The Nicoise salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish that brings together a medley of fresh vegetables, protein-packed tuna, and perfectly boiled eggs. This classic French salad is not only visually appealing but also a delightful combination of flavors and textures, making it a perfect choice for a light lunch or a satisfying dinner.
While most of the ingredients for this Nicoise salad are commonly found in your kitchen, you might need to pick up a few items from the supermarket. Pitted olives and dijon mustard might not be staples in every household, so be sure to grab these when you’re out shopping. Additionally, make sure to get a good quality canned tuna for the best flavor.
Ingredients For Nicoise Salad Recipe
Green beans: Fresh and trimmed, these add a crisp texture to the salad.
Hard-boiled eggs: Halved and placed on top, they provide protein and richness.
Cherry tomatoes: Halved, they add a burst of sweetness and color.
Cucumber: Sliced, it adds a refreshing crunch.
Tuna: Drained from a can, it brings a savory, protein-packed element.
Pitted olives: These add a briny, salty flavor.
Red onion: Sliced thinly, it adds a sharp, pungent taste.
Olive oil: Used in the dressing, it adds richness and helps blend the flavors.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed, it adds a bright, tangy note to the dressing.
Dijon mustard: Adds a bit of heat and depth to the dressing.
Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the flavors of the salad.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When preparing green beans, make sure to blanch them properly. This involves boiling them in salted water for a few minutes until they are tender-crisp, then immediately transferring them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This technique helps maintain their vibrant color and crisp texture.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
green beans - Substitute with asparagus: Asparagus provides a similar crunch and can be blanched just like green beans.
hard-boiled eggs - Substitute with soft-boiled eggs: Soft-boiled eggs offer a creamier texture that can add a different dimension to the salad.
cherry tomatoes - Substitute with grape tomatoes: Grape tomatoes have a similar sweetness and size, making them an easy swap.
cucumber - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini can be sliced thin and offers a similar refreshing crunch.
tuna - Substitute with grilled chicken: Grilled chicken provides a hearty protein alternative with a different flavor profile.
olives - Substitute with capers: Capers offer a briny, tangy flavor that can replace the saltiness of olives.
red onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder, sweeter flavor that can be a good alternative to red onions.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar healthy fat profile and a mild flavor.
lemon juice - Substitute with white wine vinegar: White wine vinegar provides a similar acidity and brightness to the dressing.
dijon mustard - Substitute with whole grain mustard: Whole grain mustard offers a similar tang with a bit more texture.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a different umami flavor while still providing the necessary saltiness.
pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a bit of heat and spice, offering a different flavor profile.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Salad
How to Store / Freeze This Salad
- For optimal freshness, store the Nicoise Salad components separately. Keep the green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, tuna, olives, and red onion in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- The hard-boiled eggs should be stored in a separate container to prevent them from absorbing other flavors. Keep them in the fridge and consume within 3-4 days.
- Prepare the dressing (a delightful mix of olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper) and store it in a small jar or container. Shake well before using and refrigerate for up to a week.
- When ready to serve, combine all the salad ingredients and drizzle with the dressing. This ensures the vegetables remain crisp and the flavors vibrant.
- If you need to freeze the Nicoise Salad, avoid freezing the hard-boiled eggs and dressing. Instead, freeze the green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, tuna, olives, and red onion in separate freezer-safe bags or containers. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before assembling.
- For a quick meal, portion out individual servings of the salad components and freeze them separately. This way, you can defrost only what you need and enjoy a fresh-tasting Nicoise Salad anytime.
How to Reheat Leftovers
- For the best flavor and texture, avoid reheating the hard-boiled eggs and tuna. Instead, set them aside while reheating the rest of the salad.
- Gently warm the green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and red onion mixture in a skillet over low heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating without overcooking.
- Alternatively, use a microwave-safe dish to reheat the vegetable mixture. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent for steam. Heat on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through.
- Once the vegetables are warmed, combine them with the tuna and hard-boiled eggs that were set aside.
- Drizzle with a fresh batch of the olive oil, lemon juice, and dijon mustard dressing to refresh the flavors. Toss gently to combine before serving.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Pot: Used to boil the green beans in salted water until they are tender-crisp.
Colander: Used to drain the boiled green beans and cool them under cold water.
Large bowl: Used to combine the green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, tuna, olives, and red onion.
Small bowl: Used to whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
Whisk: Used to mix the dressing ingredients until they are well combined.
Knife: Used to halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the cucumber, and slice the red onion.
Cutting board: Used as a surface to cut the vegetables and other ingredients.
Measuring cups: Used to measure the green beans, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the olive oil, lemon juice, and dijon mustard.
Tongs: Used to toss the salad gently with the dressing.
Serving platter: Used to arrange the hard-boiled eggs on top of the salad and serve it immediately.
How to Save Time on Making This Salad
Prep ingredients in advance: Trim and boil the green beans and hard-boil the eggs the night before to save time on the day of assembly.
Use pre-cooked tuna: Opt for a high-quality canned tuna to eliminate the need for cooking and shredding fresh fish.
Ready-made dressing: Prepare the dressing in a small jar and store it in the fridge. Just shake and pour when ready to use.
Batch chopping: Slice the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion all at once and store them in separate containers.

Nicoise Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups Green beans trimmed
- 4 Hard-boiled eggs halved
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup Cucumber sliced
- 1 can Tuna drained
- ¼ cup Olives pitted
- ¼ cup Red onion sliced
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- to taste Salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1. Boil the green beans in a pot of salted water for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and cool under cold water.
- 2. In a large bowl, combine green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, tuna, olives, and red onion.
- 3. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- 4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- 5. Arrange the hard-boiled eggs on top of the salad and serve immediately.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Salad
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