Nicoise Salad (Composed or Tossed)

This simple Nicoise salad can be served artfully composed or quickly tossed. Either way, it's flavorful, satiating, and gorgeous!

Course Salad

Cuisine French

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 372kcal

Arrange the mixed greens on a large serving platter. Drizzle them with 4 tablespoons of the vinaigrette.
5 ounces mixed greens, ½ cup classic vinaigrette
Arrange the green beans, tomatoes, olives, hard-boiled eggs, and tuna on top of the mixed greens. Drizzle them with the remaining 4 tablespoons of vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
1 pound boiled green beans, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup pitted olives, 4 hard-boiled eggs, 8 ounces oil-packed canned tuna
You can also add all the ingredients to a large salad bowl and make a mixed salad. It's not as pretty, but it's arguably more delicious because the dressing coats the ingredients more efficiently when mixed into them.

Seasonings, especially salt, are guidelines - adjust to taste.
My version contains no potatoes. I do this because I'm on a low-carb diet, but one should note that the traditional Nicoise salad does not contain potatoes - those were a later addition.
This salad will be as good as the tuna you use, so it's imperative to use tuna of the highest quality. The jar shown in the photo below is the product I like to use. The tuna is kept in high-quality olive oil, and it comes in large chunks. It's very different from tuna canned in water.
Make-ahead and storage: You can prepare the separate components a day ahead. I often do. I wash and slice the tomatoes, lightly boil the green beans, boil the eggs, and prepare the dressing. Each component goes into an airtight container and is kept in the fridge. The next day, assembling the salad is easy! The dressing will separate, but you can shake it to re-emulsify. Be sure to assemble the salad and dress it shortly before serving, to prevent the lettuce from being soggy. For the same reason, you can store the leftovers except for the lettuce. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.