Nicoise Salad Recipe

INGREDIENTS ( serves 6) 

Vinaigrette

1/2 cup lemon juice

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp minced fresh basil leaves

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad
2 grilled or otherwise cooked tuna steaks  or 2-3 cans of tuna
6 hard boiled eggs peeled and either halved or quartered
10 small new red potatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 medium heads Boston lettuce or butter lettuce
3 small ripe tomatoes
1 small red onion, sliced very thin
350 gr of  green beans
1/4 cup niçoise olives
2 Tbsp capers, rinsed and/or several anchovies (optional, as I don't like capers I don't use them...)

METHOD

1 Whisk lemon juice, oil and mustard in medium bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.

2 Bring potatoes to boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon of  salt and cook until potatoes are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon (do not discard boiling water). Toss warm potatoes with 1/4 cup vinaigrette; set aside.

3 While potatoes are cooking, toss lettuce with 1/4 cup vinaigrette in large bowl until coated. Arrange bed of lettuce on a serving platter. Cut tuna into slices and coat with vinaigrette. Toss tomatoes, red onion, 3 tablespoons  of vinaigrette, and salt and pepper to taste in bowl; arrange tomato-onion mixture on the lettuce bed. Arrange reserved potatoes in a mound at edge of lettuce bed.

4 Return water to boil; add 1 tablespoon salt and  the green beans. Cook until tender but crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain beans, transfer to ice water, and let stand until just cool, about 30 seconds; dry beans well. Toss beans, 3 tablespoons of  vinaigrette, and salt and pepper to taste.

5 Arrange hard boiled eggs, olives, and anchovies (if  you are using them ) in mounds on the lettuce bed. Drizzle eggs with remaining 2 tablespoons dressing, sprinkle entire salad with capers (if using), and serve immediately.

This recipe is perfect in summer but can also be made in winter... I think it's an easy dinner party recipe which will make your guests happy as it is super tasty and healthy!

Bon appetit!