Keto Avocado Smoked Salmon Toasts

My neighbor stopped by one Tuesday morning with a bag of smoked salmon and asked if I could make something special for her book club brunch. I'd been deep into keto baking lately, fumbling through dense, disappointing loaves until I finally cracked the ratio with almond and coconut flour. That day, watching her face light up when she bit into the creamy avocado and silky salmon on a slice of fluffy, golden bread—something clicked. This became the recipe I reach for whenever I want to prove that low-carb brunch can actually taste luxurious.

I made this for my sister's surprise breakfast on her birthday, and she kept asking for the recipe thinking I'd bought the bread from some fancy bakery downtown. The everything seasoning adds such a punchy, familiar flavor that it instantly feels like a restaurant dish, but the truth is you're standing in your own kitchen with a spatula in one hand and a coffee mug in the other. That moment when someone tastes something you made and their eyes widen—that's what keeps me coming back to this one.

Ingredients

• Almond flour: This is your foundation, giving the bread structure and that slightly nutty flavor; make sure it's finely ground or your crumb will be gritty.
• Coconut flour: It absorbs liquid like crazy, so don't skip weighing it—even a little extra can turn your bread dense and dry.
• Baking powder: Essential for lift since we're not using traditional flour; check the label to ensure it's aluminum-free if that matters to you.
• Eggs: These are your binder and leavening agent combined; room temperature eggs mix more smoothly and create a lighter crumb.
• Unsalted butter: Melted butter distributes evenly throughout the batter, creating that tender crumb you want.
• Unsweetened almond milk: Keeps the bread moist without adding carbs; any unsweetened plant milk works if you're out.
• Ripe avocados: The creaminess is everything here; use avocados that yield slightly to pressure, not the rock-hard ones.
• Lemon juice: A small squeeze prevents browning and adds brightness that balances the rich salmon.
• Smoked salmon: Quality matters—look for wild-caught if you can, as the flavor is subtly deeper and more satisfying.
• Everything bagel seasoning: This seasoning blend does the heavy lifting on flavor; if you can't find it, make your own with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and sea salt.

Instructions

Heat your oven and prep the pan:

Set the oven to 350°F and line your loaf pan with parchment paper, letting it hang over the edges so you can lift the bread out easily once it's cooled. This step saves you from wrestling a warm loaf and prevents frustration.

Combine the dry ingredients:

In a mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and sea salt until there are no lumps hiding in the corners. This whisking ensures your leavening distributes evenly and prevents dense pockets in the final bread.

Mix the wet ingredients separately:

Crack eggs into another bowl and beat them gently, then pour in the melted butter and almond milk, stirring until combined. Keeping wet and dry separate gives you more control and helps achieve a smoother batter.

Fold everything together:

Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir until just combined—don't overmix or you'll toughen the bread. You're looking for a smooth batter without streaks of flour.

Bake until golden:

Pour the batter into your prepared pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and bake for 18 to 22 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs. Overbaking leads to a dry loaf, so start checking at the 18-minute mark.

Cool the bread completely:

Let it rest in the pan for about 5 minutes, then turn it out onto a cooling rack and wait until it's completely room temperature before slicing. Slicing warm bread causes it to tear and fall apart.

Prepare the avocado spread:

While the bread cools, halve your avocados, scoop the flesh into a bowl, add lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and mash with a fork until mostly smooth with a few small chunks remaining. The lemon juice not only adds brightness but also keeps the avocado from browning.

Slice and toast the bread:

Once cooled, slice the keto bread into 8 even pieces and optionally toast them lightly in a toaster or under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly toasting adds a subtle crunch without drying out the interior.

Assemble your toasts:

Spread a generous layer of mashed avocado over each toast, then drape smoked salmon slices on top, arranging them so they look intentional and a little fancy. This is where your breakfast goes from good to restaurant-worthy.

Season and serve:

Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over each toast, add a pinch of fresh dill if you have it, and serve immediately while the bread still has warmth. The seasoning sticks better to the avocado when everything is just-assembled fresh.

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There's something about serving food that someone actually wants to eat—not because it's trendy or because they're being polite, but because it tastes genuinely delicious and makes them feel cared for. That's what these toasts do, especially when you tell them it's keto and they look genuinely shocked.

Why This Bread Works for Keto

Traditional bread flour has about 14 grams of carbs per ounce; almond flour flips that script with roughly 3 grams per ounce and a protein boost to boot. When I first switched to almond-based baking, my loaves were gritty and fell apart, but adding just enough coconut flour to bind everything without overpowering the crumb changed everything. The combination mimics gluten's structure through the moisture-absorbing properties of coconut flour and the fat content of almond flour, creating a surprisingly tender, sliceable bread that doesn't taste like you're compromising.

The Smoked Salmon and Avocado Partnership

Smoked salmon and avocado are a classic combination for a reason—the richness of the avocado softens the intensity of the smoke, and the salmon's briny, umami notes prevent the toast from feeling one-dimensional. I learned this the hard way when I tried serving avocado toast with regular deli turkey and wondered why it felt so flat. Adding the everything seasoning brings back that bagel-shop nostalgia while the fresh dill, if you use it, lifts the entire plate with a bright herbaceous note that feels effortless but intentional.

Make It Your Own

The beauty of this recipe is how easily it adapts to what's in your fridge or what you're craving that morning. Smoked trout gives a slightly milder, delicate flavor if salmon feels too intense, and mackerel offers a richer, earthier option if you want something bolder. You can rub a halved garlic clove over the warm toast before spreading the avocado for extra savory depth, or drizzle everything with a tiny bit of quality olive oil and cracked black pepper if you want to gild the lily.

• If dairy-free is your preference, swap the butter for olive oil in the bread without changing the liquid amounts.
• Fresh herbs like chives, tarragon, or a tiny pinch of smoked paprika can replace or complement the dill depending on your mood.
• Leftover bread toasts beautifully and stores in an airtight container for up to three days, making this perfect for meal prep breakfasts.

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Brunch doesn't have to come with a side of guilt, and this recipe proves that low-carb living doesn't mean sacrificing flavor or texture. Make this once and it'll become a regular in your rotation, I promise.

Recipe FAQs

→ What flours are used in the keto bread?

Almond flour and coconut flour are combined to create a grain-free, low-carb bread base with a light texture.

→ Can I substitute smoked salmon with other proteins?

Yes, smoked trout or mackerel can be used as flavorful alternatives while maintaining the dish's balance.

→ Is it necessary to toast the bread before adding toppings?

Toasting is optional; it adds a slight crunch and warmth but the bread can be served fresh as well.

→ How is the avocado prepared for topping?

The avocado is mashed with lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to enhance flavor and ensure a smooth spread.

→ What role does the everything bagel seasoning play?

The seasoning adds a punchy, savory contrast with elements like sesame, garlic, and onion, complementing the creamy and smoky flavors.