This Salmon Nicoise salad is veggie-loaded, with perfectly grilled salmon and drizzled in a delicious homemade dijon vinaigrette. Perfect salad for entertaining this spring. Whether it be a bbq, potluck or picnic!
Spring has just sprung in Australia which has me feeling all kinds of ways! Those kind of feelings are the kind like weekend bike rides, morning markets with fresh coffee and afternoons spent eating a picnic in the park. Fortunately for me, I now live in a suburb that is in between two massive parks so if you need to find me you know where I’ll be.
Watch the video for Salmon Nicoise Salad here:
This Salmon Nicoise Salad is a perfect meal for a picnic food/bbq/potluck or just the perfect meal for spring! If you’re not close to an oven instead of roasting the potatoes boil them.
What is Nicoise Salad?
Originating in the town of Nice, France is a classic french vegetable loaded salad. That is usually prepared to look composed (which means everything is thoughtfully arranged) Few common ingredients in most Nicoise salads are potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, olives. If you have those base ingredients you have a salad.
My version of Nicoise Salad includes these ingredients:
- Fresh Salmon – usually Nicoise is made with tuna, normally canned. I like to use salmon because not only is it delicious and adds a nice texture but it’s full of healthy omega 3s.
- Potatoes – normally I just boil the potatoes but I just moved into a house with an oven after going the longest time without one and I’ve been craving roast potatoes. If you’re going to take this as leftovers I suggest just using boiled potatoes.
- Green Beans – In an ideal world, you would use French Green Beans also known as haricots verts. Which are more delicate than the average green bean. If you can’t find any don’t stress it will still be just as tasty
- Olives – Again living in an ideal world you would use French Niçoise olives but these can be difficult to find. Instead, use pitted kalamata olives.
- Eggs – I had actually cooked some perfect 6 minute boiled eggs to add to the salad and then forgot about them. I highly encourage you to add the egg.
- Tomatoes – Use the freshest cherry tomatoes you can find to add a tarty burst.
- Radish – I love adding radish not just for the extra pop of colour but also the pepper bite. Totally optional but I highly recommend!
- Spring greens – Frisée is the usual choice of green for this salad but I’ve chosen just a simple bag of mixed greens. You could use pretty much any green you wanted – rocket or butter lettuce is also very nice.
- Herbs – Dill and parsley add a fresh spring touch to the dish.
- Dressing – Top it all off with a big drizzle of homemade dijon vinaigrette to bring the whole salad together and add that creamy element.
Homemade Dijon Dressing
You 100% MUST make the dressing at home, this isn’t something you can buy from the store. Nothing comes close! Plus homemade is always better for two reasons. 1. You know exactly what goes into it, no fake stuff. 2. It always tastes way better fresh. You’ve more than likely got all the ingredients on hand and it’s super super quick to make so you have zero excuses.
Here’s what ya’ll need:
-Olive oil
-Red wine vinegar
-Garlic, crushed
-Dijon mustard
-Salt and pepper
-Maple syrup or honey
I’d call you a liar if you told me you didn’t have those ingredients lying around your cupboards. After you have those all you have to do is add them to a bowl and mix together and you have a zingy creamy dressing.
There’s no real art to assembling the Salmon Nicoise Salad although it looks composed its more just placing ingredients down in piles on top a bed of greens and then drizzling dressing off and sprinkling on some fresh herbs.
I love to eat this fresh and warm or meal prep and eat it cold during the week. Either way, it’s delicious!
If you try this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag me on Instagram (@tillyeats). I love seeing what you create!
Also if you could rate the recipe below I would be forever grateful – it makes me feel good ( yay internet points) and also helps me understand what you guys like 😛
Other Spring Salad Recipes you might enjoy:
- Soba Noodle Salad – A vegan cold Soba Noodle Salad with fresh crisp vegetables and Asian style peanut sauce.
- Vietnamese Chicken Salad – Refreshing and easy Vietnamese Chicken Salad filled with raw crisp vegetables, herbs and poached chicken all drizzled in a tangy slightly spicy Nuoc Cham dressing
Spring Salmon Nicoise Salad loaded with vegetables and drizzled in a delicious homemade dijon vinaigrette.
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper, each
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 salmon fillets
- 500 grams baby potatoes
- 300 grams green beans
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- 1/2 bunch fresh parsley
- 1 bag mixed greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 bunch radish
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives
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In a bowl combine together vinegar, mustard, garlic, maple syrup and salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil, place in the fridge until ready to use.
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Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F
Cook potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling water for 10 minutes or until fork tender. At the same time place the green beans into a steamer and cook over the top of the potatoes for 5 minutes. Refresh under cold water and set aside.
Drain and cut the potatoes in half and place them into a bowl. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, half the dill and parsley, season with salt and pepper. Place into the oven to roast for 15 minutes. *see notes
At the same time add salmon to a baking tray and season, place into the oven to cook for 13 minutes. This is for a more well done salmon if you like it less done cooking for less time.
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Whilst salmon and potatoes are cooking, slice radish and chop cherry tomatoes in half
To serve salad add mixed leaves to a large platter drizzle over ¼ of the dressing over the top.
Add salmon potatoes, green beans, radish, tomatoes and olives around and on top of the lettuce. Drizzle with extra dressing and sprinkle over remaining herbs.
*I normally don’t roast the potatoes but I had a craving, either way is delicious!
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NOTE: All images and text on this website are protected by copyright. Please do not post or republish this recipe/images without permission from me -Tilly. If you want to share this recipe, please share the link rather than the whole recipe. Thank you so much! 🙂
Emily
This salmon nicoise salad is such a perfect weeknight meal! I love how healthy and satisfying it is!
Sylvie
Now this is what I call a Nicoise Salad – so packed with yummy veggies and I love the idea of Salmon instead of Tuna! That dressing sounds delicious too – cant wait to try it!
Natalie
I love the idea of using salmon in Nicoise salad! Looks so delicious and healthy – such a great idea for dinner or lunch ♥
Shashi at SavorySpin
Sometimes you just need a break to enjoy life! And speaking of enjoying life – this delicious salad would add tons of joy to my tastebuds~!
Romina
I never would have thought to add salmon, but I am definitely going to try it!
Becca
This is SO good! The dressing, the roasted potatoes, the herbs…all so good. It takes me less than 30 min to put together so it’s an easy weeknight dinner.