You won't miss the tuna in this vegetarian spin on a Niçoise salad! Olives, artichokes, capers, and lemon vinaigrette fill it with bright, briny flavor.
I first fell in love with Nicoise salad when Jack and I visited the city where it originated: Nice, France. While we were there, I ordered it everywhere we went. There’s something about the combination of crisp summer veggies, bright lemon vinaigrette, and briny olives and capers that I find absolutely irresistible. As an added bonus, hard boiled eggs and potatoes make it hearty enough to be a meal on its own. And in the summer, anytime I’m eating salad for dinner, I’m happy.
If you’re familiar with traditional Niçoise salad, you know that it’s made with tuna. Of course, my version of the recipe is vegetarian, so I replace the fish with white beans. They give the salad an extra boost of plant-based protein, and they offer a delicious creamy contrast to the crisp veggies. If you wanted to, you could serve your Niçoise salad over a bed of greens, but I think it’s perfect as it is. It’s filled with contrasting textures, bold flavors, and a rainbow of summer veggies. I really love this one, and I hope you do too.
Nicoise Salad Recipe Ingredients
While this recipe isn’t exactly a traditional salad niçoise, it captures everything I love about the classic composed salad. It’s refreshing, yet satisfying, and filled with bright, briny flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- White beans – They take the place of the traditional tuna. Use canned, or cook your own.
- Hard boiled eggs – A Niçoise salad essential! Check out this post for my best tips on making easy-to-peel hard boiled eggs with perfect yellow yolks.
- Potatoes – Any variety of small red or yellow potatoes would work well here. I prepare them the traditional way, by boiling them, but grilled or roasted potatoes would be delicious too.
- Green beans – I especially love to make this recipe with haricots verts, but any slender, snappy green beans would be great.
- Radishes and cucumbers – For crunch!
- Cherry tomatoes – I love the way their juicy texture contrasts with the other crisp ingredients.
- Artichoke hearts, olives, and capers – They add essential briny flavor.
- Lemon vinaigrette – This easy dressing ties the whole thing together. Made with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil, it’s bright and tangy.
- Parsley – For a fresh finishing touch.
To make this recipe, boil the potatoes and the eggs, blanch the green beans, and whisk together the dressing. Then, arrange the vegetables, olives, capers, beans, and eggs on a large platter and drizzle the dressing on top. Garnish with parsley, and season to taste with flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Enjoy!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Nicoise Salad Serving Suggestions
I love to enjoy this Niçoise salad as a meal on its own, alongside a wedge of socca, focaccia, or a slice of crusty bread. For a larger meal, pair it with a simple Caprese sandwich or a cup of gazpacho.
Leftover Niçoise salad will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to store the components separately and assemble the salad right before I eat, but if you prefer, you can also toss the veggies, white beans, capers, olives, and artichoke hearts with the vinaigrette ahead of time. When you’re ready to eat, add the hard boiled eggs, scatter on some parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
More Favorite Summer Salads
If you love this Nicoise salad recipe, try one of these delicious summer salads next:
- Radish Salad with Radish Green Pesto
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Classic Caprese Salad
- Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes
- Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad
- Panzanella Salad
- Greek Salad
- Or any of these 37 Best Salad Recipes!
Nicoise Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces small yellow or red potatoes
- 4 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed
- ¾ cooked white beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 hard boiled eggs, halved
- 4 artichoke hearts, drained and halved
- 1 cup quartered radishes and/or sliced cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup Niçoise or Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- Lemon Vinaigrette, for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water by about 1 inch. Stir in 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until fork-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and when cool enough to handle, slice in half or quarters.
- Refill the pot with water, bring it to a boil, and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the green beans into the boiling water and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain and immediately immerse in the ice water. After 1 minute, drain and place on a kitchen towel to dry.
- Assemble salad with the potatoes, green beans, white beans, eggs, artichokes, radishes, tomatoes, olives, and capers. Drizzle generously with the lemon vinaigrette. Sprinkle with parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Really good. Dressing is spot on as well
Such a great recipe! I made a couple of changes based on what was in my fridge- asparagus instead of green beans and finely chopped red onion instead of radishes and it was amazing! Thank you!
Hi Suzanne, I’m so glad you loved the salad! Asparagus would be delicious here.
Taking to a bbq! Just returned from Nice & love Salad Nicoise! Looks beautiful!
do you have a recipe with beets o love beets and the leaves thank you looking at all the healthy recipes and can’t wait to make some
do you have a recipe with beets o love beets and the leaves thank you
I am watching my garden, eagerly waiting for the ingredients to make this salad – yum! It looks absolutely wonderful. I’m giving it 5 starts because I KNOW it is going to be fantastic
I hope you enjoy it!
Really delicious recipe. I love it yummy!!! It’s really awesome. Will surely try this.
Made it -for dinner – we all loved it – thanks! Hard boiled eggs took a bit longer than expected, using the method given.
I found this a month ago on your site and have made it a couple times since. Love the white beans instead of tuna. Very yummy & satisfying dinner salad.
I made this last weekend when my vegan son came over for dinner. We put the eggs on the side. This was sooooooo delicious! I can’t wait to make it again – thank you for such a great recipe!
Is it 3/4 cup of beans?
yes
Thanks, ‘cup’ was left out of recipe 😉
This is so delicious, light but packed with veggies and protein. love it.
I made this and it was amazing! It was nice to have a summer salad without pasta or drenched in ranch/mayo!
I will definitely make this again! Thank you for sharing!
You know eggs are not vegan. Not sure I read to leave them out to make this dish vegan.
I didn’t list this recipe as vegan, you could totally leave the eggs out and it’ll still be delish.
Yep, listed on the vegan page.
Sorry for the confusion, we tagged it there because it’s so simple to leave off the egg and still have a delicious salad.
Made this for lunch today–just delicious. The lemon vinaigrette complemented the flavors wonderfully. I’m looking forward to making it again. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Ann, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I don’t know how long I’ve followed you. You often inspire my menu planning. However, it wasn’t until today when you posted Nicoise WITHOUT TUNA that I realized your entire blog is dedicated to vegetables. AMAZING!!!
Ha ha, I love how you hadn’t noticed before 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the veggie recipes!
EXCELLENT recipes.
True! I have tried this at home it is so yummy and I feel healthy too
Nice is a favorite (top 3?) for me too, but had never put it together with Nicoise Salad, wow, love all (but the potatoes – doesn’t work for my diet) lovely and thank you!