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Niçoise from FranceSalade
The Classic French Salad, also known as Salade Niçoise, is a delightful and refreshing dish that originates from the city of Nice in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France. This salad is a perfect combination of fresh and wholesome ingredients that come together to create a colourful and flavourful dish that is both satisfying and nutritious.
The key components of the Classic French Salad include crisp lettuce, tender green beans, ripe tomatoes, boiled new potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, briny olives, and oil-packed tuna or anchovies. The salad is typically dressed with a simple vinaigrette made from olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and freshly chopped herbs like parsley, chives, or tarragon.
Preparing the Salad
To prepare the Classic French Salad, start by boiling the new potatoes until they are fork-tender, blanching the green beans until they are bright green and crisp-tender, and hard-boiling the eggs until they are cooked to your desired doneness. Once the ingredients are prepared, arrange a bed of crisp lettuce on a
serving platter or individual plates. Next, arrange the cooked and cooled green beans, sliced tomatoes, halved hard-boiled eggs, and quartered boiled new potatoes on top of the lettuce.
Topped Up With Olives
Add a handful of briny olives and oil-packed tuna or anchovies to the salad for an extra burst of flavour and richness. Finally, drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, and garnish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped herbs. The result is a visually stunning and delicious salad that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
A Nutritious and Well-Balanced Meal
The Classic French Salad is not only a feast for the senses but also a nutritious and well-balanced meal. The combination of fresh vegetables, protein-rich eggs and tuna, and healthy fats from the olive oil make this salad a wholesome and satisfying option for anyone looking to enjoy a light and flavourful dish.
Whether you’re hosting a summer gathering, craving a taste of the French Riviera, or simply looking for a healthy and delicious meal, the Classic French Salad is sure to delight your taste buds and leave you feeling nourished and satisfied. Bon appétit!
How to Make the Classic French Salad
Ingredients:
4 round medium-sized tomatoes 5 eggs 1/2 cup of sliced black olives 1 can of fava beans 3 chopped spring onions 2 cans of tuna or anchovies 400 g of mesclun salad “spring mix” 1 clove of chopped garlic 6-7 chopped basil leaves 4-5 tablespoons of olive oil 2 tablespoons of red vinegar Pinch of salt and pepper
Optional Ingredients:
1 thinly sliced bell pepper 1 chopped cucumber if not including fava beans 1/4 cup of lemon juice if not including red vinegar 1/4 cup sweet corn 1/4 cup small red onions if not add spring onions 1/4 cup chopped radishes
Other Possible Ingredients:
1 cup boiled green beans 3 boiled medium-sized potatoes chopped 2-3 tablespoons of mayonnaise 1 teaspoon of mustard
Instructions:
- To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar (or lemon juice), basil, and garlic in a bowl. Add salt and pepper, and any optional ingredients such as mustard or mayonnaise.
- Boil the eggs for 8 minutes, and then let cool in a bowl of cold water. Remove egg shells and chop them into quarters.
- Rinse the mesclun lettuce and arrange in a large serving bowl.
- Chop the tomatoes into quarters and toss into the serving bowl, along with the eggs.
- Shred the tuna (or anchovies) into small pieces and add to the bowl.
- Drain and rinse the canned fava beans and put them in a pot of boiling water. Bring to a simmer and cook for approx 5-8min until soft.
- Add the rest of the ingredients into the serving bowl and toss the salad.
- Let salad rest for 20 minutes before serving.
Notes:
The portions above are for a starter. Adjust the quantities as needed, if you are serving as a main dish.
