A Deliciously Southern Spin On A Niçoise Salad

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How can you take a classic dish like a Niçoise salad and make it Southern? Easy! With a few clever swaps and one great fish. We replaced the olives and Dijon-based vinaigrette with pickled green tomatoes and a dill pickle vinaigrette to steer this Niçoise in a Southerly direction. Despite having quite a bit of chopped pickles in the dressing, it's not over the top in pickle flavor. Instead, the chopped pickles add nice pops of acidity that contrast the rich potato salad, balance the salt in the smoked trout, and highlight the sweetness in the tomatoes. Even though a lot of the classic elements have been adapted, it still reads as Niçoise salad instantly.

Southern Living Southern Niçoise Salad on a platter to serve
Photo:

Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
6
Southern Living Southern Niçoise Salad ingredients

Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-oz.) pkg. microwavable haricots verts (French green beans)

  • 1/3 cup finely chopped dill pickles plus 2 Tbsp. dill pickle juice (from 1 [16-oz.] jar)

  • 4 tsp. Creole mustard

  • 1 tsp. honey

  • 3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided

  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided

  • 2/3 cup olive oil

  • 1 small romaine lettuce heart, leaves separated

  • 1 cup multicolored cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 3 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and halved lengthwise

  • 2 cups prepared potato salad

  • 1 (8-oz.) pkg. hot-smoked trout fillets, broken into large pieces (skin discarded)

Directions

  1. Cook and cool green beans:

    Microwave green beans according to package directions. Spread cooked beans in an even layer on a large plate lined with paper towels. Refrigerate, uncovered, until cooled, about 15 minutes.

  2. Make vinaigrette:

    Meanwhile, whisk together chopped pickles, pickle juice, mustard, honey, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper in a small bowl until combined. Gradually whisk in oil until dressing is creamy.

    Southern Living Southern Niçoise Salad mixing the salad dressing
  3. Assemble salad:

    Toss together lettuce and 1/4 cup dressing in a large bowl until coated.

    Southern Living Southern Niçoise Salad tossing the lettuce with some of the dressing

    Arrange lettuce on a large platter with cooked green beans, cherry tomatoes, eggs, potato salad, and trout.

    Southern Living Southern Niçoise Salad arranging the salad on a platter

    Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Drizzle assembled salad with remaining 3/4 cup dressing. Serve immediately.

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