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Home Salads - main course

Nicoise Salad (French Salad with Tuna)

By:Nagi
Published:8 Feb '21Updated:9 Aug '21
36 Comments
Recipe v Dozer v

If anyone can make an amazing salad out of canned tuna, it’s the French. Nicoise Salad is probably the best known version, made with potato, beans, tomato, lettuce and olives, and finished with a lemon dressing.

Hefty and interesting enough for lunch, but not so heavy it loses its summery personality. Though mind you, I happily serve this year-round!

Platter piled high with Salad Nicoise - French Tuna Salad, ready to be served

After a (very!) extended water break, the inaugural Holiday Salad Marathon has resumed! Today – how the French make canned tuna fabulous:

Nicoise Salad (Salade Nicoise)

Nicoise Salad – or in French, Salade Nicoise – is a classic salad originating from the city of Nice in Provence, France. As with most well-loved traditional recipes, there are fist-shaking arguments over what goes into a proper Nicoise salad.

Question any French chef, housewife or man in the street and you’ll get a different answer every time.

But there are some generally agreed inclusions that make sense for a dish of Mediterranean provenance, such as olives, beans, tomatoes, boiled eggs and some kind of salted preserved fish.

This recipe is how I like my Nicoise salad. I think it should be satisfying enough for a lunch, but not too heavy as to lose its summer appeal or ability to play an accompanying role as part of a larger meal.

Drizzling lemon dressing over Salad Nicoise - French Tuna Salad

What goes in Nicoise Salad

Here’s what goes in our Nicoise salad:

Ingredients in Salad Nicoise - French Tuna Salad
  • Canned tuna – Yep, good ol’ canned tuna! Tuna in oil trumps tuna in spring water, and not all canned tuna is created equal. You’ll impress me if you use homemade! Fancy option: Tataki-style seared tuna then sliced so it looks like this Tuna Tataki.

  • Baby potatoes – Small is more commonly seen, but you could cut regular potatoes into pieces;

  • Boiled eggs – Because they’re quartered here for better distribution, cook to medium or hard-boiled, rather than soft with a runny yolk. If you really want that runny yolk – and I certainly wouldn’t discourage that – just halve them instead and place strategically so the yolk doesn’t run everywhere;

  • Black olives – Get the best olives you can find. Unpitted Kalamata, Ligurian or Nicoise olives in brine or oil are best;

  • Tomato, beans & cos/romaine lettuce – All standard Nicoise Salad inclusions; and

  • Lemon Dressing – Extra virgin olive oil, lemon, garlic and Dijon Mustard (for thickening, so it coats the potatoes better).

Big plate of Salad Nicoise - French Tuna Salad, ready to be eaten
Fork close up eating Salad Nicoise - French Tuna Salad

As mentioned in the introduction, there are no hard and fast rules about what goes in Nicoise salad. So I’ve also included notes on variations and other ingredients that are commonly seen in Nicoise salads, so you can design your perfect version.

It’s your salad, don’t let anyone tell you what you should or should not include in it – not even the French!! 😂 – Nagi x

PS. No video for these extra salad recipes. But if you want one, just put a request in below. I’ll make this for lunch and film it for you!

What is the Holiday Salad Marathon?

This was my inaugural Christmas recipe countdown where I had planned to share 30 salad recipes in a row until Christmas Eve – something completely different to people’s usual baking countdowns!

Life, however, got in the way and I never crossed the finish line before Christmas. After an extended water break, I’ve finally resumed!!!

These salads are in addition to my regular 3 new recipes a week. Because aren’t you bored of the usual tomato-cucumber-lettuce garden salad routine??

Click here to see all the Holiday Salad Marathon recipes to date!

Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Close up of platter piled high with Salad Nicoise - French Tuna Salad

Nicoise Salad (French salad with tuna)

Author: Nagi
Salad meal
French
5 from 9 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Tuna salad – the French way! Hefty and interesting enough for lunch, but not so heavy it loses its summery appeal.
Use the best tuna you can get, in oil not spring water!

