Salade Nicoise

Salade Nicoise, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Ah! A classic French salad. Years ago when I was a student at the Cordon Bleu in Paris I, like many other "locals", would spend some of my free time at the cafe sipping coffee, water or wine. Dejeune was sometimes included....not dinner... that was either a picnic or at a bistro. I soon found a favorite in either sliced tomatoes (always vine ripened) and mustard or this classic salad named after the city of Nice. The essential Mediterranean influence ingredients: haricot vert (skinny little young green beans), small potatoes, olives, tomatoes,hard boiled eggs and tuna. Here is the method:
Make a vinaigrette dressing of
olive oil
lemon juice or a good vinegar
mustard...Dijon of course
herbs, finely chopped
Toss the salad greens with some of the vinaigrette and lay on plate
Arrange along the outside the vegetables and eggs
Place the tuna (salmon and shrimp are also yummy) in the center
Drizzle more of the vinaigrette over the top.
Now, open a fine bottle of wine and take your masterpiece outside and enjoy the day.
Bon Appetit!