This Niçoise Salad Recipe is a delectable cornucopia of texture and flavor with fresh vegetables, Niçoise olives, red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and tuna drizzled with a tangy light mustard vinaigrette. It is not tossed but rather elegantly arranged on a platter or serving plate making it as pretty as it is delicious. The different array of flavor combinations comes together so well in this heart-healthy salad.
Why is it called Nicoise Salad?
This traditional dish originated in the south of France in the city of Nice. Nice is located in the Provence region of France. One of the signature ingredients for this salad is Nicoise olives which are also grown in the Provence region of France hence the name Nicoise salad or salad Nicoise.
How do you make Salad Niçoise?
A little advance preparation is in order with this salad. Put a couple of eggs and a teaspoon of baking soda in a saucepan full of cool water over medium-high heat. Bring the eggs to a boil, cover, and remove from the heat. Allow to set for thirteen minutes and then plunge in a bowl of ice water. Place a few small red potatoes and one-half teaspoon of salt in a saucepan full of cool water. Bring to a gentle boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender. Add the green beans to the water for the last couple of minutes of cooking. Drain and plunge everything into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. These tasks can be completed up to several days in advance and stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
In a medium bowl whisk together the wine vinegar, minced shallots, mustard, lemon juice, dill, and fresh ground black pepper. Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously. Set the dressing aside till you arrange the salad on the platter.
Peel your eggs and slice them and the red potatoes in half. Grab up to four large plates if you are doing this as a main meal or a large platter and spread out some good crisp lettuce. Top with ripe tomatoes, cucumber slices, sliced radishes, Nicoise olives, green beans, halved eggs, halved potatoes, and tuna. Drizzle with mustard vinaigrette and serve promptly.
Other ingredients you can add or swap out on Salad Nicoise
- Spanish Olives
- Kalamata Olives
- Capers
- Cannelloni Beans
- Baby Carrots
- White Beans
- Artichoke Hearts
- Anchovies
- Red Onions
Recipe tips
- It is very helpful to cook the eggs, potatoes, and beans in advance.
- Use good fresh crisp lettuce. I personally like Boston lettuce but you can use any variety or mix except iceberg.
- Mince the shallots extra fine for the dressing.
- You can also add all the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake to combine.
- If you can’t find Nicoise olives substitute good quality black olives.
- You can use any kind of green beans but Haricots Verts (thin style French green beans are by far the best.)
- You can use grilled fresh tuna steaks or good-quality canned tuna.
- Feel free to add or swap with other goodies and make the salad unique to your taste preferences.
Other salad recipes you will love!
Classic Niçoise Salad Recipe
A delectable salad of fresh vegetables, red potatoes, hard boiled eggs, Nicoise olives and tuna drizzled with an easy six ingredient mustard vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 serving
- Category: main meal salad
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Mustard Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons finely minced shallots
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Salad
- 1 head of lettuce chopped or torn into bite size pieces
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced cucumbers
- 1/2 cup sliced radishes
- 1 cup Nicoise olives
- 1/2 lb. trimmed and blanched green beans
- 2–3 hard boiled eggs peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
- 3/4 lb small red potatoes boiled and cooled
- 1–2 cans (7 ounce) white Albacore tuna
Instructions
- In a medium bowl whisk together wine vinegar, minced shallots, dill, mustard, and lemon juice. Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously. Season with fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Top platter or plates with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber slices, sliced radishes, Nicoise olives, green beans, halved eggs, halved potatoes and tuna. Drizzle with mustard vinaigrette and serve promptly.
Notes
- It is very helpful to cook the eggs, potatoes and beans in advance.
- Use good fresh crisp lettuce. I personally like Boston lettuce but you can use any variety or mix except iceberg.
- Mince the shallots extra fine for the dressing.
- If you can’t find Nicoise olives substitute good quality black olives.
- You can use any kind of green beans but Haricots Verts (thin style French green beans are by far the best.)
- You can use fresh grilled tuna or good quality canned tuna.
- Feel free to add or swap with other goodies and make the salad unique to your taste preferences.
Keywords: nicoise salad, salad, main entree salad, salad with tuna, French salad, healthy dinner, tuna nicoise salad, nicoise salad dressing, what is nicoise salad, classic nicoise salad
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This post was originally published on March 17, 2019, and was republished on March 13, 2020, with new content.
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