Salad Nicoise

Serves 4
Ingredients for salad:
8 ounces of green beans, trimmed and halved lengthwise
4 small new potatoes, quartered
1 can albacore tuna (6 ½ oz)
2 Tbsp red onion, minced
1 Tbsp capers, drained (use the tiny ones)
2 ripe tomatoes, quartered
½ head of butter lettuce, washed and leave leaves whole (mixed baby greens may be substituted for the butter lettuce if desired)
¼ cup Nicoise olives (pitted)
1 hard-cooked egg, quartered
2 lemons, quartered
½ cup of mustard vinaigrette
2 Tbsp assorted minced herbs (tarragon, parsley, chives, basil)

Directions:

1. Bring a 5 quart pot of water to boil.
2. Drop beans into boiling water for 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove beans with a slotted spoon, and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Reserve pot of water for next step.
4. Drain and set beans aside.
5. In same pot of water, add the potatoes and cook 8-10 minutes. Test with a fork for tenderness. Drain and set aside.
6. Drain tuna and place in a medium bowl.
7. Add red onion and capers to tuna and mix.
8. Now compose the salad onto individual serving plates or a large platter, which ever the chef prefers. Here’s how to compose the salad for 4 individual serving plates:
9. Place ¼ of the lettuce on each of 4 plates.
10. Now think of placing each additional ingredient in a different section of the plate.
11. Place ¼ of the potatoes on each plate.
12. Place two tomato quarters next to the potatoes on each plate.
13. Place ¼ of the green beans on the other side of potatoes on each plate.
14. Place ¼ of the tuna mixture next to the green beans on each plate.
15. Drizzle with ¼ of the dressing all over each plate.
16. Now place the quarter slice of hard egg, and two quarters of lemon on each plate.
17. Toss a ¼ of the olives over the salad and finally sprinkle ¼ of the mixed herbs over all.

    Nutritional Values:

    
    Per serving: Calories 390, Total Fat 21g (32% DV), Saturated Fat 3g (15% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 65mg (22% DV), Sodium 270mg (11% DV), Carbohydrates 34g (11% DV), Dietary Fiber 5g (20% DV), Sugars 4g, Protein 17g, Vitamin A 30%, Vitamin C 40%, Calcium 6%, Iron 10%.