This Niçoise Salad Recipe is a delectable cornucopia of texture and flavor with fresh vegetables, Niçoise olives, red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and tuna drizzled with a tangy light mustard vinaigrette.
Elegant and Delicious Nicoise Salad
The Nicoise salad is not tossed but elegantly arranged on a platter or serving plate, making it as pretty as it is delicious. The Dijon vinaigrette is drizzled over the top. The different flavor combinations come together so well in this heart-healthy salad.
This traditional salad originated in the south of France in the city of Nice, located in the Provence region. One of the signature ingredients is Nicoise olives, which are also grown in the Provence region, hence the name Nicoise salad or salad Nicoise.
Ingredients for Nicoise Salad
- Hard-boiled eggs: There are several ways to make hard-boiled eggs, but I prefer two. Steaming is my favorite.
- Potatoes: Yukon Gold and red potatoes work well for this recipe.
- Green beans: If possible, use French green beans, also known as haricot verts.
- Tomatoes: In the off-season, I use Campari, grape, or cherry tomatoes, but in the summer, any sun-ripened tomato is excellent.
- Radishes: sliced thinly
- Olives: Nicoise olives are very difficult to find, so most of the time, I use Kalamata olives
- Capers: I love the salty tartness they add, but if you don’t like them, try artichoke hearts.
- Tuna: Use canned Albacore tuna packed in oil or water
- Vinegar: Red or white wine vinegar works best. You could also use lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.
- Dijon mustard: Adds a little tang to the vinaigrette, and it acts as an emulsifier, joining the olive oil and the vinegar.
- Seasonings: Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or thyme add great flavor.
How to make Niçoise Salad
- Steam the eggs and plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Boil the potatoes and blanch the green beans in the same pot. Again, plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Whisk together the ingredients for the mustard vinaigrette.
- Peel your eggs and slice them and the red potatoes in half. Arrange the salad ingredients on a large platter. See pictures, for example. Drizzle with mustard vinaigrette and serve promptly.
Beth’s Recipe tips
- It is beneficial to cook the eggs, potatoes, and beans in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- You can also add all the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake to combine.
- You can use any green beans, but Haricots Verts (thin-style French green beans are by far the best) are the best.
- Use grilled fresh tuna steaks or good-quality canned tuna.
- Feel free to add or swap with other goodies to make the salad unique to your taste preferences. For example, you could add cannelloni beans, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, anchovies, or red onions.
What to Serve with Nicoise Salad
This salad is a well-balanced meal, but sometimes I like to serve it with crusty bread like French baguettes or no-knead bread. I also like to change things up with a little soup like French onion soup or vichyssoise.
More Salad Recipes
Classic Niçoise Salad Recipe
A delectable salad of fresh vegetables, red potatoes, hard boiled eggs, Nicoise olives and tuna drizzled with an easy six ingredient mustard vinaigrette.
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Servings: 4 serving
Calories: 470kcal
Ingredients
Mustard Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill or 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh
Nicoise Salad
- 4 large eggs
- 4-5 small Yukon Gold or red potatoes
- 8 ounces green beans
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced radishes
- 1/2 cup Nicoise or Kalamata olives
- 3 tablespoons capers
- 10 ounces white albacore tuna in water
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl whisk the white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and dill.
- Fill a large saucepan with enough water to reach just below the bottom of a steamer basket. Bring the water to a boil, and carefully add the eggs to the steamer basket using a long-handled spoon or tongs. Cover the pot and steam for 13-15 minutes. Remove the eggs to icy cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Fill the same pot with the potatoes, cool water to an inch over the potatoes, and a teaspoon of salt. Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer just until the potatoes are almost completely fork-tender. Drop the green beans into the simmering water and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the potatoes and green beans to icy cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Peel your eggs and slice them and the red potatoes in half. Arrange the eggs, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, radishes, olives, capers, and tuna on a large platter. Sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Drizzle with the mustard vinaigrette and serve promptly.
Notes
- It is very helpful to cook the eggs, potatoes, and beans in advance..
- You can also add all the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake to combine.
- You can use any kind of green beans, but Haricots Verts (thin-style French green beans are by far the best) are the best.
- You can use grilled fresh tuna steaks or good-quality canned tuna.
- Feel free to add or swap with other goodies to make the salad unique to your taste preferences. For example, you could add cannelloni beans, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, anchovies, and red onions.
Nutrition
Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 1124mg | Potassium: 1212mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 947IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 4mg
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Harry
To be honest, the nicoise salad was pretty new to me. I loved the red potatoes and hard boiled eggs. The salad is a great combination of flavors and salad.
Mary W
I guess I did not know what a nicoise salad was! I did not realize there was a salad like this. Such a tasty blend of ingredients. I am going to make this. Thanks for the inspiration.
Beth Pierce
You are welcome, Mary! Enjoy!!
Candace G
Lots of protein and good fiber on one plate. Awesome recipe for any time of the year.
Beth Pierce
I agree, Candace!
AJ
LOVE the variety of colors, flavors, and textures!! Thanks for sharing this tasty and healthy salad recipe – keeping this recipe!
Melissa Z
Yummy – all of my favorites in one. Absolutely delicious!
Rhian S
I don’t know what it is about olives, but I’ve never got into them. But the rest of this salad is absolutely delicious and so beautiful.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Rhian! I am so glad that you liked it!
Jupiter K
This salad is quite filling! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe, it’s such a tasty salad.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Jupiter! We love it too!
karen
I’ve had Nicoise salad a long time ago and loved it!!! I can’t wait to make your recipe, can’t wait….Thank you so much…This brings so many happy memories….
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, karen!