The day I learned about the "Toast Craze" happened 3 years ago. (I can't believe it's been that long). I was pedalling mountain bike up a dusty trail, piping This American Life's episode "The Hostess with the Toastess," into my earholes. Listening to the narrator lament about the hipster-fabu artisanal toast craze. I nodded my head in agreement. Artisanal toast was ridiculose. The episode proved a lovely escape from my sweaty real-life attempt to bike up a mountainside. And all was happening swimmingly until the episode made me weep.
It's hard to weep and bike.
I went into that episode, ready to hate artisanal toast.
Came out of it, ready to embrace the movement as readily as one converts to a religion.
Avocados have always been my fourth love, anyway. Right behind my kids, my BF, my morning coffee. So slathering the stuff atop toast, trashing it up with everything from roasted chickpeas to strawberries and basil worked nicely for my face.
And all of that plain and simple avocado toasting was going fine. Until the Day 5 #365Recipes prompt came up, and I figured it was time to upgrade the basic to something...well...more splendid.
And thusly, I toasted my avocado toast. Added chicken. And Swiss.
And holy holy. Mother of all that is holy.
I know we foodies are always like "THISRECIPEISSOGOODITSTHEBESTRECIPEEVERANDYOUMUSTTRYITRIGHTNOWWW".
So hyperbolic.
That said...
THISRECIPEISSOGOODITSTHEBESTRECIPEEVERANDYOUMUSTTRYITRIGHTNOWWW.
Go hipster. Embrace artisanal toast. Love your life.
Melty Chicken & Avocado Toast with Cilantro Salsa
Serves 4 | 20 mins
- 1 1/2 cup diced cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 jalapeno, diced (optional)
- 1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 bunch scallions, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1-2 limes, freshly squeezed
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 1 cooked or grilled chicken breast
- 2 avocados, peeled and sliced
- 8 slices swiss cheese, sliced in half on the diagonal
- coconut oil spray
Preheat oven to 425ºF.
In a small bowl toss together tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, scallions, salt, pepper and lime juice. Set aside.
Spray the tops and bottoms of the sourdough bread with coconut oil. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Top each toast with two half-slices of Swiss, arrange a layer of avocado and chicken slices, then top with 2 more half-slices of cheese. Bake for 12-16 minutes, until cheese begins to bubble. Remove from oven, top with salsa. Serve immediately and enjoyyyyy.