Salade Nicoise

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 oz French beans

1 green pepper (or whatever colour is to hand)

1 small onion (optional)

24 black olives approximately

Vinaigrette dressing click here for details of other dressings that suit

A handful of small lettuce leaves (little gem or cos are best)

4 large tomatoes, (beefsteak are perfect) quartered

4 hard boiled eggs cut into quarters

16 anchovy fillets in oil, drained (most of a tin)

Salt and pepper to taste

What you will need

A small pot

Mixing bowl

4 plates

Method

Bring a pot of water to the boil

Cut the beans at each end and cut in into halves about 2cm lengths

Place them carefully in boiling salted water and cook until just soft 4-5 minutes

Remove from the heat and dip them quickly in cold water, drain well.

De-seed the pepper and cut it into thin slices.

Chop the onion finely, if desired, and de-stone the olives if necessary.

Mix a vinaigrette click here for further help or use a simple dressing with 4 tablespoons olive oil and one tablespoon wine vinegar.

Mix all the vegetables and the olives together in a bowl with the dressing.

Tear up the lettuce leaves and arrange them on individual plates.

Top with a helping of the dressed vegetables and garnish with the tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and anchovies (see below for alternative)

Season with salt and pepper and serve

Serves 4.

Enjoy!

Are you looking for other salads? Click here

Tuna can also be added or it could replace the anchovies if they are not liked. Use a 200g can of tuna in brine or spring water, drain it then flake and mix it with the vegetables.