My Tuna Nicoise
african vanielje on Aug 26 2007 at 11:49 pm | Filed under: vkcb
Scrub some new potatoes and put them on to boil
In a separate pot, bring some water to the boil for eggs.
Rinse a tablespoon of salted capers and then allow to stand in cold water for 5 minutes
Make a basic lemon dressing with 60ml fresh lemon juice:180ml extra virgin olive oil, some fresh ground black pepper and maldon salt, and some fresh chopped chives
Blanche a handful of green or runner beans in the egg water (before you put the eggs in of course). lift out with a slotted spoon while they are still bright green (before they go khaki green or grey - yeeugh!). Rinse under cold water to stop them cooking further
Bring the water back to the boil and add 2 large free range eggs. Boil for 4 1/2 minutes for soft or 5 minutes for hardboiled.
Chop the green beans into a bowl
Add chopped tomatoes. I used a mixture of cherry and little sungolds from the garden
Add the capers and toss in the lemon dressing - allow to sit and infuse
At this stage the tomato and bean salsa can be served on its own, or as an accompaniment to barbecued fish, lamb or beef.
Finely chop a small red onion and put in a separate bowl
Open a can of organic butter beans ( this is your chance to bond with your tin opener)
Drain and rinse and add to the onions
Drain a tin of dolphin friendly tuna and add to the bowl
Add some pitted green queen olives (optional if you have the capers)
Drain the eggs and rinse them under cold water to peel
Cut into quarters lengthways if hardboiled. If soft, reserve for the moment
Drain the potatoes and arrange them on your plates
Crush them slightly with a fork so they can soak up the juices
You now have two choices - mix the tomatoes and tuna or add it to the salad in layers
Tuna, beans and olives first, followed by tomatoes
Top with the egg quarters, or break open the soft boiled eggs on top of your salad.
Drizzle with any extra lemon dressing and season
If you are using fresh tuna, season your tuna and briefly pan fry to colour on the outside but be rare in the middle
Toss the butter beans and olives in with the potatoes, layer on the tomato salsa and top with your tuna steak
Drizzle on extra lemon dressing, or even better, a homemade lemon and herb mayo (chive or basil)
