Niçoise Salad
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1 clove garlic – finely minced
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp black pepper – freshly ground
- 1 pound tomatoes (~4 medium tomatos)
- 8 ounces cucumbers (~1 medium cucumber)
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 4 ounces radishes (~12.5 small radishes)
- 4 pieces scallions
- 3/4 cup niçoise olives
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 10 ounces oil-packed tuna – drained
- 8 fillets anchovy fillets – drained
Instructions
1. Place the eggs in a saucepan, cover with cold water by 1 inch, and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook 9–10 minutes, until the whites are set and yolks are just firm. Cool under cold running water, peel, and quarter.
2. Make the vinaigrette: In a large bowl, mash the minced garlic with the kosher salt to a paste. Whisk in the red wine vinegar, then slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. Whisk in the black pepper.
3. Prep the vegetables: Cut the tomatoes into wedges; slice the cucumbers into 0.25-inch half-moons; thinly slice the green bell pepper; thinly slice the radishes; and thinly slice the scallions. Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, radishes, scallions, and niçoise olives to the bowl with the vinaigrette.
4. Toss gently to coat the vegetables evenly, then taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Arrange the dressed vegetables on a large platter.
5. Flake the oil-packed tuna into large pieces and arrange over the vegetables. Lay the anchovy fillets over the salad and tuck in the quartered eggs. Tear the basil leaves and scatter over the top. Drizzle any remaining vinaigrette from the bowl over the salad and serve at room temperature.
Niçoise Salad is a vibrant Mediterranean composition that highlights ripe tomatoes, briny olives, tender eggs, and rich tuna or anchovies, all brightened with a garlicky olive-oil vinaigrette. The textures play against each other: crisp raw vegetables, creamy yolks, and the savory snap of salt-cured fish. Its flavors are sun-drenched and assertive—peppery, herbal, and deeply olive-forward—meant to be enjoyed at room temperature where the ingredients can fully express themselves.
Originating from Nice on France’s Riviera, the salad draws from the region’s markets and preserved seafood traditions. Early descriptions emphasized raw, seasonal produce with oil-packed fish, Niçoise olives, and basil, and notably avoided cooked vegetables. Over the 20th century the dish spread internationally, sparking debates about what belongs, especially over potatoes and green beans. Despite global variations, the Nice-born core remains a celebration of raw produce, preserved fish, and excellent olive oil.