Today marks the beginning of the FOURTH YEAR of French Fridays with Dorie! I know, right? Where did the time go? For me, that’s three years of not missing one single week and I was kind of looking forward to maybe heading into Year 4 with something like, you know, a cake. To celebrate, right?
Alas, no. Because we are, well, cooking our way through the book, it’s inevitable that there will be dishes that I don’t care to eat. Recently there have been THREE tuna dishes including this week’s offering Salade Niçoise (p 125) so for a non tuna lover like me, it’s been – interesting – making those dishes. And really, I can’t think of a less festive dish than a salad 😉 But no matter, I just follow the rules. Mostly. Kinda. Sorta.
The fact that I have two keen tuna eaters in the house (Cleo will come running from anywhere in the house when she hears the tin being opened) means that they have been spoiled recently. Firstly with the tuna pizza, then the tuna stuffed peppers and now, this week. It’s honestly been a bit like all tuna all the time chez eat. live. travel. write. of late!
To be perfectly honest – this salad of “stuff” is one I often make for myself when I am in France, though I will used chopped chicken or ham in place of the tuna and also add some chopped cheese (Emmental or something like that) – so I do see the appeal for a fish lover. Mr Neil pronounced this “just ok” (not sure what I could have done to make it any better – though perhaps some real haricots verts in place of the sugar snap peas I had on hand might have helped. Alas, our green beans just are not the same…). Perhaps the anchovies that the recipe called for? Well as you can imagine, anchovies are even worse for me than tuna so I decided it was cook’s prerogative to not include them (sorry Mr Neil!). In any case, I came, I saw, I made the Salade. Onwards and upwards and let’s hope there’s some cake on the horizon somewhere soon!
French Fridays with Dorie participants do not publish the recipes on our blogs (though this week, you can find the recipe online here), we prefer if you purchase Around My French Table for yourselves which you can do here on Amazon or Amazon Canada. Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository. Go on, treat yourself then join us here!
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US/Canadian and International readers: Win one of three copies of Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah. Ends Tuesday October 8th, 2013 at 6pm EST.
Ok you can skip the green beans altogether.
No problem
I got a lecon on this salad from a vrai Nicoise – No green beans at all.
And no potatoes either.
Tuna – yes
Anchovies -yes
Egg-poached by all means
C’est comme ça.
Interesting that Dorie would get it wrong? Hmmm
Carolg
Interesting – I have always thought of a Niçoise made this way but after seeing your comment I did a little Googling and yes, this article (in French) says that most Niçois would tell you their salad does not include potatoes or beans.
David Lebovitz confirms that nothing but the eggs should be cooked in a Salade Niçoise and his includes cucumber and fava beans (and suggests bell peppers should be included too).
I guess Dorie’s version is meant to appeal to more people? In any case, with dishes like this you are always going to get disagreement about the “right way” to make it!
And it’s funny – all the bits that shouldn’t go in there (beans and potatoes) are my favourite ingredients!
For some reason, I thought the salad could not be considered a true Niçoise without the boiled potatoes, eggs, and green beans! After reading your comment, now I feel funny/bad about stepping on my soapbox about ‘classic’ salade Niçoise.
The anchovies were essential for me. The salad kind of needs that salty bite to bring all the flavors together.
Fortunately, I don’t have any pedigree to live up to, so I just rolled with whatever I had on hand/ felt like throwing in there.
I think I counted 3 or 4 tuna dishes left in the book and several other fish dishes. The sardine escabeche kind of has me freaked out.
Love the colors in your version 🙂
Ahhh, Ariana, those food soapboxes will get us every time. 🙂
Anchovies would DEFINITELY have raised this a notch or two for me. My other issue was the tuna…just not stellar.
But a nice salad, nonetheless. (And I liked the sugar snap peas!)
And to have Cleo share it was a rather nice father-daughter moment…. 😉
I’m enjoying Dorie’s seafood stint, I must say.
I love how you packed that plate to the max with goodness!
Classic or not…. it was good for breakfast (minus tuna) and dinner (with tuna and soft french baguette!) – perfect ending for a Friday.
I feel the same as you. i like tuna, but was uninterested in this salad. Cake would’ve been much more festive!
I can’t believe ffwD is starting it’s fourth year! Insane!
Time flies when you are having fun!
Your feelings about tuna prompted me to check the index to see if we have more tuna recipes and we do! Dorie has a THING for tune I guess:) Maybe we can lay off it for a while, though. Your tomatoes look so red and vibrant! They would be delicous all by themselves. I can’t help but agree with you about 4th anniversary. Where’s the cake?
Nicoise is such a colourful & hearty salad. Beautiful mix of flavours & textures.
An easy dinner idea for Friday night.
Thanks, Mardi!
That looks really tasty. We liked this and will definitely make it again soon. Luckily, I
saved some anchovies for the upcoming pot roast. Have a great weekend.
I guess we feel this is a classic nicoise salad because it is always made with potatoes, eggs, tuna and green beans in the US. Often a few variations but the potatoes are always included. Sorry it’s not your cup of tea.
I’m feeling badly that we kicked off the year with a fishy salad. I was thinking it was quintessentially French, making it festive. We’ll have to work on spreading the rest of the first dishes out a little bit more. Sorry about all the tuna lately… Happy Anniversary!
For me there is no way a salad can be festive 😉
Oh, Mardi, Mardi, Mardi, If there is a cake that we still need to bake, then, I say, “Let us eat cake” and we will be sure to include it in next month’s recipe choices. About the salade, I have always thought the classic salade included potatoes and haricot verts. By reading your post my bubble has been burst not once but twice. At least your cat is happy. And, isn’t that what life is all about?” Keeping our pets happy?
Our pets and our partners 😉
I loved this recipe, anchovies, tuna, and all! Traditional or not, it was a great salad.
Mardi, your salad looks lovely! I would have just subbed in the chicken to suit myself so that I could eat it – stuff the recipe. (I like tuna, so it was no sweat for me, but I get it. Tuna does smell pretty awful.)
🙂 love that you made it, and of course, your photography has blown me away again! I’m sure everyone appreciated your efforts, anchovies or not 🙂
LOL….I think Bill is hoping for some cake, too. But I think he’ll enjoy the upcoming beef stew 🙂 You’re a trooper for making all the tuna stuff!!
Well I always make everything even if I don’t want to 😉
Mardi! I am salivating… even if I delete the tuna!
Lovely looking salad – full of beautifully arranged components!
I’m sorry you didn’t like this one, but really impressed that you made it even though you don’t like tuna. Definitely a rough month for someone who doesn’t like tuna! I agree, this wasn’t the most celebratory choice. You’ve made me crave cake 🙂
Oh I make everything, even if I don’t eat it. Kind of the point, for me…