Grilled Chicken Niçoise Salad Recipe (2024)

  • Chicken Breast
  • Dairy-free Mains
  • Dairy-free Salads
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Boiled Eggs

By

Jennifer Olvera

Grilled Chicken Niçoise Salad Recipe (1)

Jennifer Olvera

Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based food writer and cookbook author who has written eight cookbooks and contributed to Serious Eats, the Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and others.

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Updated May 13, 2019

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Grilled Chicken Niçoise Salad Recipe (2)

Although it's traditionally topped with anchovies and tuna, this version of the classic Niçoise gets a slight spin. Anchovies are instead incorporated into the tarragon-laced dressing—a boon for haters since they're hidden—while marinated, grilled chicken lends catch-all appeal.

Because the salad does take time, it tends to be a special occasion preparation, one perfect for hosting company during the dog days of summer. To cut down on prep time, not to mention, dishes, it's best to cook the potatoes and eggs in the same pot with staggered cooking times, while using the same pan to steam the green beans on top. The only real trick is getting the timing right.

Note: The salad may be assembled up to six hours ahead, when not dressed with vinaigrette.

Recipe Details

Grilled Chicken Niçoise Salad Recipe

Active45 mins

Total5 hrs

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

For the Vinaigrette:

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 1/2 small shallot, minced

  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste or 1 chopped anchovy fillet

  • 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon

  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Salad:

  • Two bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts

  • 1 pound small, red new potatoes, scrubbed and quartered

  • 4 large eggs

  • 3/4 pound haricots verts, trimmed

  • 1 headBoston lettuce, cleaned, with leaves separated and torn

  • 1 pint grapeor cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 3/4 cupNiçoise or other small brine-cured black olives

  • 8 caper berries, stems removed and halved

Directions

  1. In a small bowl whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, garlic, anchovy, lemon juice, sugar, thyme, and tarragon. Drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a reasealable bag, marinate chicken in three tablespoons of prepared vinaigrette. Place in refrigerator for at least four hours and up to a day. Refrigerate remaining vinaigrette in a resealable container for later use.

  2. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to medium-high heat, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Remove chicken from refrigerator and pat dry with paper towels.

  3. Place chicken on the grill, skin side down. Cook until skin is crisp and just-charred, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken and continue to cook, turning occasionally until an instant read thermometer registers 155°F when inserted into the thickest part of the breast (about 20 to 30 minutes). Remove chicken from grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

  4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. You will be using the same pan to cook three salad ingredients simultaneously. Add the potatoes to boiling water and cook for 12 minutes, then add eggs and cook for two minutes longer. Place a steamer basket on top, fill with green beans, cover and steam for four minutes. Drain potatoes, eggs and green beans and rinse with cool water. Allow to cool completely. Peel and quarter eggs.

  5. To assemble the salad, carve chicken from the bone and slice. Scatter torn lettuce in the bottom of a large, flat bowl. Arrange the chicken, eggs, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, olives and caper berries atop lettuce in neat, narrow rows. Whisk the vinaigrette and drizzle salad with enough dressing to coat but not drench. Taste and season with salt and fresh-cracked pepper, as needed. Lightly toss the salad with tongs tableside, and serve family-style with additional vinaigrette.

Special Equipment

Grill, large bowl, salad tongs

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
604Calories
38g Fat
39g Carbs
30g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories604
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g48%
Saturated Fat 6g32%
Cholesterol 237mg79%
Sodium 556mg24%
Total Carbohydrate 39g14%
Dietary Fiber 7g26%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 30g
Vitamin C 42mg209%
Calcium 131mg10%
Iron 6mg31%
Potassium 1249mg27%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Grilled Chicken Niçoise Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the traditional ingredients in Niçoise salad? ›

At first, Salade Niçoise was made only with tomatoes, anchovies, and olive oil." The Cercle de la Capelina d'Or's salade Niçoise includes tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, salted anchovies, tuna, spring onions, small black Nice olives, and basil.

