Pasta Nicoise Food

PASTA SALAD NICOISE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, shallot, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Cook the potatoes in the boiling water until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a colander with a slotted spoon and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add them to the bowl with the dressing. Cook the green beans in the boiling water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the beans to the colander with the slotted spoon and run under cold water. Add them to the bowl.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; add to the bowl.
• Add the tuna, celery, olives, anchovies and tomatoes to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

PASTA NIçOISE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water for pasta over high heat. Place a small saucepan of water over high heat. When small pan comes to a boil, add garlic and boil for 5 minutes. Cool, then peel. Place a large skillet over medium heat, warm the 3 tablespoons olive oil, and sauté garlic until golden and caramelized. Drain on paper towels, reserving oil in skillet; set skillet aside.
• When large pot of water comes to a boil, lightly salt it and add rigatoni; cook to taste, 12 to 15 minutes. While pasta cooks, place the skillet over medium-high heat, and add tuna. When tuna is seared but still pink inside, transfer to a plate. Add the beans to the skillet. When beans are cooked, drain off the olive oil (leave beans in pan) and add the extra virgin olive oil, the juice of half a lemon and the lemon rind. Stir, and add tomatoes, garlic, tuna, anchovies, parsley and half the basil leaves. Season with salt and pepper and more lemon juice to taste, if desired. Keep warm.
• Drain pasta well, and transfer to a large warm bowl. Add tuna mixture, and toss gently to mix. Garnish with remaining basil leaves, and serve.

NIÇOISE PASTA

Steps:

• Trim the beans and cut in half. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add 1 tsp salt. Add the penne, bring to the boil and cook following pack instructions. Throw in the beans 5 mins before the end of the cooking time.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the garlic and anchovies, and fry gently for a couple of mins, stirring to dissolve the anchovies in the oil. Add the tomatoes and cook for a few mins until softened but not pulpy.
• Drain the pasta and return to the pan, then add the tomato sauce and olives. Flake in the tuna and add the lemon juice and basil. Heat through and serve.

PASTA NICOISE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring eggs and 6 quarts water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 6 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove eggs and run under cold water. Peel eggs when cool enough to handle.
• Salt water and return to a boil over high. Add pasta and potatoes and cook 3 minutes less than package instructions, then add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, 3 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain. Return to pot and add tuna, 1/3 cup reserved oil, tomatoes, olives, and vinegar. If necessary, add enough pasta water to create a light sauce that coats pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Slice eggs and scatter over pasta.

CLASSIC NICOISE SALAD

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan; cover with cold water and season with salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook until fork-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl; drizzle with the wine and let cool. Reserve the saucepan.
• Meanwhile, bring a separate saucepan of salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with salted ice water. Add the haricots verts to the boiling water; cook until crisp-tender and bright green, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into the ice water to cool; drain and pat dry.
• Place the eggs in the reserved saucepan and cover with cold water by about 1 inch. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then cover, remove from the heat and let stand, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, then run under cold water to cool. Peel under cold running water.
• Make the dressing: Whisk the vinegar, shallot, mustard, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until emulsified.
• Toss the tomatoes ian a small bowl with salt and pepper to taste. Add about 1/4 cup dressing to the potatoes and toss. Quarter the hard-cooked eggs.
• Divide the lettuce among 4 plates. Arrange the potatoes, haricots verts, radishes, hard-cooked eggs and tuna on top. Pour any juices from the tomatoes into the dressing, then add the tomatoes to the plates. Drizzle with the dressing and top with the olives.

WARM PASTA-SALAD NICOISE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except pasta and tuna. Stir well, cover, and let sit for 1 hour.
• Set aside about 1 1/2 cups.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain well.
• Add to large bowl of sauce along with tuna, and combine.
• Serve in shallow bowls topped with some of the reserved sauce. Garnish with fresh oregano.
• Serves 4 to 6.