I had to make this recipe from a 1933 cookbook just to show that avocado toast has been around for longer than you might think. Avocados were first cultivated in the United States starting in the early 1900s, and became very popular by the 1920s. They were used in all sorts of recipes, including open-faced sandwiches like this one – or, as we would call it today, avocado toast.

Avocado and Bacon Sandwich

• 1 ripe avocado
• salt
• paprika
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1-2 pieces toast
• 2-3 cooked bacon strips

1. Halve the avocado and remove the pit. Mash the avocado with the ketchup and season it to taste with salt and paprika.
2. Spread the avocado on the toast and top with bacon strips.

Tasting notes:

It’s avocado toast! If you like avocado toast (and bacon), you will like this. I actually wasn’t a huge fan of the ketchup – I thought it was a bit too sweet and would rather leave it out or use something stronger like hot sauce – but my boyfriend liked it a lot, so use whatever suits your tastes. I think it’s pretty hard to put avocado on toast and NOT have it taste good. It’s no surprise that people have been doing it at least since the 1930s.

References:

Smith, A.F. (2013). Avocados. In A. F. Smith, (Ed.), The Oxford encyclopedia of food and drink in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Tasty teasers. (1933). Michigan: Katherine McGregor Auxiliary of the Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church. https://whatamericaate.org/full.record.php?kid=164-590-3117&page=1