Which of the following is a common garnish in a salad nicoise? ›

According to Larousse Gastronomique, a Niçoise salad is defined as having equal parts diced potatoes and French string beans that are seasoned with oil and vinegar, molded into the shape of a dome, then garnished with anchovy fillets, olives, capers, tomatoes, chervil, and tarragon.

Why is my chicken salad so bland? ›

How to make chicken salad taste better. The secret ingredient you should be adding to your chicken salad is pickle juice (via Cookies and Cups). You can (and should) add chopped pickles for extra tang and crunch, but if you like to keep things simple, just a splash or two of the pickle juice will do.

Why is it called a Niçoise salad? ›

The name "Salade Niçoise" refers to Nice, the capital city of the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera. This region is known for its mild climate and abundance of sunflowers, olive trees, herbs, and vegetables used in many traditional dishes.

What does niçoise mean in English? ›

What does niçoise mean? Niçoise is most often used in the name of a salad that typically includes tomatoes, olives, and anchovies, among other ingredients. In general, niçoise means “in the style of Nice, France.” Niçoise is also used to refer to the niçoise olive, a small variety of olive with a rich, nutty flavor.

What is the best substitute for niçoise olives? ›

Luckily, you can replace niçoise olives with a popular and easy-to-find cultivar — kalamata olives. With similar flavor profiles, kalamata olives are an ideal substitute when you can't find niçoise olives.

What is salad nicoise dressing julia child? ›

Cook: Julia's Niçoise Salad
  1. 1/2 tsp of chopped shallots.
  2. 2 garlic cloves (minced) - this is not how Julia makes it but I think the garlic adds flavor!
  3. 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard.
  4. 1/2 tsp lemon juice (half juice of a lemon)
  5. 1/2 French wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
  6. 3-4 tbsp of good quality olive oil.
  7. Salt and pepper to taste.
Dec 7, 2019

Are Nicoise olives pitted? ›

These deep brown olives have little flesh with a large pit. Cote d'Azur, a region of the French Riviera.

What goes bad in chicken salad? ›

Discard any chicken salad with visible mold growth. Fresh chicken salad should have a light color. If the chicken or mayonnaise appears discolored or gray, it's time to toss it. Chicken salad should have a creamy or slightly chunky texture.

What are the main ingredients for chicken salad? ›

Why am I still hungry after eating chicken salad? ›

Your lunch choice may lack sufficient protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Consider adding sources of lean protein, healthy fats (like avocado or nuts), and high-fiber vegetables to your meal to increase satiety.

What ingredients are in salad nicoise? ›

If anyone can make an amazing salad out of canned tuna, it's the French. Nicoise Salad is probably the best known version, made with potato, beans, tomato, lettuce and olives, and finished with a lemon dressing.

What color are Nicoise olives? ›

One variety is Niçoise, grown and cured in southeastern France, around the city of Nice on the Mediterranean coast. The olives are basically the cured version of the Cailletier olive, sometimes also called the Taggiasca olive. They are small, a dark purplish color, and best known as a key ingredient in Salade Niçoise.

What country is Niçoise from? ›

Salade niçoise (French pronunciation: [saˈlad niˈswaz]; Occitan: salada niçarda, pronounced [saˈlaðo niˈsaɾðo], or salada nissarda in the Niçard dialect; Italian: insalata nizzarda) is a salad that originated in the French city of Nice.

What is the main ingredient of bound salad? ›

Bound salad: ingredients such as meat, poultry, fish, egg, or starch such as potato, pasta, or rice and bound with mayo. Vegetable salad: cooked and/or raw vegetables (coleslaw); can be bound with mayo or mixed with vinegar/oil dressing.

What country is niçoise from? ›

Salade niçoise (French pronunciation: [saˈlad niˈswaz]; Occitan: salada niçarda, pronounced [saˈlaðo niˈsaɾðo], or salada nissarda in the Niçard dialect; Italian: insalata nizzarda) is a salad that originated in the French city of Nice.

What is the origin of caesar salad? ›

Caesar salad was invented in the early 1920s by Caesar Cardini, an Italian chef who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. He moved to Tijuana from California to avoid Prohibition, and it was here, on July 4th, 1924, where Caesar is believed to have invented the Caesar Salad.

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