Crab Meat🦀Topped Avocado Toast

We have a restaurant here in Charlotte (several locations now) called First Watch. It’s a great place to meet clients or to have a nice brunch date with hubby – the food is exceptional, as is the service. Last quarter, one of their specials was avocado toast with crab meat and I ordered it every time I visited First Watch.

Last week I discovered they have a new ‘third quarter’ menu and it does not include the crab-topped avocado toast! So, I decided to make it myself. I found the perfect bread, made my guacamole (I make it all of the time so, I always have avocados on-hand) and topped it with crab meat.

We were having guests over yesterday so, I decided to cut the toast in quarters and find a finishing sauce for it. First Watch does not put a sauce on theirs but, I thought it would be a nice touch.

I have a great recipe for béarnaise sauce from my grandmother and in the end, the combination was amazing. Now, the next time I visit First Watch, I can enjoy other menu items since I am now making my own Crab Meat Topped Avocado Toast!

This is a long one but, it’s well worth the extra prep time…

#1 – Prepare Guacamole:

Combine

• 3 avocados – smashed
• 1 diced tomato
• ½ cup diced onion
• 3 T chopped fresh cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 t sea salt
• 1 t minced garlic

Set aside

#2 – Prepare Béarnaise Sauce:

• ¼ C white-wine vinegar
• 1 small shallot, peeled and minced
• ½ t freshly cracked black pepper
• 4 t chopped tarragon leaves
• 2 egg yolks
• 12 T unsalted butter, melted
• Sea salt, to taste
• Splash of fresh squeezed lemon juice

In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, shallot, pepper & 1T of the tarragon leaves to a boil, then reduce to simmer for about 5 minutes or until there are only a few tablespoons of liquid remaining. Remove from heat and cool.

Boil an inch or two of water in a saucepan.

In a metal mixing bowl, whisk together the cooled vinegar and shallot mixture, 1T water and the egg yolks. Place the mixing bowl over the saucepan, being careful not to let the metal bowl touch the water in the saucepan. Continue whisking the mixture in the metal bowl for about 5-7 minutes until the egg mixture volume almost doubles.

Slowly whisk in the butter, 1 T at a time. *Whisking slowly helps combine the ingredients better and emulsify the sauce. Remove the mixing bowl from over the water periodically so the eggs don’t over cook. If the sauce does start to thicken, stir in a splash of hot water and continue. 

Add the last tsp of chopped tarragon leaves, serve and ENJOY!

**NOTE** You can certainly use packaged béarnaise sauce and/or pre-made guacamole and the process would be considerably quicker. I have a dear friend who, in adulthood has become allergic to most preservatives so, I have gotten in the habit of preparing everything with fresh ingredients over the last few years.

#3 – Prepare the toast:

Okay, so this step is easy-peasy! Toast the bread and prepare the dish!

I spray the bread lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and broil 6 – 8 pieces of Arnold 12-Grains and Seeds bread for a minute, flip and broil another minute. You can toast it if you want but, I don’t own a toaster – I prefer to be in control of my toasting! 

Now, spread the guacamole on the toast, cut each slice into 4 pieces and place on your serving dish. Cover the guacamole with crab meat (I usually use about 6 oz of crab meat but, lobster meat is great too). Lastly, lightly drizzle the béarnaise sauce over the crab-covered toast.

You can certainly use packaged béarnaise sauce or pre-made guacamole and the process would be considerably quicker. I have a dear friend who, in adulthood has become allergic to all preservatives so, I have gotten in the habit of preparing everything with fresh ingredients the last few years.

I served this dish at a lake party and even those who don’t ‘love’ guacamole raved about this toast! We also made it for a friend’s gathering on the Fourth! 

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Here’s a link to some of the items I used to prepare my famous Crab Meat🦀Topped Avocado Toast

Whisk – Norpro Stainless Steel Saucinator Whisk –  This is one of my favorite & most used tools in my kitchen! It is fantastic for sauces & soups. This versatile whisk is perfect for beating, blending and mixing everything from gravies to custards, with a silicone-coated coil that reaches every corner of pots and pans without scratching. The heat-resistant design (up to 480°F) makes it safe for stovetop sauces and smooth, lump-free purees. I especially love how its coiled handle works beautifully in deeper bowls and pots, making whisking effortless and mess-free. Silicone wire coating is heat resistant to 480°F/250°C.

