Nicoise salad - Salade Niçoise | Provencal French Recipes Guide
Nicoise Salad is a typically southern Frenchdish essentially comprising the following ingredients: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, green or red peppers, fresh onions, anchovy fillets or tuna fish, to which hard-boiled eggs and black olives are added. It is seasoned with olive oil and basil.
As suggested by the name, it is a specialty of the region of Nice on the French Riviera and should always contain tomatoes, anchovies, garlic (usually in the dressing) and black olives, and usually contains green beans, tuna, new potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, served with a french dressing.
Other ingredients can include capers, crispy lettuce, finely chopped shallots or onion, cucumber chunks, artichoke hearts, raw peppers, or broad beans. This delicious dish come in many different forms and its 'true' ingredients are often debated.
Contrary to what is sometimes seen in restaurants, the classic dish does not contain rice, cheese, or pasta.
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that ballet choreographer George Balanchine was responsible for the creation of the first one during his tenure in Monte Carlo.
This dish is perfect with a bottle of Rose Wine! (Rosé in French)
