Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast

Elevate your breakfast or lunch with this luxuriously fresh take on avocado toast.

I’ve always thought that, when it comes to smoked salmon, there’s no pairing quite like cream cheese. While nothing can take away the fact that this combination is an absolute classic, there is one contender that really gives it a run for its money. That contender—or rather, ingredient—is avocado.

After all, avocado has become a breakfast staple (at least for me), so it’s no wonder that it’s found its way into this smoked salmon avocado toast. This recipe makes regular ol’ avocado toast seem like child’s play. The foundation of creamy avocado on perfectly toasted whole grain bread gets taken to a whole new level by adding the luxurious flavor of smoked salmon, the added freshness of microgreens and thinly sliced cucumber, plus the refreshing punch of lemon juice and red onions. This is something I love making for myself when I want to treat myself to a breakfast a little more special than usual, or make for guests as a simple yet refined brunch option.

What to look for when buying smoked salmon?

One of the easiest ways to determine the quality of smoked salmon, without even looking at the brand, price, or ingredients, is the color. High-quality smoked salmon should appear vibrant, with a bright pink or orange hue. If the color looks dull, the flavor probably is too.

You can take it a step further by reading the fine print, AKA checking the salmon’s ingredients, smoking process, and origin. If you’re aiming for high-quality salmon, you’re going to want something with as few ingredients as possible: salmon, salt, and wood smoke. Excessive preservatives, additives, and artificial flavorings are to be avoided, if possible. You may also want to pay attention to the smoking process, as cold smoking is more indicative of high-quality smoked salmon, since it helps the fish retain its natural silky texture while providing a more delicate smokiness.

Finally, you can pay attention to the origin of the salmon if you’re looking for high-quality fish or want to make more sustainable shopping choices. Wild-caught salmon, for example, is not only considered to be a product of more sustainable fishing practices, but also thought to deliver better flavors and quality.

How do I store leftovers?

This recipe is best consumed fresh. If you do have leftovers though, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but it’s better to consume them as early as possible, as the bread will start to soften or even become soggy, and the avocado will start to brown with time.

Serving suggestions

This recipe is great for breakfast or lunch, so I often end up pairing it with some kind of coffee beverage. Sometimes, that means boring filter coffee, but if I want to make something a little more indulgent, I look to these recipes for an Iced Latte or this Homemade Caramel-Vanilla Iced Coffee. Or, I swap the coffee for this Iced Matcha Latte. If you’re looking for more beverage ideas, a smoothie is a great way to add even more fresh flavors alongside a recipe like this. Some personal favs of mine include a Blueberry-Banana Smoothie, a Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie, or this Green Smoothie.