This salad is very popular with the whole of my family. In fact it’s often met with a whoop of delight from my children, especially when I serve it with their favourite garlic bread!
Technically Salad Nicoise should have anchovies draped on it according to Wikipedia but as we are not keen on them we leave them out, but if you like them feel free to put them on top or add to the dressing! Some chefs add blanched green beans to their Nicoise but when you come rushing in the door and need a quick meal, a ripe avocado is in my opinion a more delicious and simpler alternative.
Up until recently I had used an off the shelf dressing which although nice wasn’t exactly economical or fresh. Hence I went on a cyber search for the solution and had to look no further than Lucy Vaserfirer’s blog Hungry Cravings link here. She kindly let me reproduce this version and I don’t think you’ll ever need to buy a shop bought creamy dressing again after tasting this one!
I’m adding this recipe to the blogging challenge called One Ingredient for July which is the Tomato. This challenge is run by Laura at howtocookgoodfood and Nazima at Londonworking mummy.
So first you get all your dressing ingredients together in a bowl (except seasoning).
Whisk up the ingredients and season to taste.
Pour into a small serving jug.
Now arrange your salad leaves and add the rest of the ingredients layer by layer finishing with the olives.
Now drizzle the dressing over and enjoy with some yummy crusty warm bread if you wish.
- 1 Head of Mixed Salad Leaves, washed
- 2 Tins tuna in oil, drained
- 4 Free range eggs, boiled & quartered
- 2 Avocados, sliced into eighths
- 4 Vine ripened tomatoes, cut into segments
- 20 Kalamata olives, pitted
- For Quick Creamy Salad Dressing:
- 125ml Mayonnaise (reduced or full fat)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 to 2 Garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 ½ tsp Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 3 tbsp Water
- Chives to taste, snipped
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- First whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, chives and water. Season to taste.
- Next arrange the salad leaves over 4 plates.
- Then arrange the rest of the ingredients on top of the leaves finishing with the olives.
- Dress with the Quick Creamy Salad Dressing and serve with warm crusty wholemeal baguette or garlic bread.
Loading tweets...
14 comments
2 pings
Skip to comment form ↓
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
19/07/2012 at 6:54 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I do love a salad and this super quick Nicoise is just perfect as it’s a salad that is packed full of goodies, all of which I love. My kids would adore this too as they are keen olive and tuna fans, I need to persuade them a bit more about the avocado though.
A very lovely entry for One Ingredient…..Thank You!! xxx
Camilla
19/07/2012 at 10:39 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Hi Laura, thank you for your lovely comments. The beauty of a salad is that you can tailor each plate to each persons palate unlike a cooked dish!
Jacqueline @How to be a Gourmand
21/07/2012 at 6:42 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Oh I do love a good Tuna Nicoise Salad. The dressing really helps to make a salad and this looks like a good one
Camilla
21/07/2012 at 9:06 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Hi Jacqueline, thank you do try it:)
Karen @ Lavender and Lovage
21/07/2012 at 2:49 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Niçoise salad is MUCH disputed in France and what should or shouldn’t be in a Niçoise salad are hotly debated! I am in the green beans and anchovies school….with potatoes too of course, but my French neighbour says NO potatoes, so who knows! Your salad looks lovely though. Karen
Camilla
21/07/2012 at 6:24 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Hi Karen
Knew I’d be in trouble if I called this just Nicoise but couldn’t come up with a snappier name so settled on Style to convey the general feeling of this salad. I often throw new potatoes in it too as I never cook less than a bag of them and find plenty of uses for the cold leftovers!
Mich - Piece of Cake
24/07/2012 at 9:50 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
This is one of my favourite salads, there is no doubt at all. Yours looks really lovely for a light and healthy lunch.
Camilla
24/07/2012 at 3:32 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thank you. It is also good as an evening meal especially if you add quartered new potatoes and garlic bread!
rita cooks italian
25/07/2012 at 6:57 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Your salad looks fantastic! I was browsing the foodblogs network because I am looking for good recipes for quick and healty lunches (my in laws are coming next week and stay with us…). This sounds easy and simple compare to the traditional recipe. I agree about the dressing, after tasting a freshly made creamy dressing, you can’t buy a shop bought creamy dressing again.
Camilla
25/07/2012 at 9:07 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Wow Rita, thank you for your lovely comment; I hope your inlaws enjoy this!
nazima WLM
25/07/2012 at 9:51 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
oh a lovely nicoise. Thanks for sharing it and great photos! lovely dressing too. I always make the same old vinaigrette dressing for salads so will have to try this one out!
Camilla
25/07/2012 at 10:57 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Glad I’ve inspired you to try something new!
Janice
12/04/2013 at 11:07 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I love a Nicoise salad, but I have to have the anchovies! Preferably fresh ones rather than the little ones in a tin, but they will do. I’d forgotten about one ingredient, will see if I can include some toms in my menu
Camilla
12/04/2013 at 11:25 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Ooh Janice, people who know me well know that I have 3 food pet hates which are Blue Cheese, Anchovies and Capers but if push came to shove I could eat the later 2 but the first just makes me feel ill!
Best of the Foodie Blogs: Ten at Ten (29) | Foodies 100
25/07/2012 at 9:57 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
[...] causing drooling in my household was Fab Food 4 All’s Quick Nicoise Style Salad. Such a great dish for this warm weather and the creamy garlicy dressing looks [...]
One Ingredient – The July Round-Up
01/08/2012 at 8:35 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
[...] at Fab Food 4 All put together a Quick Nicoise Salad. Camilla uses some great ingredients to make her salad Nicoise including avocado, olives, tuna, egg [...]