When I lived near Nice in the sunny south of France, I discovered that everyone there has a version of this summer salad. By tasting ones made by everyone from legendary chefs to humble housewives, I came up with my own. My sun-dried tomato vinaigrette makes this version distinctive. The perfumed sweetness of elderflower cordial highlights the concentrated sweetness of the tomatoes. Be sure to use the best sushi-grade bluefin or yellowfin tuna you can find.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the eggs and cook for 6 minutes. Drain and run under cold water until cool enough to handle. Peel and cut each in half.
Step 2
Put the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and pour 1/2 cup hot water over them. Let stand for 15 minutes. Drain well and return to the bowl. Stir in the lemon zest, elderflower cordial, oil, lemon juice, and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and let stand.
Step 3
Put the potatoes in a medium pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, season with salt, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until a knife pierces through the potatoes easily, about 20 minutes. Drain well. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
Step 4
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Add the haricots verts to the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to the ice water bath. Once cool, drain well.
Step 5
Cut the tuna into 4 even strips. Heat a large skillet over high heat. When hot, add just enough oil to film the bottom. Season the tuna with salt and pepper on all sides, then add to the hot oil. Cook until seared on all sides, about 1 minute per side. The center should be rare. Cut each piece crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
Step 6
Combine the greens, potatoes, beans, olives, tomatoes, and almost all of the dressing in a large bowl. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the tuna and eggs. Drizzle with the remaining dressing.
