Julia Childs Potato Salad Nicoise Recipes

NIçOISE SALAD

Steps:

• Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover with cold water by a few inches. Bring the water to a boil, add 1 teaspoon salt, and then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer the potatoes until fork tender, about 10-12 minutes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, shallots, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, and the red wine vinegar. Whisking as you pour, drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Season to taste with salt and set aside.
• Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the potatoes from the pot and set them aside. Bring the water back to a boil. Prepare an ice bath in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the string beans to the boiling water, blanch for 2 minutes, then immediately transfer them to the ice bath. Remove the string beans from the ice bath after 2-3 minutes and set them aside. Bring the water back to a boil.
• When the potatoes are just cool enough to handle, halve or quarter them so they are cut into pieces of about equal size and place them in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle a few tablespoons of the dressing over the warm potatoes and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Refresh your ice bath. Gently lower the eggs into the water, reduce the heat to medium-high, and cook uncovered for exactly 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Remove the eggs when they're cool to the touch, in about 3 minutes. Peel, halve, and set aside.
• While the eggs are cooking, set out four salad plates. In a large, clean mixing bowl, toss the lettuce with a few tablespoons of the dressing and begin building your salads. Toss the string beans with a few tablespoons of the dressing and plate them. Add the tomatoes to the bowl and toss with about 1 tablespoon of the dressing before arranging on your plates. Finally, add the tuna to the bowl, toss with the remaining dressing, and divide among your plates.
• Add even portions of the dressed potatoes, olives, and anchovy filets to each plate. Sprinkle with the capers and serve with crusty French bread.

GREEN BEAN NIçOISE SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a medium pot; add cold water to cover by 1". Season with salt, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water and chill until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Meanwhile, bring another medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, 2-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice water; reserve hot water in pot. Chill beans until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Return water in green bean pot to a boil, carefully add eggs, and cook 8 minutes. Transfer eggs to ice water and chill until cold, about 5 minutes. Peel; set aside.
• Combine shallot, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, pepper, and 1/4 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in 3 Tbsp. oil in a slow, steady stream, then whisk in 1 Tbsp. dill.
• Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a small saucepan over medium-high. Add capers and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until capers burst and are crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer capers with slotted spoon to paper towels. Let oil cool.
• Toss green beans in a large bowl with half of the dressing. Arrange on a platter. Transfer potatoes to same bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp. dressing; arrange in a section on top of green beans. Toss radishes with 1 Tbsp. dressing in same bowl; arrange in another section on top of green beans. Cut eggs into quarters and place eggs and olives in sections on top of green beans, letting some beans show through. Just before serving, drizzle salad with remaining dressing, then top with fried capers and remaining 1 Tbsp. dill.

JULIA'S AMERICAN-STYLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and slice each one lengthwise in half, or in quarters if very large; then cut crosswise into half-round or quarter-round slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Put the slices in a saucepan with water just to cover and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt per quart of water. Heat to a simmer, and cook the potatoes for 5 to 6 minutes, or until just cooked through. It is essential that they be just cooked through. Bite into a slice or two to be very sure. Immediately remove from the heat and drain the potatoes into a colander, but save a cup of the cooking liquid for dressing the potatoes. Transfer bowl. Stir the cider vinegar with 1/3 cup of the potato water or chicken stock and drizzle this over the potato pieces, turning them gently to distribute it evenly. Let sit 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
• Add the prepared onion, celery, bacon, pickle, hard-boiled eggs, and chives, and season carefully, to taste. Top with 2/3 cup of mayonnaise (or a mix of mayonnaise and a bit of sour cream) and, with a large rubber spatula, gently fold everything together until well blended. Taste the salad and add more salt, pepper, or mayonnaise as needed.
• Cover the salad and set aside in the refrigerator for at least an hour or so before serving. If it is refrigerated longer, let it come back to room temperature before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning again.
• To serve, line a bowl or a platter with red-leaf lettuce or other greens, and mound the salad on top. Decorate at the last moment, if you wish, with any or all of the optional garnishes.

JULIA CHILD'S AMERICAN-STYLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Slice potatoes lengthwise in 1/2 or in quarters if very large; cut crosswise into 1/2 round or 1/4 round slices, about 1/2" thick. Put in a saucepan with just enough water to cover & 1 1/2 t of salt per quart of water. Heat to a simmer & cook for 5 - 6 min until just cooked through. (It is essential that they be cooked through!). Remove from heat & drain, reserving 1 c of the cooking liquid for later use.
• Transfer potatoes to a large bowl; stir together the cider vinegar with 1/3 c of the potato water or chicken stock & drizzle over potatoes, turning them gently to distribute it evenly. Let sit 10 min to absorb the liquid.
• Add the onion, celery, bacon, pickle, hard-boiled eggs & chives; season to taste. Top with 2/3 c of mayonnaise (or a mix of mayonnaise & sour cream) & gently fold everything together. Taste & add more salt, pepper or mayonnaise as needed.
• Cover & refrigerate for at least an hour; if it is refrigerated longer, bring back to room temperature before serving.
• To serve, line a bowl or platter with lettuce & mound salad on top. Taste again & adjust seasoning if needed. Decorate at the last moment.