I think we can all agree that "Avocado Toast" is one of life's greatest culinary simple pleasures, yes? Take some toasted bread, a ripe, buttery (healthy fat-filled) avocado, some optional seasonings and such and your perfect snack is born.
Now I won't lie. I usually generously sprinkle (drown..) my avocado toast in seasoned chili salt and pepper because that is how I love it. But okay yes, even plain au natural, salt-free avocado on toast tastes delish. And for today's post I'm featuring another low sodium way to serve up avocado toast. This toast is brimming with bright sunny flavors of basil, lemon, nutty walnut, pepper ... and of course avocado. Meet my Lemon Avocado Toast with Nutty Basil Pesto.
Take your favorite snack to another level by trying my salt-free pesto dressing drizzled over top. PLUS a giveaway I'm taking part in. This recipe is part of Sodium Girl's Recipe Rally for low-sodium recipes. I was happy to take on her low sodium challenge. So... enter to win a VITAMIX! (I know you guys love smoothies and Vitamix recipes just as much as me!) All the details ahead..
Low Sodium Recipe Rally with Sodium Girl. I was super excited to take Jess's low-sodium challenge and apply it to one of my favorite recipes. I knew that i could pump up the salt-free flavor by using fresh flavors like lemon, pepper and basil. LOVED this version of one of my favorite snacks. And loved giving my salt shaker a rest 🙂
Some amazing sodium facts from Jess (get more on her Recipe Rally post):
* The recommended daily sodium intake for a healthy American is 2,300mg, which equals 1 teaspoon of salt
* The recommended daily sodium intake for over 50% of adults (due to health problems, age, and other needs) is 1,500mg, which equals just over ½ teaspoon of salt
* Nine out of 10 Americans (that’s 90%) eat almost double the recommended daily intake, averaging over 3,500mg per day
Giveaway details below recipe..
Favorite Lemon Avocado Toast + Nutty Basil Pesto
vegan, serves 2
Pesto:
¼ cup raw walnuts (or try almonds or pine nuts)
1 lemon, squeezed
2 pinches fine black pepper
1 pinch cayenne
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon hot water
⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (optional for cheezy accent)
Toast:
3 slices spelt toast (or another variety of crusty sliced bread)
1 avocado, sliced
micro greens as garnish
black pepper
extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Directions:
1. Add all pesto ingredients to a blender or food processor, blend until smoothed, but still a bit nutty. Like a thick hummus, but with texture.
2. Slice your avocado and toast your bread.
3. Assemble! Add the avocado to your toast - add some EVOO over top and extra lemon if desired. Then drizzle .. No wait, DROWN your avocado in delicious pesto dressing. Add micro greens and pepper over top. Serve and enjoy this LOW sodium avocado toast.
Details for the VITAMIX giveaway below.
Recipe Rally Vitamix Giveaway - enter below and be sure to "like my page on Facebook to entered to win" .. if you already like me you are good to go!.
Giveaway goes live -> Tuesday, February 12th at 9:00AM PST (ends promptly on Monday February 18th, 2013 at 12:00Am PST)
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Winner must be a US resident in order to win. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email to claim prize before another winner is chosen. The name of the winner will be announced on SodiumGirl.com and the Rafflecopter Widget once the giveaway has ended. More rules can be found here: http://www.sodiumgirl.com/vitamix-giveaway-disclaimer/
*Vitamix provided to Jess/Sodium Girl. This is not a sponsored product or review post.*
WeWa says
One of the most memorable experiences of my life was an afternoon on a friend's avocado farm Spent HOURS eating them fresh off the trees - no spoons, no napkins, just oodles of perfectly ripe avocados, a good friend, and me. I'll NEVER forget it.
Kathy Patalsky says
🙂
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[email protected]
http://www.healthy-happy-life.com
@lunchboxbunch
Daily Contributor, Disney's Babble.com FOOD
Founder, FindingVegan.com
Dana says
this just doesn't look good-it tastes amazing!!! just eating it right now. first i thought it might be too much lemon juice but with the avocado together it was just right. i did actually use a little real salt and sprinkled some garlic powder on top plus added some tomatoes! sooooo good!!!! thank you.
Amanda Fisher says
Omnom avocado! I'd love to have a vitamix.
TessBrianna says
I adore toast and avocados and have somehow never put the two together, that will be changing as soon as I can find some avocados! 🙂
YolyTIU says
I love love love avocado, I could eat it every day in every meal 🙂 I'm avocado lover lol
YolyTIU says
I'm dying to have a Vitamix... my life will be easier... my friend goy it for her birthday and she doesn't even use it 🙁
Angela Avila says
place qtr onion, garlic and a tblspn of tomato paste in the blender (with a bit of water) this makes a great soup base, seriously!
Antoinette says
Would love a Vitamix....would be life changing!
Carol Schmoker says
Would love to win a Vitamix to make some of these really delicious recipes -- it would make vegan cooking so much easier.
Lexa J.S. Knight says
Your blog is soo inspiring! Can't wait to try this 🙂
Julie L says
can't wait to try this! yum!
Kristen N. says
I would like to remake Minestrone soup!
