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Nicoise Salad
marie

Nicoise Salad: Classic French Flavor in Every Bite

This classic Nicoise Salad brings together tender baby potatoes, crisp green beans, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, rich eggs, and hearty tuna, all finished with a bright lemon Dijon dressing. Fresh, satisfying, and beautifully balanced, it’s a timeless French dish perfect for lunch or dinner.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main, Salad
Cuisine: French
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base & Vegetables
  • 8 pieces baby or chat potatoes small and tender
  • 120 g green beans trimmed
  • 2 pieces ripe tomatoes cut into wedges
  • 0.5 head baby cos lettuce (romaine) torn into bite-sized pieces
Protein & Salty Notes
  • 3 pieces hard-boiled eggs peeled and quartered
  • 0.75 cup black olives unpitted
  • 275 g canned chunk tuna in oil drained and broken into large chunks
Lemon Nicoise Dressing
  • 1.5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced or grated
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch black pepper

Method
 

  1. In a small jar or bowl, combine lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. Shake or whisk until well blended and slightly thickened. Set aside.
  2. Place the baby potatoes in a saucepan, cover with cold salted water, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool completely, then halve.
  3. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 3–4 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately cool under cold water. Pat dry.
  4. Peel and quarter the hard-boiled eggs. Drain the tuna and gently break it into large chunks. Prepare olives as desired.
  5. Arrange lettuce on a large serving platter. Neatly arrange potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, eggs, olives, and tuna on top. Drizzle evenly with the lemon Nicoise dressing and serve.

Notes

You can substitute green beans with asparagus or sugar snap peas. Fresh seared tuna or grilled salmon also work beautifully. For extra freshness, add herbs like parsley, basil, or dill.