Pairing Wines with a Niçoise Salad

Niçoise salad is a classic dish in France and all around the word. Most French eat this salad during the summer with a glass of wine, relaxing on their patio or terrace. It is a salad that reflects the flavors of the South of France: warmth and generous.

Recipes vary among families and localities, and there are many debates as to which ingredients should be in the salad. Even potatoes, green beans, and tuna, which are classically integrated in the salad, have been disputed ingredients, some won't put them in this traditional salad. For my part, I associate a Niçoise salad with these ingredients, but I don't add cucumber, beets or radish. The recipe below was inspired by one found on the Saveur website but I substantially modified it to reflect my views on the salad.

For the Dressing:

1 clove garlic, minced;

1 shallot, minced;

¹/₃ cup olive oil;

2 tbsp of white vinegar;

2 tbsp of Dijon mustard;

Freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste.

For the Salad: (serves 4-6)

1 lb. small new potatoes, boiled until tender;

12 oz. haricot verts, blanched;

12 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved;

¹/₂ cup olives;

10 salt-packed anchovies, rinsed and drained;

5 hard-boiled eggs, halved lengthwise;

3 (4-oz.) cans high-quality oil-packed tuna, drained.

For the dressing, whisk the garlic and shallots in the oil and vinegar. Add the mustard and whisk more until the vinaigrette as a creamy texture. Add salt and pepper; as needed. For the salad: arrange all ingredients in a big salad bowl. Drizzle the dressing over all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper just before serving.

Niçoise salad is a wonderful dish to pair wines with. Because of the richness of the salad with the potatoes and anchovies, think of wines with character and complex bouquets. Red wines should have some notes of umami, earth or spice. Skin contact wines, Pet Nats and Island wines will be great too. My wine was Les Capriades 2016 Piège à Filles Rosé Pet Nat. The bright minerality, extended lees time, subtle fruit and pretty savory notes of the wine combined with the anchovies and olives on the salad made a perfect match. A great formula for the summer!

Below is a list of delicious wines that will be great companions to this Niçoise salad. I hope you will enjoy these pairings as much as I have.

-Caroline Coursant