Rice Nicoise Food

SALAD NIÇOISE

Steps:

• First, make the dressing. Tip the olives, anchovies and garlic into a large mortar and mash with a pestle until you have a very rough paste. Scrape into a bowl, if you like, stir in the lemon juice, olive oil and vinegar, then set aside.
• Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 15 mins until tender, then drain and set aside. Cook the beans in boiling salted water for 4-5 mins until tender with a slight crunch. Drain, tip into iced water, then drain again and set aside. Boil a small pan of water and cook the eggs until cooked to your liking, about 6 mins for a soft yolk and 7½ mins for a harder yolk.
• Halve the potatoes and heat 2 tbsp oil in a non-stick frying pan. Place the potatoes cut-side down in the pan and sizzle for about 4 mins until golden and crisp. Toss the potatoes in the pan to brown on all sides, then turn up the heat and add the tomatoes. Fry the tomatoes for about 1 min until just starting to blister, then season. Splash in 1 tbsp of the balsamic vinegar, then turn off the heat and scatter over the basil.
• To cook the tuna, place a non-stick frying pan over a high heat, then turn the heat down to medium and add 1 tbsp oil. Season the tuna generously, then sear for 4 mins, leaving it undisturbed in the pan to brown. Turn over and continue to cook for 4 mins on the other side. This will give you very rare tuna. For rare, cook for 2 mins more on each side and for well done, add another 4 mins on each side. Set the tuna aside to rest for a few mins.
• To serve, whisk the remaining oil and vinegar with the lemon juice in a small bowl and toss in the lettuce wedges. Place a spoonful of olive dressing into 2 serving bowls, arrange the potatoes and tomatoes over, then put a pile of beans on top. Slice the tuna in half at a slight angle and place each half on top of the beans. Wedge the lettuce around the outside, halve the eggs and position in between the lettuce. Dollop a small spoonful of olive dressing on each egg.

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.

SALAD NICOISE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, parsley, olives, onion, tuna and green beans. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
• In large bowl, toss greens with vinaigrette and top with chilled potato mixture. Garnish with eggs, tomatoes, capers and anchovies.

RICE NICOISE

Steps:

• Combine the rice and 1 cup of water in heavy bottomed pan, and bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, covered, cooking a total of 17 minutes, until the rice is tender.
• Wash and trim the beans, and cook about 5 minutes in a steamer.
• Meanwhile, wash and chop the tarragon, pit the olives, trim the tomato and dice. Add these ingredients with the capers, oil and vinegar to a serving bowl, and stir well.
• When beans are cooked, drain and rinse under cold water, cut in halves or thirds and add to bowl.
• When rice is cooked, stir in and season with pepper.

BROWN RICE SALADE NICOISE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the red onion and vinegar. Set aside to soak for at least 10 minutes.
• Empty the tuna and oil into a large bowl. Flake tuna with a fork.
• Add cooked brown rice, bell pepper, olives, and capers.
• Stir in the onion and any unabsorbed vinegar.
• Add lemon juice, lemon zest (if using), olive oil (if using), parsley, thyme (if using), and salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, place a bed or lettuce and radicchio (if using) on each plate and spoon the salad on top.
• Arrange green beans and eggs alongside.

CHICKEN BREASTS NICOISE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
• When hot, add the breasts; saute until well browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Remove and set aside.
• Add the onion and saute until softened, 3 to 4 minutes; add the garlic and continue to cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes with their juice and crush lightly with a fork.
• Add the olives, red wine, broth, Pernod, if using, and herbes do Provence.
• Cook until reduced and thickened slightly, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Return the breasts to the skillet; reduce the heat to low.
• Cook, covered, turning once, until the chicken is no longer pink in the thickest portion when cut with a knife, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• I like to serve this with rice and steamed runner beans.

SALADE NIçOISE RECIPE

Steps:

• To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar (or lemon juice), basil, and garlic in a bowl. Add salt and pepper, and any optional ingredients such as mustard or mayonnaise.
• Boil the eggs for 8 minutes, then let cool in a bowl of cold water. Remove egg shells and chop into quarters.
• Rinse the mesclun lettuce and arrange in a large serving bowl.
• Chop the tomatoes into quarters and toss into the serving bowl, along with the eggs.
• Shred the tuna (or anchovies) into small pieces and add in the bowl.
• Drain and rinse the canned fava beans and put in a pot of boiling water. Bring to a simmer and cook for approx 5-8min until soft.
• Add the rest of the ingredients into the serving bowl and toss the salad.
• Let salad rest for 20 minutes before serving.

RICE SALAD NICOISE

Steps:

• Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Spread on a large plate and let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Combine cooled rice, chickpeas, tuna, peas, orange bell pepper, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, tomato, parsley, and garlic in a large bowl. Pour in vinaigrette dressing; toss well to mix. Cover and chill until serving.