Avocado Toast Hearts (Low Sodium Delight)
Elevate your avocado toast game with this vibrant and heart-healthy recipe! Inspired by the sensational original, this "Glow-Up" version is perfectly tailored for the DASH diet, offering a delicious low-sodium experience without compromising on flavor. Each charming heart-shaped toast is crowned with a creamy, zesty avocado spread, subtly enhanced with a hint of smokiness. It's an ideal choice for a nutritious breakfast, a chic appetizer, or a delightful snack that's as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
Equipment
- Food processor or personal blender
- Rubber spatula
- Toaster or oven broiler
- Sharp paring knife (optional)
Ingredients
For the Radiant Avocado Cream:
- Avocados: 2 medium ripe approx. 300g total flesh, pitted, cored, and diced
- Lemon: 1 ½ large providing zest from all and approximately 4-5 Tablespoons of fresh juice
- Garlic: 1 large clove or 2 small cloves, finely minced
- Water: 3-5 Tablespoons as needed for desired consistency
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: 3 Tablespoons
- Dijon Mustard: 1 ½ teaspoons select a lower sodium option if possible
- Worcestershire Sauce: ¾ teaspoon
- Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Blend salt-free: ¾ teaspoon
- Smoked Paprika: ¼ teaspoon
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper: ¼ teaspoon or to taste
For the Wholesome Toasted Hearts:
- Thin-Slice Whole Grain Wheat Bread: 15 slices
- Cookie Cutter: heart-shaped or your preferred design approx. 2.5-3 inch
Instructions
Prepare the Radiant Avocado Cream:
- Combine Ingredients: In the bowl of your food processor or blender, add the diced avocado, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Blend, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- Process Spread: Add 3 Tablespoons of water. Secure the lid and pulse for approximately 15-20 seconds. Aim for a texture where the avocado is mostly broken down into small, soft pieces, yet still retains some chunkiness for a pleasant mouthfeel. Avoid over-processing into a completely smooth paste. If the spread is too thick for your liking, add another 1-2 Tablespoons of water, one at a time, pulsing briefly to incorporate, until your desired consistency is achieved.
- Transfer: Using a rubber spatula, carefully transfer the avocado cream to a serving bowl. For the best vibrant green color, use immediately.
- Culinary Tip for Advance Preparation: If you need to make the spread ahead of time, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 hours. To help prevent browning, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the spread, or place one of the avocado pits into the spread. Remove the pit before serving.
Create the Wholesome Toasted Hearts:
- Toast Bread: Gently toast the whole grain bread slices to your desired level of crispness, either in a toaster or under an oven broiler on low. Watch carefully to ensure they are lightly golden but not overly browned.
- Shape Toasts: Once toasted, lay each slice flat on a cutting board. Firmly press your chosen cookie cutter through the center of each slice to create the shaped toasts. If needed, a small, sharp paring knife can be used to neaten the edges for a clean outline.
- Resourceful Tip: Don't discard the bread crusts and leftover pieces! Store them in a sealed bag or container. They can be used to make excellent homemade breadcrumbs for other recipes, such as coatings for chicken or fish, or toppings for casseroles.
- Assemble and Serve: Assemble Toasts: Spoon a portion of the Radiant Avocado Cream onto each Wholesome Toasted Heart, spreading it gently.
- Serve: Arrange the finished Glow-Up Avocado Toast Hearts on a platter or individual plates. Serve without delay to best appreciate the vibrant color, fresh flavors, and crisp texture.
Notes
Yields: 15 Toasts
Nutritional Information (Estimated Per Toast):
- Calories: 81 kcal
- Total Fat: 4.0g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Sodium: 102mg
- Carbohydrates: 10.8g
- Dietary Fiber: 2.8g
- Total Sugars: 2.0g
- Protein: 3.7g
- Cholesterol: <1mg
- Potassium: 157mg