Ingredients

  • 8 baby/chat potatoes (Note 1)
  • 120g/ 4 oz green beans , trimmed
  • 2 tomatoes , each cut into 8 – 10 wedges
  • 1/2 baby cos lettuce (romaine) , cut or torn into large bite size pieces
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs , peeled and quartered
  • ¾ cup/ 100g unpitted black olives (Note 2)
  • 250 – 300g/ 8 – 10oz canned chunk tuna in oil , drained and broken into large chunks (Note 3)

Lemon Nicoise Dressing:

  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small garlic clove , minced/grated
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Dressing: Shake ingredients in a jar.
  • Cook ptoatoes: Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and leave to fully cool. Slice into halves.
  • Blanch beans: Boil green beans until tender or done to your liking. Drain and refresh under cold running water to quickly cool. Drain, pat well to dry.

Assemble the salad:

  • Arrange the cos leaves on a large, wide plate.
  • Scatter and layer the remaining ingredients artfully around the plate, finishing with the eggs, olives and chunks of tuna. Drizzle with dressing over and serve!

Recipe Notes:

1. Potatoes – Regular potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks or slices are totally fine too.
2. Olives – Get the best olives you can find. Unpitted kalamata, Ligurian or Nicoise olives in brine or oil are best.
3. Tuna – Not all tuna is created equal! Tuna in oil trumps tuna in spring water.
4. Variations:
– Instead of tuna, anchovies are common and arguably more traditional. Use around a dozen draped over the salad. Modern versions often turn the salad into a seafood meal by serving a whole seared, rare tuna steak on top of the salad.
– Other vegetables sometimes seen in a Nicoise salad: Cucumber, capsicum, artichokes, broad bean (fava beans), red onion, eschalots, radishes. Soft herbs are also sometimes included such as parsley or basil.
Keywords: French salad, Nicoise Salad, Salade Nicoise, Tuna Salad
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

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36 Comments

  1. Caroline says

    May 22, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    Hi Nagi,
    I’m planning on using regular sized potatoes for this recipe. Around how many grams of potatoes will I need? Can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Andrea says

    May 13, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    5 stars
    I normally don’t write a review but this salad was amazing. Added some cornichons and radishes. LOVED IT, I wanted to have it for dinner as well! THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 15, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      Woo hoo!! I’m glad you liked it Andrea! N x

      Reply
  3. Alice says

    February 19, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    Hi Nagi, thanks for a delicious recipe! We added fetta and spring onion too. A new favourite!

    Reply
  4. ASN says

    January 19, 2022 at 5:49 pm

    Use seared fresh tuna – way better than canned, oil or no oil!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 19, 2022 at 11:03 pm

      The fancy version!! N x

      Reply
    • Lynn says

      January 20, 2022 at 3:19 am

      Never! Good quality canned eg Sirena or Arroz is way better.for this salad.

      Reply
  5. Stacey Dowson says

    November 3, 2021 at 8:30 pm

    5 stars
    So very good.

    Reply
  6. Khadeejah says

    July 3, 2021 at 9:44 pm

    how many calories is this?

    Reply
  7. Sandra Tan says

    May 28, 2021 at 8:49 pm

    5 stars
    I made this salad twice within a month. It has become one of my favorite. Easy and simply delicious. In fact I am having it right now 😁 Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  8. Sandy says

    April 22, 2021 at 5:02 am

    5 stars
    First time trying out your recipe and wow, this Nicoise salad is AMAZING! Husband said better than the restaurants ones! Don’t have dijon at home so I used honey mustard with whole grain mustard instead and tasted great!

    Thanks so much for sharing and I look forward to trying out more of your recipes xxx

    Reply
  9. Emma says

    February 21, 2021 at 9:07 am

    5 stars
    This salad was awesome! Will
    Be making again! Great as a dinner with some ciabatta on the side. Made it exactly as per the recipe and it was amazing! Thanks and it was beautiful to look at too!!

