This Quick Nicoise Style Salad is very popular with the whole of my family. In fact it’s often met with a whoop of delight from my kids, 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. So 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 creamy 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!
For more main meal salad recipes you might like the following:
- Prawn & Egg Salad
- SPAM Salad with Garlic Croutons & Gruyere
- Chilli Prawn and Pasta Salad
- Grilled Halloumi Salad
- Smoked Mackerel & Chickpea Salad
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Radish Asparagus Avocado Salad
- Beetroot, Squash & Feta Salad
Pin my Quick Nicoise Style Salad for later!
Quick Nicoise Style Salad
Ingredients
- 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
- 24 Kalamata olives pitted
- For Quick Creamy Salad Dressing:
- 125 ml 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
- Garnish:
- Chive flower petals optional
Instructions
- 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.
Lisa Williams
it nearly looks to good to eat but I don’t think I have that kind of will power hehe
Heather Haigh
Having this for lunch. 🙂
Zoe
This salad looks great! I wish that I can have this for my lunch 😀
Janice
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
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!
nazima WLM
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
Glad I’ve inspired you to try something new!
rita cooks italian
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
Wow Rita, thank you for your lovely comment; I hope your inlaws enjoy this!
Mich - Piece of Cake
This is one of my favourite salads, there is no doubt at all. Yours looks really lovely for a light and healthy lunch.
Camilla
Thank you. It is also good as an evening meal especially if you add quartered new potatoes and garlic bread!
Karen @ Lavender and Lovage
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
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!
Jacqueline @How to be a Gourmand
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
Hi Jacqueline, thank you do try it:)
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
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
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!