Nicoise Salad

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.

Nicoise salad recipe

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.

Artichokes, eggs, potatoes, green beans, olive, capers, white beans, and veggies

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 on a platter

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.

Nicoise salad

More Favorite Summer Salads

If you love this Nicoise salad recipe, try one of these delicious summer salads next:

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Nicoise Salad

rate this recipe:
5 from 17 votes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
This Niçoise salad recipe is a perfect summer lunch! I love to enjoy this recipe as a composed salad without greens, but you could serve it over a bed of arugula or mixed greens if you prefer.

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.

24 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. lynn
    10.27.2023

    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

  2. lynn
    10.27.2023

    do you have a recipe with beets o love beets and the leaves thank you

  3. Cassie
    06.13.2022

    5 stars
    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

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.18.2022

      I hope you enjoy it!

  4. Chris David
    04.04.2022

    Really delicious recipe. I love it yummy!!! It’s really awesome. Will surely try this.

  5. Andrew
    07.27.2021

    5 stars
    Made it -for dinner – we all loved it – thanks! Hard boiled eggs took a bit longer than expected, using the method given.

  6. Victoria
    07.24.2021

    5 stars
    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.

    • Susanne Varnum
      09.14.2021

      5 stars
      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!

  7. Christina
    12.28.2020

    Is it 3/4 cup of beans?

      • Vickie
        07.24.2021

        Thanks, ‘cup’ was left out of recipe 😉

  8. Asha from bhoomichaico.com
    07.30.2020

    5 stars
    This is so delicious, light but packed with veggies and protein. love it.

  9. Sara F
    07.13.2020

    5 stars
    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!

  10. Donna
    07.09.2020

    You know eggs are not vegan. Not sure I read to leave them out to make this dish vegan.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.09.2020

      I didn’t list this recipe as vegan, you could totally leave the eggs out and it’ll still be delish.

      • BB
        08.06.2020

        Yep, listed on the vegan page.

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          08.06.2020

          Sorry for the confusion, we tagged it there because it’s so simple to leave off the egg and still have a delicious salad.

  11. Ann Moore
    07.09.2020

    5 stars
    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!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.10.2020

      Hi Ann, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  12. 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!!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.10.2020

      Ha ha, I love how you hadn’t noticed before 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the veggie recipes!

  13. Cevia
    07.07.2020

    5 stars
    EXCELLENT recipes.

    • Macros
      07.23.2020

      5 stars
      True! I have tried this at home it is so yummy and I feel healthy too

  14. Sabrina from newkitchenlife.com
    07.06.2020

    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!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.