How to Make New York City's Best Avocado Toast

One day I walked into a cute little cafe in Chelsea called The Commons to grab a cup of coffee and before I could make my way up to the counter I became entranced by the most delicious looking plate of avocado toast that had just been placed down in front of a couple dining there. It was a serious case of food porn and I was in lust. I wasn’t even hungry but I had to have some so I ordered up a plate of avocado toast for myself and proceeded to enjoy every single mouthwatering bite. Sure, I’d had avocado toast before but this one was different. Perhaps it was the hint of cumin or the subtle kick of chili flakes that peppered my palate or the fact that they give you two very generous pieces. Either way, I was hooked. Avocado toast is such a simple dish but The Commons has got the mix of ingredients down to perfection. I’m so obsessed with it that I recently asked The Commons’ co-owner and lead chef Sam Nidel to share their recipe so that I too could perfect the art of making avocado toast at home and I’m so excited to share what I’ve learned with you! Read on for the recipe along with Sam’s top tips for preparing the best avocado toast ever.

The ingredients and the preparation for avocado toast are simple and the entire dish takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish. To make it you’ll need a fresh baguette, a ripe avocado, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, cumin, chili flakes and, if you desire, some smoked salmon.

To make The Commons’ avocado toast you must start with a fresh baguette. (The bread at The Commons is from Amy’s Bread in Chelsea Market.) Cut a 6 inch section of baguette on the diagonal then slice that piece down the middle and toast it in the oven at 400 degrees for about three minutes. Next, slice your avocado the long way, remove the pit and place each half flesh side down onto your toasted bread. Sam squeezes the avocado to free it from the skin while simultaneously smushing it down which helps the avocado stay put on the bread. If you’ve ever attempted avocado toast and your avocado annoyingly falls off the bread before it can get in your mouth, you can thank Sam for this genius tip to ensure that never happens again!

Once your avocado is on top of the toast spread it evenly across each piece using a knife…

The next steps are a breeze. Add a generous pinch of salt to taste then drizzle a half teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice on each side. Next, add about a half teaspoon of cumin and a generous pinch of red pepper flakes…

Finally, if you’re a fan of smoked salmon, add a slice on either side for the perfect finishing touch. Sam uses Norwegian or Scottish salmon, whichever is better at the market that day. And that’s all folks! Now you know how to make the best avocado toast in New York City, and arguably, the best avocado toast you’ve ever had!

If you ever find yourself in Chelsea, be sure to check out The Commons to try their delectable avocado toast for yourself! And thank you Sam for opening up The Commons’ kitchen and sharing your avocado toast secrets with us!