Caprese Avocado Toast
Caprese avocado toast made with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and creamy avocado served on top of a crispy slice of toast is the best way to liven up your summer morning, lunch, or afternoon snack!
Avocado caprese toast is where a caprese salad meets avocado toast. A 2-for-1 deal too good to pass up, because it takes the best parts of each and makes one heck of a delicious bite.
About this recipe
A Caprese salad is a common appetizer found in Italian restaurants (or you know, Italy) and it’s made with tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil, drizzled with olive oil and topped with a sprinkling of salt. Avocado toast is delicious creamy avocado, either sliced, diced, or mashed, with a light seasoning, placed on top of toast. It can also be served with tomato, a fried egg (try it with a pesto egg!), or a simple squeeze of lemon.
The genius of this recipe is that it is a combination of both! Zesty juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and creamy avocado on top of a crispy slice of toast, and drizzled with a balsamic glaze make up the deliciousness known as caprese avocado toast.
It’s a relatively simple concept of combining a few fresh ingredients that are super healthy and come with a slew of nutrients such as vitamin C, good fats, and fiber to name a few. And you know what? The most basic recipes can end up being the most noteworthy because sometimes it’s just about the pure and simple flavor of fresh ingredients.
So, go ahead and start putting this recipe into your rotation because it’s bound to become a favorite! Try serving it with candied bacon for a truly amazing breakfast!
What you need
- Toasted bread – Any type of bread will work. Rye, sourdough, Italian or French bread, whole wheat, or any of your gluten-free faves.
- Olive oil – Since there are so few ingredients in this toast recipe, consider using a good quality cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. You get what you pay for, and it’s worth it!
- Avocado – Peeled and sliced. A ripe avocado will peel easier and be nice and creamy.
- Mozzarella cheese– Use fresh mozzarella, sliced or pearls, drained well. A vegan fresh mozzarella cheese will also work in this recipe.
- Tomatoes – Grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half, or sliced plum tomatoes.
- Balsamic vinegar – On its own or reduced into a glaze for a drizzle topping.
- Basil leaves – A fresh bright herb that is always part of a classic caprese.
- Flaky sea salt – Adds such a lovely finish. Don’t skip it!
How to make it
Drizzle the toasted bread with the olive oil. Top with sliced avocado.
Next, add mozzarella and tomato. You’ll probably want to plan on eating this with a fork and knife!
Drizzle with balsamic vinegar reduction and top with basil and flaky sea salt. Serve immediately.
TIP: Placing the tomatoes on after the avocado and cheese helps to avoid soggy toast especially if you’re using particularly juicy tomatoes.
How to make a quick balsamic reduction
Add a cup of good quality balsamic vinegar to a sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium high. Reduce heat and simmer until it’s reduced down, about 5-7 minutes. Once it’s nice and thick it should be able to coat the back of a wooden spoon and separate when you run a finger down the middle.
You won’t need a cup for this recipe, so be sure to store the rest in the fridge and use it for other things like salad dressings, bread dips, or a drizzle over grilled peaches!
Tips for picking ripe avocados
- Looking at it, you should see no blemishes or white spots.
- It should give a little when pressed gently. Too much means it’s overripe, and no give means it’s not ripe enough.
- The little nub at the end of the avocado should fall out easily when ripe and the avocado should be green underneath.
- It should smell like an avocado.
FAQs
It’s a beautiful Italian salad composed of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil (how perfect is it that those are the 3 colors of the Italian flag?). It can be arranged layered on a plate or combined all willy nilly in a bowl. Same difference, they’re both amazing. Some people enjoy a drizzle of olive oil or a balsamic vinaigrette. The caprese combination has become a common trio used in so much more than salads. It can be used as a sandwich filling, a pizza topping, a bruschetta topping, and more.
Yes, it is! Caprese is essentially tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, and while some people find dairy inflammatory, if dairy doesn’t bother you, eating cheese in moderation can be a great source of protein. Tomatoes are a delicious source of Vitamin C and basil has an abundance of essential oils and beta-carotene, as well as antioxidants.
Absolutely! Avocado toast will keep you fueled with fiber, good fats, protein and Vitamin B6, and omega among other benefits. If you enjoy it on a slice of sprouted wheat bread, sourdough, or rye you’re upping the nutritional value.
How to make this toast your own
- Instead of drizzling your bread with olive oil, try spreading it with chive butter for added fresh flavor.
- Grill slices of crusty bread, rub it with garlic, and top it with Caprese toppings and you’ve got yourself a Caprese bruschetta which makes a great appetizer.
- Double up the toast and make it a Caprese sandwich for lunch.
- Swap cottage cheese, goat cheese, or feta for the mozzarella for a flavor and texture twist.
- Keep some extra Caprese topping and add it to pizza tonight.
- To make a vegan version use a vegan mozzarella like Miyokos Cashew Mozzarella Wheel.
- For a slightly different twist, try roasted tomato avocado toast.
Make Ahead Ideas
This recipe is best served immediately but there are a couple things you could do to prep ahead.
You can combine the tomatoes and mozzarella together along with the balsamic vinegar and keep stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Tomatoes are generally better if you don’t refrigerate them, but if you do this, the flavors will meld together and the balsamic will marinate the tomatoes and mozzarella.
Slicing avocado is usually best done right before consuming. However, if you do slice it ahead of time, drizzle with a little bit of lemon juice and store it in an airtight container. If it has turned brown, just scrape off the brown layer to expose the bright green flesh once again. Serve on toast when you’re ready to eat!
Breakfast beverages
Wash your delicious avocado toast down with one of these mouthwatering morning sips:
- Iced Caramel Coffee
- Blueberry Smoothie
- Iced Vanilla Latte
- Mimosa
- Beermosa
- Cinnamon Dolce Latte
- Pineapple Smoothie
Get the Recipe: Caprese Avocado Toast
Ingredients
- 1 slice bread, toasted
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ avocado, peeled and sliced
- 1 ounce fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced or pearls
- 3-4 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar or balsamic vinegar reduction, for topping
- Basil leaves, for garnish
- Flaky sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- Drizzle the toasted bread with the olive oil.
- Top with sliced avocado, mozzarella, and tomato.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar reduction and top with basil and flaky sea salt. Serve immediately.
Notes
- A vegan mozzarella would also work, such as Miyokos Cashew Mozzarella Wheel.