Salade Niçoise (Niçoise Tuna Salad)
Local name: Salade niçoise
In short: Tomatoes, tuna, boiled eggs, green beans, olives and anchovies on crisp lettuce, tossed with a sharp olive oil and mustard dressing. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 500 kcal
Salade niçoise comes from Nice on the French Riviera, where the purest versions use raw summer vegetables, tuna and olives. Home versions often add boiled eggs, green beans and potatoes, which turn it into a full meal. The dressing is simply olive oil, vinegar and mustard. Arrange the ingredients on a platter rather than tossing them, so each one keeps its shape and color, and let everyone help themselves.
Instructions
- Cover the potatoes with cold salted water, bring to a boil and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until a knife slides in easily. Drain, cool slightly and cut into thick slices.
- Boil the green beans in salted water for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain and cool in iced water, then drain again.
- Lower the eggs into boiling water and cook for 9 minutes for firm yolks, or 7 minutes for soft, jammy ones. Cool in cold water, then peel and quarter them.
- Whisk the oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl until the dressing is thick and smooth.
- Spread the lettuce on a large platter. Toss the warm potatoes and the beans each with a spoonful of dressing.
- Arrange the tomatoes, cucumber, potatoes, beans, eggs, tuna in large flakes, anchovies and olives in groups over the lettuce. Scatter with basil.
- Drizzle with the remaining dressing and serve right away.
Tips
- Use good tuna packed in olive oil, which is softer and more flavorful than tuna in water. Keep it in large flakes.
- Fresh tuna also works. Sear a 2 cm (3/4 in) steak for 1 to 2 minutes per side so the center stays pink. It is not fully cooked, so buy very fresh fish and skip it for pregnant or vulnerable guests.
Questions and answers
Does a traditional salade niçoise have potatoes?
Purists from Nice leave out cooked vegetables such as potatoes and green beans and use raw tomatoes, peppers, radishes and fava beans instead. Many French home versions include them, so use what you like.
Can I make salade niçoise ahead of time?
Prepare the components up to a day ahead and keep them separate in the fridge. Arrange and dress them just before serving.
What can I use instead of anchovies in niçoise salad?
Leave them out, or add extra olives and a spoonful of capers for the salty note. The salad is still good with just tuna.
How long does it take to make Salade Niçoise (Niçoise Tuna Salad)?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Salade Niçoise (Niçoise Tuna Salad)?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 31 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 32 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 32 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
