Skip to main content

Lentil Niçoise Salad

4.0

(2)

Any Way Niçoise with Lentils
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski

To make this endlessly riffable salad, pair whatever produce you’ve got with 7-minute eggs, a mustardy dressing you can make ahead, and almost any protein: leftover steak or salmon, rotisserie chicken, or beans, to name a few.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6–8 servings

Ingredients

¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
6 large eggs
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed
4 cups halved or sliced radishes, fennel, and/or tomatoes
3 cups cooked lentils
Olives, caper berries, peperoncini, pickles, or other pickled-briny ingredients (for serving)
Flaky sea salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Whisk oil, lemon juice, mustard, honey, pepper, and 1 tsp. kosher salt in a medium bowl; set dressing aside.

    Step 2

    Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully add eggs and cook 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water (keep pot over high heat); chill until cold, about 5 minutes. Peel; set aside.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, add asparagus to same pot of boiling water and cook until just tender, 2–4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to bowl of ice water; let sit until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; pat dry.

    Step 4

    To serve, slice eggs in half and arrange on a platter with cooked and raw vegetables and lentils. Top with pickled-briny ingredient(s), sprinkle with sea salt, and drizzle some reserved dressing over. Serve with remaining dressing alongside.

Read More
With colorful radishes and jammy eggs, this is just as great for a holiday as it is for a casual spring lunch.
This riff on çılbır marries garlicky yogurt, fried eggs, and spiced butter with summer tomatoes.
Elegant and simple to prep ahead, this classic brunch dish gets its savory backbone from sautéed leeks.
A creamy Comté foundation is the perfect pairing for verdant asparagus and crisp endive in this simple-yet-elegant salad that celebrates the season.
With flash-seared squid, tomatoes, olives, parsley, and a tangy lemon vinaigrette.
With a heap of fresh produce and creamy sauce, this one-pot pasta endures for a reason.
Cooking risotto in a rice cooker makes quick work of the famously fussy recipe. And this hands-off version is as creamy and comforting as any stovetop version.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.