Tomato and Avocado Toast

• Prep Time: 5 minutes (as long as the bacon is cooked already)
• Planning Ahead: Cook bacon (or buy pre-cooked)
• Morning Effort: 5 minutes
• Protein: 29g per serving
• Fiber: 22g per serving

Avocado toast really is a great breakfast for busy mornings. And, like with my smoked salmon avocado toast, I'm forever experimenting with ways to change up the flavor and to make it more filling and nutritious.

This version features juicy tomato slices (if you have some fresh garden tomatoes, this is the place to use them!) along with bacon (because what doesn't taste better with bacon?). I also mashed the avocado with white beans to boost the fiber and protein.

While that might sound like a lot, if you cook the bacon ahead of time, it is a satisfying breakfast that you can pull together in about 5 minutes. Weekday morning approved!

• Bread- In my post on making higher protein avocado toast, I recommend using a sprouted grain bread or a whole grain sourdough for added fiber and protein but you can use what you love or have on hand.
  • Substitution: If you prefer to make these toasts without bread, you could also try it as sweet potato avocado toast or have it on rice cakes.
• Avocado- Look for one that’s brown on the outside, gives slightly when pressed (but isn’t squishy), is bright green inside and mashes easily with a fork.
• Tomato- We're going to cut the tomato really thick to make it the star flavor of the toast so make sure you choose a ripe and in season tomato for the best flavor. If you have fresh garden tomatoes, this is the place to use them!
• White Beans- Inspired by chickpea avocado toast, I like to mash the avocado with some canned white beans for extra protein to make this toast extra filling.
  • Substitution: Another type of bean, such as chickpeas or black beans, could be used instead. Alternatively, you could use ¼ cup of Greek yogurt to add a bit of a protein boost.
• Bacon- I love the flavor of tomato with bacon (there's a reason that BLT sandwiches are so good). So I added a couple of slices to these toasts plus it also adds a little boost of protein.
  • Substitution: You can leave it off if you'd prefer but I find that the bacon gives these toasts that little somethin' that turns it into a breakfast worth waking up for.
• Seasoning- I seasoned the avo bean mixture with garlic, pepper and salt. At the very least, I recommend keeping some of the salt but the other spices can be omitted.
• Optional Toppings- If you feel so inclined, you can finish these toasts off with some micro greens, fresh herbs or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

• Don’t over-toast your bread. Aim for light golden brown- firm enough to hold the toppings but still soft enough to bite easily without hurting your mouth.
• Use a ripe, flavorful tomato. The tomato is the star of this toast so this is the time to choose an in-season, juicy and ripe tomato for best flavor.
• Choose a ripe avocado. The avocado should give slightly with gentle pressure and have a darker skin. When cut, it should be bright green and mash easily.