Country Garden Toast

Avocado Toast with Eggplant "Bacon"

Ingredients:                       (Click here to get printable Recipe)
For the Eggplant “Bacon":
1 medium-sized eggplant
2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (for a gluten-free option)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Avocado Toast:

2 ripe avocados
4 slices of whole-grain bread or your favorite bread
Lemon juice (optional, for drizzling)
Red pepper flakes (optional, for garnish)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Prepare the Eggplant “Bacon":

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash the eggplant and slice it into thin strips, resembling bacon strips.
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce (or tamari), maple syrup, olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper.

Place the eggplant strips on the prepared baking sheet and brush both sides with the marinade mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the eggplant strips are crispy and slightly caramelized. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

Prepare the Avocado:

While the eggplant "bacon" is baking, prepare the avocado. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash it with a fork until smooth—season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also drizzle a little lemon juice over the mashed avocado to prevent browning.

Toast the Bread:
Toast the slices of bread until golden brown and crispy.

Assemble the Avocado Toast:

Spread a generous amount of mashed avocado onto each slice of toasted bread. Once the eggplant "bacon" is done, arrange a few strips on top of each avocado toast. Optionally, sprinkle some red pepper flakes over the eggplant "bacon" for added heat and garnish.
Serve the avocado toast with eggplant "bacon" immediately, while the eggplant is still warm and crispy.

Enjoy!:
Enjoy your delicious and satisfying Avocado Toast with Eggplant "Bacon" as a nutritious breakfast, brunch, or snack option!

Notes:

Feel free to adjust the seasonings and spices in the marinade mixture for the eggplant "bacon" according to your taste preferences. You can add more or less smoked paprika, garlic powder, or black pepper to suit your liking.

Customize your avocado toast with additional toppings such as sliced tomatoes, microgreens, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze for extra flavor and presentation.

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve more people. Just adjust the ingredient quantities accordingly.

Kick It Up a Notch:

• Add a swipe of dairy-free herbed cream cheese beneath the avocado

• Sprinkle with dukkah or everything bagel seasoning

• Top with pickled red onions for a tangy twist