Niçoise Salad With Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Recipes

NICOISE BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Make an ice-water bath.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add both kinds of beans, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the beans are just tender. Drain and place in the bowl of ice water for a few minutes.
• When the beans are cool, drain immediately and place them in a large bowl. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and vinaigrette and toss until mixed. Season with the salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut off the top 1/3 of the garlic heads crosswise to expose the cloves. Drizzle each head with 1 tablespoon of the oil and wrap in aluminum foil. Place the garlic on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 40 minutes, or until soft. Allow to cool, then squeeze garlic cloves out of their skins.
• Store the garlic in plastic wrap or covered with olive oil in a glass jar. The roasted garlic will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
• Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the dried tomatoes to soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the tomatoes, reserving the tomato water.
• In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, vinegar, and 6 tablespoons of the tomato water or plain water and pulse until smooth. With the motor on low, slowly add the oil and blend until the dressing is well blended. Season with the salt and pepper.

NIçOISE SALAD WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the eggs and cook for 6 minutes. Drain and run under cold water until cool enough to handle. Peel and cut each in half.
• Put the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and pour 1/2 cup hot water over them. Let stand for 15 minutes. Drain well and return to the bowl. Stir in the lemon zest, elderflower cordial, oil, lemon juice, and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and let stand.
• Put the potatoes in a medium pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, season with salt, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until a knife pierces through the potatoes easily, about 20 minutes. Drain well. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Add the haricots verts to the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to the ice water bath. Once cool, drain well.
• Cut the tuna into 4 even strips. Heat a large skillet over high heat. When hot, add just enough oil to film the bottom. Season the tuna with salt and pepper on all sides, then add to the hot oil. Cook until seared on all sides, about 1 minute per side. The center should be rare. Cut each piece crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Combine the greens, potatoes, beans, olives, tomatoes, and almost all of the dressing in a large bowl. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the tuna and eggs. Drizzle with the remaining dressing.