Elegant French composed salad from the Riviera
Nicoise Salad
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4
2 large platters
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Premium
$$$
Nicoise Salad
Elegant French composed salad from the Riviera
★4.8(15)
A beautiful French Nicoise salad with seared tuna, green beans, potatoes, olives, and hard-boiled eggs over butter lettuce.
20m
Prep Time
20m
Cook Time
40m
Total Time
4
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Premium $$$
Cost
Sarah Chen
(Updated )
Salade Nicoise is the quintessential French Riviera dish — a composed salad that artfully arranges the best of Mediterranean produce with seared tuna, tender potatoes, and briny Nicoise olives.
Every component is prepared separately and placed with care, making this as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate. A classic Dijon vinaigrette ties everything together.
Ingredients
- 2 fresh tuna steaks (6 oz each)
- 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed
- 1 lb small potatoes, halved
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
- 1/2 cup Nicoise or Kalamata olives
- 4 cups butter lettuce leaves
Instructions
- 1
Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Blanch green beans for 3 minutes, then plunge into ice water.
- 2
Season tuna steaks with salt and pepper. Sear in a hot oiled skillet for 1–2 minutes per side for rare. Slice thinly.
- 3
Arrange butter lettuce on a large platter. Place potatoes, green beans, eggs, olives, and cherry tomatoes in groups.
- 4
Lay sliced tuna over the top. Whisk together olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- 5
Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve alongside a fresh baguette and salted butter
Pair with a crisp green salad with Dijon vinaigrette
Serve as a light main course or alongside grilled protein
Best enjoyed fresh -- prepare the dressing separately if making ahead
Substitutions
Fresh tunaCanned tuna in olive oil
Traditional and more budget-friendly.
Nicoise olivesKalamata olives
Similar briny flavor and easy to find.
Butter lettuceMixed greens
Any tender lettuce works.
Tips & Storage
Pro Tips
Use the best quality tuna you can find — sashimi-grade is ideal for rare searing.
Canned tuna packed in olive oil is a perfectly acceptable and traditional substitute.
Anchovies draped over the salad are traditional and add savory depth.
Storage
Best served immediately. Components can be prepped up to a day ahead and stored separately.
Reheating
Salads are best enjoyed fresh and do not require reheating. If you have leftover dressed salad, it may be slightly wilted but still edible within a few hours.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (1 large plate) · 4 servings
Calories420
LowModerateHigh
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein18g
Carbohydrates24g
Fat4g
Fiber4g
Sugar34g
Sodium580mg
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use canned tuna?
- Absolutely. High-quality canned tuna in olive oil is traditional in many Nicoise preparations.
- What makes it authentic?
- Traditional Nicoise uses raw vegetables, no cooked greens, and always includes olives and anchovies.
About Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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