Kathy Patalsky says
no. I once bit into one and ate like an apple 🙂 #sorrynotsorry
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[email protected]
http://www.healthy-happy-life.com
@lunchboxbunch
Daily Contributor, Disney's Babble.com FOOD
Founder, FindingVegan.com
rebelgrrrlraechel says
I like to add nutritional yeast!
Nicole Renee says
I could eat avocado with a spoon! Is that bad?
Bonnie says
Avocado Toast is awesome 🙂
Sarah Anderson Thimmes says
I love avocado toast and your blog! I am going to put pesto on it next time! I also love this giveaway and I am crossing my fingers!! 🙂
rumpusparable says
omg that looks so good!
Susanne P says
Yummm! Made this tonight! Simple but classic... a great help when you just can't think of what to make for dinner! Thank you!
sapphireflowers says
Mmm.. I love Pesto, and I love Avocado on Bagels so I'm sure I will love this, I'll have to make it for me and my mom (who isn't vegan but shares my love of Avocado on Bagels!)
Debbie says
Yummy recipe. Thank you for having an awesome giveaway.
Karen says
I have just recently been won over by the seductive " buttery" amazing avocado. I am a brand new vegan and with avocado sliced on my salad, do not miss my former shredded cheese. I plan to try this recipe and I am SO thankful for your lovely blog and all your vegan ideas for my learning palette. Thank you for this contest. I NEED this Vitamix. Have a great day!
Jessica Isaac says
Be still my heart! Thank you so much for the Vitamix giveaway!!
sarah says
Oh the recipes I could make with a vitamix!!!
angelica says
mmmmm avocado. just made guacamole 😀
Liz says
I love avocado as an ingredient in recipes and guacamole, but I just cannot stand it eaten plain/straight. My BF uses it like butter, but I just can't stomach it. I like to reserve it for puddings and brownies. 🙂
Jamie Gilroy says
Yum yum yum!!!! Pesto and avocados are two of my favorite foods!
Cara Costik says
Just discovered avocado on toast, and this looks amazing!! I LOVE avocado!
Margee says
This definitely looks tastier than a recipe I saw on the Dr Oz show. I look forward to trying this, thanks!
Kathy Patalsky says
Smart!! I don't know if I have done that!! Will try next time, and yes low sodium with nooch! Nice idea
Kathy Patalsky says
Good for you!!! I used to be the same way. I did a post talking about it... http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/07/healthy-fats-101-fat-phobia-cholesterol.html
Lisa Hochstetler says
this looks amazing. I love different ideas of things to do with avocados besides guacamole.
Jen says
If I had to choose one food to eat forever it would be avocados. 🙂
kllmaca says
looks great!
Kim Virrueta says
Great recipe! Hoping I win the VitaMix!
miss tejota says
Oh, I will so be trying this recipe. Can't wait.
Bento Zen says
oh man does that avocado toast look heavenly. i love salt too (in college my friends called me sally mcsodium) but it's great to have a just-as-delicious alternative. thanks for hosting the giveaway, fingers crossed that this is my moment with vitamix, i'm dying for one!!!
Catherine Ballway says
I <3 avocado toast as well! Always looking for something to spruce it up - this looks great!
Jill Waldrep says
Yes, yes, and yes about everything on this page! Including the Vitamix! My blender is getting ready to bite the dust, so I have my fingers tightly crossed!!
Sarah says
OMG! I NEED one of these. It's my dream!
Karen Kilberg says
I've long avoided avocado because of its high fat content, but after doing just a tiny bit of reading, i reworked my view on fat (thanks to your bio) and realized that avocado isn't bad! This looks delicious for an easy and delicious lunch! I've been making your 'fall forward' salad all week and have loved it! This is up next week!
Jenica Murphy says
You have hit a real sweet spot here.... not only do I dream of owning a vitamix but avocados are one of my favorite foods!! I am seriously trying this today 🙂
Erica Nichols says
Great give away. Best of luck to all!
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks! It was really tasty even without my beloved chili salt! I was impressed with my low sodium skills. I didn't know I had any!! 🙂
Susanne P says
Oh dear! I would love a Vitamix! My blender suck-eth. Thanks for holding the contest!
Christina says
YAY! What an amazing giveaway! This is amazing for smoothies, hummus, sauces, etc.
disqus_ccJAANLBoI says
Omg thank yoi for the opprotunity.I have baby on the way and would love to be able to make some smooth green smoothies with this!!!!
Jane "juicingbee" H
Abby Heugel says
I'm boring, but avocado toast sprinkled with nooch is my go-to a few times a week. So easy (and low-sodium) and delicious! As for pesto, you could spread that on a shingle and it would still be delicious 😉
Rooted Vegan says
Looks so yummy!
RockMyVeganSocks says
You really can't go wrong with avocado. This looks like pure awesome =)
Heather Poire says
I love the idea of adding pesto to avocado toasts- brilliant! It looks so bright and fresh 🙂
upstatelisa says
loooove avocado!!!!
stephi sky says
This looks delish!!!
LindsayLovesVeggies says
I love avocado toast! Way to make it even better by adding pesto! Super yum! 🙂