Garlic Shrimp Avocado Toast Bites
Crispy toasted bread topped with creamy avocado mash and juicy garlic butter shrimp. These café-style bites are perfect as appetizers, brunch, party snacks, or a light high-protein meal.
Servings
Makes 12–16 toast bites
Time
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Cook: 10 minutes
- Total: ~25 minutes
Ingredients
Toast Base
- 1 baguette or crusty loaf, sliced into rounds
- 2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
Garlic Shrimp
- ¾ lb (340g) raw shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp chili flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Juice of ½ lemon
Avocado Mash
- 2 ripe avocados
- Juice of ½ lime or lemon
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Crumbled feta
- Microgreens
- Chili oil
- Hot honey drizzle
- Sesame seeds
- Pickled onions
Step 1: Toast the Bread
Preheat oven to:
- 400°F (200°C)
Arrange bread slices on a tray.
Brush lightly with olive oil or butter.
Bake:
- 6–8 minutes
Until:
- edges are golden
- centers stay slightly soft
Optional:
Rub warm toast lightly with raw garlic for extra flavor.
Step 2: Make the Avocado Mash
In a bowl mash together:
- avocados
- lime/lemon juice
- garlic
- salt
- pepper
- herbs if using
Texture should be:
- creamy with a little chunkiness
Set aside.
Step 3: Cook the Garlic Shrimp
Pat shrimp dry.
Season lightly with:
- salt
- pepper
- paprika
Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Add shrimp in one layer.
Cook:
- 1½–2 minutes per side
During final minute add:
- garlic
- chili flakes
Finish with lemon juice.
Shrimp is done when:
- pink and opaque
- lightly curled
Avoid overcooking or shrimp becomes rubbery.
Step 4: Assemble Toast Bites
On each toast:
- Spread avocado mash
- Add 1–2 shrimp
- Spoon tiny amount of garlic butter from pan over top
Step 5: Finish & Garnish
Top with:
- feta
- herbs
- chili flakes
- lemon zest
- microgreens
Serve immediately while toast is crisp.
Flavor Profile
- Crunchy toasted bread
- Creamy avocado
- Buttery garlicky shrimp
- Bright citrus finish
- Slight smoky heat
Optional Variations
Mediterranean Style
Add:
- feta
- olives
- cucumber
Spicy Cajun Version
Use:
- Cajun seasoning
- hot honey drizzle
Asian-Inspired
Add:
- sesame oil
- sriracha mayo
- green onions
Approximate Nutrition (Per 3–4 Bites)
- Calories: ~280–360
- Protein: ~16–22g
- Carbs: ~18–25g
- Fat: ~16–22g
Pro Tips
Use dry shrimp
Dry shrimp sears instead of steaming.
Don’t overload the toast
Too much topping makes bread soggy.
Assemble last minute
Keeps toast crisp and fresh.
Use ripe avocados
Creamy avocado makes the biggest difference.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can prep separately:
- avocado mash (same day)
- shrimp (1 day ahead)
- toasted bread (few hours ahead)
