Classic French Nicoise Salad

Classic French Nicoise Salad
Classic French Nicoise Salad


I'll always remember the last meal I had in France.  It was at a cafe right across the street from a French chateau and was served by a French waiter who was a bit annoyed with our lack of French and inability to read the menu.  He bluntly refused Mr. Pin Junkie when he tried to order and then it was Mr. Pin Junkie's turn to be annoyed while I tried not to laugh at the whole comic situation.  I ordered the nicoise salad and the waiter was careful to correct my pronunciation.  (It's pronounced nee-swahs.) 

Everything I tasted in France was delicious and my nicoise salad was no exception.  However, the ingredients were mixed together rather than separate and included things that I thought were a bit unusual for a traditional nicoise salad like chopped celery and red bell pepper.  So as always, I recommend starting with a basic recipe and changing it so that it suits your tastes.  I would have liked to add some kalamata olives to the nicoise salad I made at home, but sadly I didn't have any in the kitchen.

Also, if you can find haricot verts (french green beans) I recommend it.  They are longer and thinner than regular green beans, but more importantly they are more tender and I think they also taste better.  I buy frozen ones at Trader Joe's and steam them.  They are fantastic and even Pin Junkie Jr. who doesn't like vegetables prefers them over any other type of green beans.

So here's my very basic nicoise salad recipe so you can enjoy it at home too.

Ingredients:

Salad
2 cups mixed lettuce
1/4 cup tuna (packed in water or oil)
1/2 cup green beans, steamed
1 hard boiled egg, sliced
1/2 cup boiled red potatoes
coarse salt and pepper to taste

Dressing
4 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons  apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon brown mustard

Directions:
In a small bowl, mix dressing ingredients until well combined.
Rinse and dry mixed lettuce.
Drain tuna.
Steam green beans until tender crisp.
Slice potatoes and hard boiled egg.
Place everything on a plate (or mix together if you'd like.)  Pour dressing over salad.  Season with coarse salt and pepper to taste.


Classic French Nicoise Salad


Be sure to visit The Pin Junkie recipe index for
more great recipes like croque monsieur

croque-monsieur-fried-ham-and-cheese sandwhich

Comments

  1. Hi, love your salad. How about adding it to the Food on Friday: Salads collection over at Carole's Chatter? Cheers

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  2. This is the one salad I have never made. I think it's time to try it out!

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  3. Yum! Looks tasty. I am visiting from the blog hop. Hope you are having a great week!

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  4. I have never had this before...sounds yummy!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  5. Looks really good Bonnie! I'm pinning this to try myself.
    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  6. This looks so perfect! I've been on a tuna kick lately and a hard boiled egg is the perfect addition to the plate!

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  7. Nicoise is hands DOWN my favorite salad out there!!! ADORE :)

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  8. This is my type of lunch. Funny on the pronunciation! I took 8 years of french and I always thought it was Knee-quas. Thanks for sharing with us on Foodie Friday

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  9. Sounds delicious and healthy. Thanks for the recipe.

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  10. G'day! Thanks for sharing at our #SayGdayParty! This looks very healthy indeed!
    Please make sure to stop back if you haven't already and Say G'day to someone else at the party and perhaps you can answer one of my questions or two! Cheers! Joanne What's On The List?

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  11. I have never had a Nicoise salad. Looks good and happy to know that's how you pronounce it, just in case I ever go to France. lol! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  12. Sounds delicious! I can't wait to try your recipe. Pinned Thanks for sharing @DearCreatives Inspiration Spotlight party!

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