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Nicoise Salad is so easy to make and you can switch up the ingredients for what’s in season. Tuna Nicoise salad is my absolute favorite. It’s amazing that a can of good tuna, ripe tomatoes, tender green beans, perfectly cooked eggs and potatoes, briny olives and a simple mustardy dressing can make one of the most flavorful and satisfying meals there is!

Nicoise Salad served in a white bowl
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Nicoise Salad or Salade Niçoise (pronounced ​[niˈswaz]) originated in the French city of Nice and can be served as a composed salad (each ingredient clustered into its own area of the bowl, plate, or platter) or tossed as you would other salads. In the late 19th century, it started in France as just tomatoes, anchovies and olive oil and was described as “simple food for poor people.” It has evolved to incorporate all kinds of cooked and raw vegetables and proteins and many famous chefs and authors have strong opinions about what it should and should not include.

I could eat this classic Nicoise Salad once a week. Forever. Sometimes I get fancy with it: swap in leftover Grilled Tuna Steak or Slow Roasted Salmon for canned tuna, add anchovy fillets here, a sprig of tarragon or other fresh herb there. But this is the way we eat it most often: just 30 minutes between putting water on to boil and taking our first bite.

It’s a house favorite because all of the elements, though distinct, work in harmony: a simple dressing of fresh lemon juice, white wine vinegar, good olive oil and Dijon mustard brighten; namesake Niçoise olives add spark; creamy new potatoes and tender green beans (French name: haricots vert) offer heft; perfectly boiled eggs and humble but mighty canned tuna make it a meal.

Nicoise-Salad served photographed from above

The best salads are a combination of the freshest ingredients in season and need only the simplest preparation to shine. Nicoise Salad is a perfect example (I’m looking at you too Crab Salad and Ahi Tuna Salad). Serve it alone or alongside a cup of French Onion Soup or a Jambon-Beurre sandwich as I often do.

How to Make Nicoise Salad

Step 1: Make Nicoise Salad Dressing: Whisk lemon juice, vinegar, and Dijon mustard together in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

whisking olive oil into nicoise salad dressing

Step 2: Cover new potatoes with cold water in a medium saucepan and bring to boil. Boil until tender; transfer to ice bath until cool. Drain, pat dry and cut in to bite size pieces.

boiling new potatoes then cooling in ice bath

Step 3: Add green beans to boiling water and boil until tender crisp. Transfer to ice bath to cool. Drain and pat dry.

boiling green beans then cooling in ice bath

Step 4: Line a single platter or individual bowls with butter lettuce leaves (optional). Arrange green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, hard boiled eggs, and tuna on top.

nicoise salad ready to dress

Step 5: Drizzle salad with desired amount of dressing and season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

dressing nicoise salad

Nicoise Salad

5 from 6 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: French
Calories: 506
Servings: 4 people
Enjoy classic French Nicoise Salad (Salad Nicoise) at home with this simple and delicious recipe! 

Video

Ingredients  

For the dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the salad

  • 1 head butter lettuce separated into leaves and washed, optional
  • 1 pound small new potatoes or small red potatoes
  • 1 pound thin green beans
  • 2 large tomatoes cut into wedges, one pint of halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup black Niçoise olives or kalamata olives
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs peeled and halved
  • 2 cans high-quality tuna drained
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions 

To make the dressing:

  • Whisk lemon juice, vinegar and mustard together in a small bowl; add oil in a steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and ground pepper.

To make the salad:

  • Add potatoes to a medium saucepan; cover with cold water and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and keep at a low boil for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the size of your potatoes) until fork tender (a fork should slide in with little effort). Drain or lift out with slotted spoon and transfer immediately to an ice water bath to cool. When cool (5-10 minutes) remove and cut into bite size pieces.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add green beans; boil 3-4 minutes until tender crisp. When cool (about 5 minutes), drain well in a colander and pat dry if necessary.

Assemble Nicoise Salad:

  • Line four individual plates or a large platter with butter lettuce leaves (optional), arrange potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, olives, eggs and tuna on top of each plate, dividing the ingredients evenly. Drizzle each salad with desired amount of dressing. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve.

Notes

Even when I’m making this for two, I often double it and serve the leftovers for lunch or dinner then next day. If you do this, refrigerate the ingredients separately and assemble the salad just before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 217mg | Sodium: 846mg | Potassium: 1258mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3330IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 5.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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57 Comments

  1. Karen (Back Road Journal) says:

    When the weather is warm, Nicoise salad is one of my favorites and yours looks great. My husband loves his with anchovies added but if we don’t have any, I’ll just add a little anchovy paste to the dressing.

    1. Marissa says:

      That’s a great idea – can’t go wrong with a little umami! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Valentina says:

    5 stars
    I could absolutely have a Nicoise salad once a week, too. I love your version and your eggs appear to be cooked exactly how I love them. ๐Ÿ™‚ I love serving my family main course salads a few times a week. And Nicoise should go in the rotation.

    1. Marissa says:

      Love to hear that, Valentina! Thank you!

  3. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says:

    5 stars
    One of my favorite salads Marissa! So hearty and delicious. Perfect for lunch or for dinner with a glass of wine!

    1. Marissa says:

      Oh yes! Love how you think, Mary Ann!