Carmela Soprano's Tuna Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes ............ Salad Niçoise

There's a recipe that reminds me of Salad Niçoise in Jennifer's chapter

Rage, Guilt, Loneliness, and Food in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Don't panic at the fancy French name.

It's another raw salad, alright.

It's just something that can be served to non-dieters, too.

It has a bit of heft to it.

Oh, about Salad Niçoise  ( French pronunciation: niˈswaz )…

It is a salad of tomatoes and green beans topped with tuna and anchovies

and dressed with a vinaigrette.

It is served with or without a bed of lettuce.  The tuna may be cooked or canned.

Hard-boiled eggs and Niçoise olives are common accompaniments.

Julia Child introduced it to Americans a few years ago.

Traditionally the salad included raw red peppers, shallots, and artichoke hearts,

never potatoes or other cooked vegetables.

Well, I've added leftover boiled potatoes and nobody complained.

I even used mayonnaise instead of the vinaigrette.

It's a very forgiving recipe.

In other words…

Use what you have on hand, prepare it any way you wish and enjoy.

                        Tuna Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Serves 2

In a large bowl place

tuna, with its oil, from one 7-ounce can

If it's a chunk, break it into pieces.

Add

2 medium tomatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered

3 or 4 thin slices red onion, quartered

Sprinkle with

pinch of dried oregano

1 - 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

pinch of salt

pepper to taste

Toss gently.

Arrange on a platter

8 ounces green beans, cut into bite sized pieces, cooked

Top with the tuna salad

Garnish with

lemon wedges

Serve immediately.

Would I make Tuna Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes again?

Salad Niçoise is an old favourite.

And I can remember watching Julia Child make it on her show.

Bon appétit!!

One recipe down.  Fifty-seven more to go.