French Cuisine Recipes: Provençal Salad (Salade Niçoise)
There are probably as many versions of this salad as there are cooks in Provence. With good French bread, this regional classic makes a wonderful summer lunch or light supper. You may also listen to the recipe by pressing the play button below:
Ingredients
- 225 g/8 oz French beans
- 450 g/1 lb new potatoes, peeled and cut into 2.5 cm/1 in pieces
- White wine vinegar and olive oil, for sprinkling
- 1 small Cos or round lettuce, washed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
- 4 ripe plum tomatoes, quartered
- 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
- 1 green or red pepper, thinly sliced
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
- 24 Niçoise or black olives
- 225 g/8 oz can tuna in brine, drained
- 55 g/2 oz can anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained
- Basil leaves, to garnish
- Garlic croûtons, to serve
- #For the Anchovy Vinaigrette#
- 20 ml/1 heaped tbsp Dijon mustard
- 55 g/2 oz can anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 60 ml/4 tbsp lemon juice or white wine vinegar
- 125 ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup sunflower oil
- 125 ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- First make the anchovy vinaigrette. Place the mustard, anchovies and garlic in a bowl and blend together by pressing the garlic and anchovies against the sides of the bowl. Season generously with pepper. Using a small whisk, blend in the lemon juice or wine vinegar. Slowly whisk in the sunflower oil in a thin stream and then the olive oil, whisking until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Alternatively, put all the ingredients except the oil in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and process to combine. With the machine running, slowly add the oils in a thin stream until the vinaigrette is thick and creamy.
- Drop the French beans into a large saucepan of boiling water and boil for 3 minutes until tender, yet crisp. Transfer the beans to a colander with a slotted spoon, then rinse under cold running water. Drain again and set aside.
- Add the potatoes to the same boiling water, reduce the heat and simmer for 10—15 minutes until just tender, then drain. Sprinkle with a little vinegar and olive oil and a spoonful of the vinaigrette.
- Arrange the lettuce on a platter, top with the tomatoes, cucumber and pepper, then add the French beans and potatoes.
- Arrange the eggs, olives, tuna , and anchovies on top and garnish with the basil leaves. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and serve with garlic croutons. #Cook’s Tip# To make garlic croûtons, thinly slice a French stick or cut larger loaves, such as rustic country bread, into 2.5 cm/1 in cubes. Place the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake in a 180°C 350°F/Gas 4 oven for 7-10 minutes or until golden, turning once. Rub the toast with a garlic clove and serve hot, or cool then store in an airtight container to serve at room temperature.