Salad Nicoise

Since we still had some frisee lettuce and red spring onions from a couple of CSA shares ago, and received new potatoes, green beans and eggs with our share last week, I decided that a salad nicoise was in order!  I love this dish even though it takes a little work because the flavour is outstanding and it is a complete meal!!!

SALAD NICOISE

Ingredients:

DRESSING

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon or 1 tsp dried (I used Herbs de Provence)

3 tbsp red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt & freshly ground pepper

SALAD

12 mini red potatoes, cut in half

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt & freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced

2 cans of tuna, drained*

1 head of leaf lettuce

Handful of green beans, trimmed and boiled until crisp tender

2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

2 hard boiled eggs, cut into wedges

1/2 cup black olives

• Preheat oven to 425F
• Whisk together Dijon, tarragon and wine vinegar.  Slowly whisk in oil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Set aside.
• Toss potatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.  Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake for 20 mins, or until tender and browned.  Remove from oven.
• Toss potatoes with 2 tbsp dressing.  Toss onions with 2 tbsp dressing.  Set aside.
• Line a large platter with lettuce.  Gently toss the beans and tomatoes with dressing.  Place potatoes, onions, green beans, tomatoes,hard boiled eggs and olives in sections on the platter.  
• Top with tuna.
• Drizzle the entire salad with the remaining dressing.
• ENJOY!!!

*You can also use a fresh tuna steak - simply brush it with 1 tbsp oil and coat with cracked pepper.  Grill on the BBQ for 2 minutes per side on high, or until it is still rare in the centre.  Remove from the grill and slice into thin slices!