether that means a quick breakfast for one or a snazzy brunch for six.
Gordon Ramsay
The chef and star of Hell’s Kitchen and MasterChef describes his simple take on avocado toast as “light, healthy, quick”—perfect for when hunger strikes. The most critical part of Ramsay’s version is a spice blend of black sesame seeds, salt, black pepper and fresh lemon zest. Ramsay uses a heavy touch on the red pepper flakes, but the best part about a build-your-own seasoning blend is customizing it to suit your taste. Add more sesame seeds if you love the umami and crunch, or double the lemon zest if you prefer something citrusy.
To bring all his ingredients together, Ramsay starts by toasting his sourdough bread in olive oil in a grill pan. Then he thinly slices his avocado and uses about one-quarter of an avocado for each slice of toast, fanning the slices out and pressing them lightly into the bread. He finishes his array of toasts with a spritz of lemon juice and a sprinkle of his seasoning blend and then dishes it up for all to enjoy.
Related: Gordon Ramsay's Version of Butter Chicken Is Ready in Just 15 Minutes
Ree Drummond
If you’re looking for an avocado toast that’s pretty enough for a postcard, look no further than Ree Drummond's caprese-inspired toasts. All you’ll need is cherry tomatoes, mozzarella salad, jarred pesto, red pepper flakes, lemon, balsamic glaze, avocado and your favorite bread. Like Ramsay, Drummond toasts her bread in a skillet with a mouthwatering touch of butter and then piles on the toppings.
The base layer is smashed avocado, which she seasons with lemon juice and zest, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Then comes the caprese element—a simple combination of halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pesto, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper—which gets piled right on top of the avocado. The Pioneer Woman polishes everything off with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and, optionally, a few edible flowers. You’ll definitely need a fork and knife to take on this toast, but it’s certain to make a stunning Instagram post.
Nigella Lawson
In classic Nigella Lawson style, these aren’t just basic avocado toasts—they’re Breakfast Bruschetta. These stylish little toasties would make a great addition to a potluck brunch or a fun light lunch to enjoy with friends or family. Simply slice up and toast sourdough bread and then top it with a mixture of avocado, lime juice, flaky sea salt and black pepper. Mash the avocado in a separate bowl to combine it with all those flavors and then distribute the avocado among your toasts and sprinkle each one with parsley.
For a pairing you won’t soon forget, Lawson serves her avocado toasts with toasts topped with a light tomato bruschetta. You can pull together those treats by drizzling your toasts with olive oil and topping them with chopped tomato, salt and pepper. Put them on a platter with the avocado toasts and serve it all with Lemonade Mimosas for a flavor-packed brunch.
Related: The #1 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredient to Add to Your Sandwiches
Ina Garten
Ina Garten’s simple avocado toast method begins just as ours does—with a sturdy slice of whole-grain bread. As her bread toasts, Garten simmers one egg for each toast she’s making in a medium saucepan for 6½ minutes. If you follow her recipe, just be sure to lower the eggs into the water carefully, so as not to break the shells. While the eggs and toast cook, combine avocado, lemon juice, Sriracha, salt and pepper in a small bowl, using a fork to mash the avocado and stir in the seasoning.
When the eggs are done, run them under cool water to stop the cooking process, then peel and slice each one in half. With the eggs and toast ready, spread the avocado across each piece of toast and top it with the egg, which should have a perfectly soft-boiled yolk. Sprinkle on a touch more salt and pepper, and you’re all set.
Related: Ina Garten's 6 Tips for Making Scrambled Eggs Will Level Up Your Breakfast Game
Giada de Laurentiis
Inspired by the avocado rose trend that hit social media in 2020, Giada de Laurentiis shared her twist on avocado toast that caprese fans will love. She starts by making an avocado rose, a pretty way of serving avocado that *looks* intimidating but is actually relatively simple to replicate. First, slice your avocado in half, peel it and remove the pit. Then, use a sharp knife to thinly slice the avocado crosswise. Leave all the slices in place on your cutting board and use your hands to gently rotate the slices so they form a kind of rope shape. You’ll notice that the avocado slices start to look like a barber pole, as the slice marks appear as diagonal slashes on a straight line of avocado. When your avocado is straightened, start at one end and begin coiling the avocado line. The slices will start to separate as you coil, resulting in a pretty rose shape.
Transfer the avocado rose to your slice of toast, and then drizzle it with a bit of olive oil. To the center of your avocado rose, add a quartered cherry tomato, and to the center of your cherry tomato, add a small piece of torn fresh mozzarella. The result is a mini floral masterpiece on bread, making it a perfect option for a brunch presentation that will impress all your pals.
Related: 21 Caprese Recipes in Three Steps or Less
Joanna Gaines
If you head down to Waco, Texas, the city Chip and Joanna Gaines call home, you might just have to swing by Magnolia Table, the pair’s restaurant. According to the Magnolia Table menu, these toasts start with a thick slice of toasted sourdough bread, which gets topped with a green goddess spread, avocado slices, arugula and cherry tomatoes, plus “housemade lemon salt,” pepper flakes and a touch of olive oil. (You can also add a poached egg, if you like.)
To copy these toasts at home, you’ll want to start with the green goddess layer. While you could snag a bottle of green goddess dressing or dip at the store, we’re especially fond of our own Green Goddess Dressing recipe. It’s rich and creamy, thanks to the avocado, buttermilk and yogurt that make the base of the dressing, and fresh herbs, lemon and garlic give it a big punch of flavor. You can keep whatever dressing you don’t use for toasts in the fridge and then deploy it on a fun salad or use it as a dip for crudités.
Once your green goddess layer is ready, most of the other ingredients are straightforward—pile on the avocado, arugula and cherry tomatoes, followed by the red pepper flakes and olive oil. If you want to go all out and replicate the lemon salt, try combining the zest of a lemon with flaky sea salt in a small bowl. Use your fingers to pinch the zest and salt together, which should break up the larger salt flakes and release some of the natural oils in the lemon zest. Then sprinkle some of that delish combination atop your toasts, and you’re ready for brunch.
Related: Wake Up Right: 20 Easy, Healthy Breakfast Recipes Perfect for Every Kind of Morning
Read the original article on Eating Well.
