Last Updated on July 8, 2021
[ピリ辛香味ねぎと胡瓜のアボカドトースト]
Avocado toast, to me, is like an open canvas that I can decorate & flavor in any way I like! Asian Style Scallion & Cucumber Avocado Toast is definitely not an ordinary avocado toast that you may think of. The flavor of scallions with Japanese hot chili oil adds a touch of Chinese/Japanese flavor. Also, the fresh cucumbers are a perfect vehicle for the spicy scallions. If you crave Asian food for breakfast, try making this!
The Inspiration
I know I say this all the time but I always crave for Asian food. It doesn’t matter what time of the day, what type of the food…I always want Asian food. It’s the food that I feel most at home. It doesn’t have to be Japanese food (I’m Japanese), it can be Korean, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese etc. there’s something about those regional foods that make me feel good!
So when I make avocado toast, 9 out of 10, it’s always some kind of Asian twist to it! To give you some examples, we have recipes of;
You see? That’s just a few examples of how I do my avocado toast. There are may other variations that I do off-the-blog!
I see avocado toast like a bowl of short grain rice like Japanese rice. In other words, it goes with pretty much anything! In my opinion, whatever the food you typically eat with short grain rice, it should be a good match with avocado toast as well.
For this recipe, I use seasoned scallions & cucumber as toppings. The scallions are seasoned somewhat with Chinese/Japanese flavors which has Japanese hot chili oil, salt, and toasted sesame seeds. The cucumber is simply seasoned with salt and sugar which tastes like Japanese style quick pickles. Each topping definitely pairs well with white rice and of course, it’s super tasty on the avocado toast.
The Ingredients
Here is a list of ingredients to make this comforting Asian style avocado toast!
Cucumber Topping
- English cucumber
- Salt
- Sugar
Scallion Topping
- Scallions
- Salt
- Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Japanese Hot Chili Oil (known as La-yu or Ra-yu)
The Rest
- Artisan Bread (recommendation: artisan bread such as country wheat, multigrain, or sourdough etc.) *
- Hass Avocado
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Salt
- Sprouts of your choice (optional garnish)
The Tips and Recipe Notes
I’ll cover some helpful tips and notes to help you with the process of making this recipe!
Cucumber Topping
I always choose English cucumber (European cucumber) for cooking. It has less seeds and the skin is tender enough so there’s no need to peel.
The way to prepare the cucumber topping is very simple. Slice it thinly then sprinkle salt and sugar. Massage with hand which will release the excess water. Squeeze and ready to use! I use salt and sugar combined. You can use only salt but I find the combination to give a nice balance compare to using only salt.
Scallion Topping
First, cut the scallion julienned (or thinly sliced diagonally.) Then, I soak it in water to soften the strong scallion flavor. Sometimes, I want that strong taste of scallion and the other times I don’t. Especially, if you are having avocado toast for breakfast, you may not want to have strong after taste in your mouth.
After soaking, drain and pat dry well. Excess moisture may cause the scallion to be soggy after seasoning it.
One of the important seasonings for the scallion topping is toasted sesame seeds. I make my own at home and keep in a shaker like this. The flavor is beyond your expectations when you toast (roast) them at home!
Japanese Hot Chili Oil
Have you tried using Japanese hot chili oil? They may also be labeled as la-yu or ra-yu? There are many different products you can find. Try to look for the one made with sesame oil & red chili pepper. Some products are made of regular neutral oil but the ones made with sesame oil has way more flavor. That in my opinion really makes difference in the overall taste.
The one I use is from Eden Foods. It’s made with two simple ingredients, sesame oil and red chili pepper.
Choice of Bread
I love making avocado toast with Artisan bread. I used country wheat loaf from a local bakery. Sourdough loaf and multigrain loaf would be a great choice, too. There’s nothing wrong with using regular sandwich bread of your choice for making this type of avocado toast. But using artisan bread elevates the flavor and makes the Asian flavor avocado toast even more special!
I toast mine of a stovetop grill pan. You can toast in the oven or toaster oven.
Type of Avocado
I’m not an expert of avocado but I’ve tried a few different kinds in the past. For avocado toast, Hass avocado is the best. Period.
Feeling Inspired?
Be sure to check out other Asian inspired avocado toast recipes!
Wasabi & Truffle Oil Avocado Toast
Korean Style (Inspired) Avocado Toast
Asian Style Scallion & Cucumber Avocado Toast
Ingredients
Cucumber Topping
- 5 oz English cucumber thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Scallion Topping
- 2 scallions julienned
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds (plus more for serving)
- 1/4 tsp Japanese hot chili oil (plus more for serving) *
The Rest
- 2 slices bread (2 thick or 4 thin slices.) Recommendation: artisan bread such as country wheat, multigrain, or sourdough etc. *
- 1 large Hass avocado
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Prepare cucumber topping. In a prep bowl, combine sliced cucumber, salt, and sugar, Massage with hand. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes. Squeeze water out and transfer to another bowl. Set aside.
- Place Julienned scallions in another prep bowl. Pour water to cover them and soak for a few minutes. Drain and pat dry very well to remove excess water. Place them in another bowl (or dry the same bowl and place them in there.) Add salt, hot chili oil, toasted sesame seeds. Mix and set aside.
- Toast the bread.
- Assemble. Method 1: Mash avocado in a bowl. Add lemon juice and salt. Mix together until well combined. Smear the seasoned avocado on the toasted bread. Method 2: Mash avocado on the toasted bread. Squeeze lemon juice and sprinkle salt.
- Top the toast with avocado with the seasoned cucumber and the seasoned scallions. Optionally, add sprouts, sprinkle extra toasted sesame seeds and drizzle extra hot chili oil on top.
Notes
- I’d highly recommend using artisanal bread instead of regular loaf. It has better taste & texture.
- Japanese hot chili oil (may be labeled as la-yu or ra-yu) is a common condiment in Japan. It’s better to use the one made with sesame oil instead of other neutral flavor oil. The final taste of the dish will be significantly different!
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