Salade Niçoise

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 4 new red potatoes (about (2 ounces)

  • Kosher salt

  • 4 ounces haricots verts, trimmed ¼ cup red wine vinegar I tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 10 cups torn Boston or other tender leaf lettuce, washed and dried

  • 1½ cups cored, seeded, and diced tomato or halved cherry tomatoes

  • 2 6-ounce cans tuna in olive oil, drained

  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered

  • 8 anchovy fillets

  • ½ cup Niçoise olives

PROCEDURE:

  1. Put the potatoes in a saucepan with water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender throughout, about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.

  2. Meanwhile, bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil and add the haricots verts. Blanch until just tender, about 3 minutes. Cool under running water, drain, and pat dry.

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the oil in a slow, steady stream to make a smooth, emulsified vinaigrette.

  4. Slice the warm potatoes and then toss in a medium bowl with a few tablespoons of the dressing. Season with salt and pepper.

  5. Line a serving platter with the lettuce. Mound the potatoes on the lettuce. Toss the haricots verts with a few tablespoons of dressing, season with salt and pepper, and mound next to the potatoes. Repeat with the tomatoes and tuna, dressing separately and placing on the lettuce. Add the egg quarters, but don't toss with the dressing. Arrange the anchovies between the mounds of ingredients and scatter the olives. Drizzle a little more of the dressing over everything and serve family style. with any extra dressing on the side.