 

Whisk Option #2 – Pump whisk/frother (manual) 

This clever pump whisk makes mixing quick and effortless—just press down on the handle and the stainless-steel spring does the work for you. Made with food-grade steel, it’s sturdy, rust-resistant, and easy to clean, even in the dishwasher. I love how it saves time (and arm strength!) when whipping eggs, blending batters, or stirring sauces, and it tucks away neatly with its built-in hook.

 

Saucepan – SENSARTE Nonstick Saucepan with Lid, 1.5 Quarts Small Pot with Swiss Granite Coating, Stay-cool Handle, Multipurpose Handy Sauce Pot Small Kitchen Cooking Pot, Induction Compatable, PFOA Free – This 1.5-quart saucepan is the perfect size for small portions of soup, sauces, or morning oatmeal, with a Swiss nonstick granite coating that makes cooking and cleanup a breeze. Its cast aluminum core heats evenly, while the stay-cool woodgrain handle and tempered glass lid add both comfort and convenience. I especially like the drip-free pouring lip—it’s a simple detail that keeps the stovetop clean and makes everyday cooking so much easier.

 

Metal Bowl – LIANYU Stainless Steel Metal Mixing Bowls. These premium stainless steel mixing bowls are crafted from thicker, food-grade steel that’s rust-resistant, sturdy and built to last for years of daily use. The set includes three versatile sizes—1.5QT, 3QT, and 4.6QT—perfect for everything from prepping and mixing to serving and storing. Each bowl comes with a different colored, airtight silicone lid to keep food fresh and prevent spills, making them ideal for both the kitchen and outdoor picnics. Designed to nest neatly inside one another, they save valuable cabinet space and with dishwasher-safe bowls, cleanup is quick and easy.

 

Food Chopper/Slicer – 25-in-1 Vegetable Chopper
This handy food chopper has quickly become one of my favorite kitchen helpers, with 13 interchangeable stainless steel blades that slice, dice, shred, spiralize, and more in seconds. The large 1.3L container keeps everything neat while you prep, and the non-slip base and hand guard make it safe and easy to use. I love how it saves me time (and tears!) when chopping onions, prepping veggies for casseroles, or putting together fresh salads.

 

16” Pizza Cutter Rocker Blade by KitchenStar. This 16-inch pizza rocker makes slicing pizzas effortless, gliding through even the thickest crust while keeping toppings perfectly in place. Made from durable stainless steel, it resists rust and cleans easily—plus the protective cover makes it safe to store when not in use. I love how quick and fun it makes pizza night, whether I’m serving a crowd or just the two of us. As you can see, I also use it to slice this avocado toast; I’m able to keep all of the ingredients on the bread/toast with the rocker blade – a lot easier than a knife.

• Protective Cover: The included protective cover enhances safety, allowing for secure storage and preventing accidental cuts, making it safe to handle even in busy kitchens
• Dishwasher Safe: The one-piece design ensures easy cleaning with no crevices to trap food particles, and being dishwasher safe, this pizza knife offers a convenient, hygienic, and low-maintenance solution
• Perfect Gift Idea: Make gift-giving a breeze by choosing our pizza rocker as a thoughtful present for pizza lovers, home chefs, and food enthusiasts for holidays or housewarmings

Cutting Board – Fotouzy Plastic Utility Cutting Board with Handles, Food Safe PP Material, BPA Free, Dishwasher Safe 

This sturdy 15.5″ x 10″ cutting board is made from durable, non-porous polypropylene that resists deep scratches while keeping knives sharp. It’s double-sided for easy food prep, BPA-free, odor-resistant, and completely dishwasher safe for quick cleanup. I especially appreciate the lifetime guarantee—it’s a kitchen basic you can count on for everyday use.