This nutritious avocado toast with smoked salmon, tomato, and egg is a fresh, healthier take on the classic lox-and-cream-cheese bagel from my youth. The idea for this version came after a recent family lunch at Russ & Daughters on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where smoked fish is the star.
I recreated a simple open-faced sandwich using hearty whole grain bread, mashed avocado, thin slices of smoked salmon, fresh tomato, and a hard-cooked egg. It’s quick to assemble and works perfectly for breakfast or a satisfying lunch.
Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon — topped with tomato and hard-cooked egg: a balanced, flavorful meal for breakfast or lunch.
To prepare this easy toast: lightly toast a slice of whole grain bread, spread 3 to 4 tablespoons of mashed avocado (or guacamole), then layer smoked salmon, thin tomato slices, and slices of hard-cooked egg. Finish with a sprinkle of green onion or capers, a pinch of kosher salt and black pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness.
Why Russ & Daughters? It had been on my mother’s list for years. Although she grew up in Brooklyn, she had never visited the original appetizing store or its cafe until our recent trip. Russ & Daughters has been a New York institution since 1914, family owned and still operating on Houston Street in the Lower East Side.
The term “appetizing” — in local New York Jewish food tradition — refers to the foods commonly eaten with bagels: smoked and cured fish, homemade salads, and a variety of cream cheeses. The store is renowned for its selection of smoked salmon and other prepared fish, and yes, they also sell a lot of pickled herring.
My mom studied home economics at NYU in the 1950s and later taught the subject in elementary school, so food and nostalgia are meaningful to her. For years she talked about visiting Russ & Daughters, so we planned a day trip from her home in Connecticut into the city. My sister and niece joined, and we made a feast of it.
We began with pickled herring in cream sauce and pumpernickel, then indulged in the Hattie Platter, which included smoked whitefish, kippered (baked) salmon, Gaspe Nova, smoked salmon, and sable. As someone who loves smoked salmon, that lunch felt like a personal highlight.
It was also a joy to see my niece, who now attends NYU, sample unfamiliar items like pickled herring with enthusiasm. My sister tried the caviar mousse for a taste of something different, and we all enjoyed the experience of sharing traditional East Coast flavors together.
If you enjoy historic shops run by the same family for generations and you love smoked salmon, Russ & Daughters is a special visit. I’m also reading Mark Russ Federman’s book, Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from the House That Herring Built, and it deepens the appreciation for the store’s history and its place in New York food culture.
Back to the avocado toast: whether or not my mother thinks it’s trendy, I could happily eat this every day. It combines healthy fats from avocado and salmon, protein from the egg, fiber from whole grain bread, and fresh brightness from tomato and lemon.
- 2 slices hearty whole grain bread
- 1/2 avocado, seeded and peeled
- 2 ounces smoked salmon (lox)
- 2 cocktail tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 hard-cooked egg, sliced
- Lightly toast the bread. Use the back of a fork to mash and spread the avocado evenly over each slice. Arrange smoked salmon, tomato slices, and egg slices on top. Add a sprinkle of green onion or capers, season with salt and pepper, and finish with a squeeze of lemon if desired.
PS: The Tenement Museum sits across the street from the Russ & Daughters appetizing store and is still on my personal list of places to visit. Have you been to Russ & Daughters? Do you enjoy appetizing-style foods like smoked fish and cream cheese spreads?
For more healthful recipes, try these ideas from the same author:
Veggie Quiche Patties
Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Mushroom Sauce
Wild Rice and Kale Salad