Nicoise salad, or salade Nicoise if you like to pretend you’re French, is a composed salad of fresh tuna, potato salad, egg, green beans, tomatoes, and greens that creates a stunning and satisfying summer supper.
Nicoise Salad
Ingredients
- For the vinaigrette salad dressing
- For the french potato salad
- For the nicoise salad
Directions
Using a blender, or with a whisk in a bowl, combine the vinegar, mustard, anchovy paste, and salt and pepper. Pulse to combine. With the motor running, slowly drizzle the olive oil until the dressing is thick and luscious. Stir in the scallions, dill, parsley, and basil.
Boil the white and red potatoes into a large pot of salted water until they are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander and allow them to cool. When cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes in quarters and place them in a medium bowl.
Add the 1/2 cup, or more to taste, of the vinaigrette to the potatoes while they’re still warm and toss the salad to coat. Set it off to the side and let the vinaigrette soak into the potatoes for about half an hour before using. Set the salad aside.
Heat a saute pan or stove-top grill until very hot. Brush the fish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill each tuna steak for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side. The center should be raw but warm, or the tuna will be tough and dry.
To assemble the Nicoise salad, arrange the tuna, haricots verts, potato salad, tomatoes, eggs, olives, and anchovies on top of the arugula or watercress on a large platter and serve immediately.
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I was craving a Nicoise and was so glad to find one on site. It did not disappoint! The vinaigrette is of course the winner. Thick and rich and herbalicious. I found most of the ingredients at my local farmers market including some purple potatoes (because I can’t resist a little extra color!) One tip is that I blanched the green beans in the same water that I cooked the potatoes in (beans first) so I cut down on one pot.
Bon appétit! Xo
Janet, now THAT is what I love to hear. And your picture as is good as the one we featured!
Having recently purchased this cookbook, I have found the recipes concise and easy to understand. I made the Nicoise salad and mine looked as good as the picture. All of my friends loved the salad and couldn’t believe that I made it and didn’t purchase it at our local french bistro! Now they all want to buy this cookbook. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase, and I am looking forward to making many more of the recipes.