    Reply
  10. Mavis says

    February 16, 2021 at 3:36 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this salad. Even my husband who is not a salad fan requested I make it more often.

    Reply
  11. Sue says

    February 10, 2021 at 2:18 pm

    Yes please do a video. Even when I know a recipe I find your videos can add extra tips. Not a fan of tinned tuna, but I do love tinned salmon, so this will be my substitute. Exciting salads are hard to come by. Thank you for these

    Reply
  12. Vera Mills says

    February 9, 2021 at 7:39 pm

    5 stars
    Yummm made this tonight and my husband said he wants it once a week. 💖

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 10, 2021 at 8:54 am

      Wahoo!! That’s great Vera! N x

      Reply
  13. Lynda says

    February 9, 2021 at 1:06 pm

    Who knew! I’ve been making this salad forever and thought I made it up lol.. I add dill pepper for a bit of zing too and usually just use seasoned vinegar/oil dressing with a squeeze of lemon. Will make your dressing next time Nagi. I eat this 2-3 times a month, love it.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 10, 2021 at 8:55 am

      It’s so good isn’t it Lynda?! N x

      Reply
  14. Curry says

    February 9, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    Please make a video! You have gotten me through the pandemic. My bolognese is your recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 10, 2021 at 8:55 am

      One to add to the list then Curry! I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes, thanks so much for letting me know 🙂 N x

      Reply
  15. Eha Carr says

    February 9, 2021 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    A very favourite oldie which turns up regularly in this house . . .for this I really shop around for the tinned tuna which by far is not equal . . . and make very certain to use romaine . . . for me that IS Caesar !! Shall repost all of these to no doubt happy friends . . .

    Reply
  16. Mr J McGhee says

    February 9, 2021 at 2:34 am

    Fresh griddle tuna, slightly rare trumps the best tinned

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 9, 2021 at 9:27 am

      Yes I actually mention this in the post above 😉 N x

      Reply
  17. Charlene says

    February 9, 2021 at 1:40 am

    Looks yum, some seared tuna on top 😋

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 9, 2021 at 9:27 am

      Yes you can sear tuna too – I mention this in the post 🙂 N x

      Reply
  18. Marilou says

    February 8, 2021 at 11:06 pm

    What is the best tin tuna?

    Reply
    • Rochelle says

      February 9, 2021 at 2:19 am

      Really, any tuna in oil, avoid tuna packed in water at all costs (tastes like pressed sawdust imo). If you can find tuna in a jar rather than a tin that will be even better.

      Reply
      • Marilou says

        February 9, 2021 at 5:39 pm

        Thank you. I shall look for tuna in a jar.

        Reply
    • Laurie says

      February 9, 2021 at 6:28 am

      Check out World Market online. They have delicious tuna (in oil) that comes in glass jars.

      Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 9, 2021 at 9:28 am

      Hi Marilou, a good brand that’s stored in oil rather then spring water will be best here. N x

      Reply
      • Marilou says

        February 11, 2021 at 7:55 pm

        Thank you Nagi😘 love your recipes

        Reply
    • Lynda says

      February 9, 2021 at 1:00 pm

      Whilst a personal thing I won’t buy anything other than Serena tuna in oil.

      Reply
      • Marilou says

        February 9, 2021 at 5:32 pm

        Thank you for your response. I do use Serena tuna in oil but just wanted to know if there’s a better one.

        Reply
    • Aimee LaVallee says

      April 7, 2022 at 8:55 am

      We only buy Wild Planet tinned tuna bc it is healthier and more sustainable being line caught young tuna.

      Reply
  19. Helen says

    February 8, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    5 stars
    So excited to see the salad marathon is back on track. Will definitely be making this salad but as I have lots of salmon in the freezer will add this on the side instead of tuna 😁

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 9, 2021 at 9:28 am

      Perfect Helen!! N x

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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