Savory Salade Niçoise: A Culinary Journey to Southern France

Salade Niçoise: A Classic Dish of Southern France

Introduction

Salade Niçoise is a classic dish of Southern France, originating in the city of Nice. It is a refreshing and flavorful salad, perfect for a summer meal. The salad is typically made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, potatoes, boiled eggs, tuna, and olives, dressed with a vinaigrette.

Ingredients

* 1 pound fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
* 1 pound green beans, trimmed
* 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
* 1 cucumber, sliced
* 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
* 1/2 cup black olives
* 1/2 cup tuna, flaked
* 3 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

For the vinaigrette:

* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and olives. Toss to coat.
3. Spread the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
4. While the vegetables are roasting, make the vinaigrette by whisking together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
5. Once the vegetables are roasted, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly.
6. In a large salad bowl, combine the roasted vegetables, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, basil, and parsley.
7. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat.
8. Serve immediately.

Tips

* For a more flavorful salad, use ripe, in-season vegetables.
* If you don't have fingerling potatoes, you can use baby potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes.
* You can also add other ingredients to your salad, such as capers, anchovies, or feta cheese.
* Serve the salad with a crusty baguette or some grilled bread.

Variations

* Salade Niçoise is a versatile dish, so there are many different variations on the classic recipe.
* Some people like to add boiled asparagus or artichokes to their salad.
* Others like to use canned tuna instead of fresh tuna.
* You can also use a different type of dressing, such as a lemon-herb vinaigrette or a creamy avocado dressing.

Conclusion

Salade Niçoise is a delicious and refreshing salad that is perfect for a summer meal. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So next time you are looking for a light and flavorful meal, give Salade Niçoise a try!