Classic Niçoise Salad (Printable View)
Vibrant French salad with tuna, vegetables, olives and tangy vinaigrette
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 7 oz green beans, trimmed
02 - 14 oz baby potatoes, halved
03 - 9 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
06 - 1 small head butter lettuce or romaine, torn
→ Protein
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 7 oz high-quality canned tuna in olive oil, drained
→ Garnishes
09 - 3 oz Niçoise or Kalamata olives, pitted
10 - 2 tbsp capers
11 - Fresh parsley, chopped
→ Vinaigrette
12 - 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
13 - 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar
14 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
16 - ½ tsp sea salt
17 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
# How-To Steps:
01 - Boil potatoes in salted water until just tender, about 12–15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.
02 - Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and blanch for 2–3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
03 - Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 7 minutes. Transfer to ice water, cool, and peel. Cut into halves or quarters.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
05 - Arrange lettuce on a large platter. Top with potatoes, green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
06 - Flake tuna over vegetables. Add eggs, olives, and capers.
07 - Drizzle vinaigrette over salad. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its a complete meal that feels luxurious but comes together in under 40 minutes
- The combination of textures and flavors means every bite is interesting and satisfying
- It looks impressive on a platter but requires almost no actual cooking skills
02 -
- Never serve this salad cold from the refrigerator—the potatoes taste waxy and the tuna loses its nuanced flavor
- The vinaigrette should be made just before serving, otherwise the garlic becomes overpoweringly strong
03 -
- Save some of the oil from the tuna jar and whisk it into the vinaigrette for incredible depth of flavor
- If you have time, arrange the components in rows on the platter rather than mixed—it looks stunning and lets guests see everything at a glance