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Southwestern Spinach Niçoise Salad Recipe

Southwestern Spinach Niçoise Salad

A colorful classic-style Niçoise salad with a Southwestern twist, featuring tuna, potatoes, green beans, eggs, black beans, corn, avocado, and a fresh lime dressing. It serves 4 and makes a filling lunch or light dinner.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

Salad
  • 1 pound Small red potatoes, halved or quartered
  • 8 ounces Fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 5 ounces Baby spinach
  • 2 5-ounce cans Solid white tuna, drained and flaked
  • 4 eggs Large eggs
  • 1 cup Canned black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup Corn kernels, thawed if frozen
  • 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 small onion Small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado Avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • To taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Southwestern Lime Dressing
  • 1/4 cup Olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons Fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon Red-wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Honey
  • 1 clove Small garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Black pepper

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Put the halved or quartered potatoes in a saucepan and cover them with salted water. Simmer for about 10–12 minutes, until tender when pierced but still firm enough to hold their shape, then drain well.
  2. Blanch the trimmed green beans in boiling water for 3–4 minutes, until crisp-tender and bright green. Drain immediately, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, and drain thoroughly again.
  3. Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil, remove the pan from the heat, cover it, and let the eggs stand for about 10–12 minutes before cooling, peeling, and quartering them.
  4. Whisk the olive oil, lime juice, red-wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
  5. Toss the warm potatoes with a small amount of the lime dressing while they are still warm. Let them cool briefly so they remain pleasantly warm or just slightly cooled when arranged.
  6. Arrange the baby spinach on a large platter or divide it among four plates. Add the potatoes, green beans, flaked tuna, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, diced avocado, and quartered eggs in separate sections or grouped portions.
  7. Spoon the remaining dressing over the composed salad and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper if needed, then serve immediately.

Notes

Dress the potatoes while warm because they absorb the lime dressing better than fully chilled potatoes. Chill the green beans promptly after blanching to preserve their bright color and crisp texture, and add the avocado just before serving to help prevent browning.