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Sauce Niçoise

This pungent, quickly cooked sauce studded with olives and capers imparts the zesty flavors of southern France.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    yields 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a bowl, mix together the tomatoes, olives, parsley, capers, and lemon juice. Sprinkle generously with black pepper.

    Step 2

    Warm the oil in a saucepan on low heat, add the garlic and thyme, and cook for a minute. Add the tomato mixture, increase the heat to medium-high, and simmer, stirring frequently, just until the tomatoes soften and become saucy, about 5 minutes.

  2. Ingredient Notes

    Step 3

    Dried thyme varies in freshness and potency, so use more or less depending on the strength and flavor of yours. If you have fresh thyme, use about 2 teaspoons.

  3. Serving & menu ideas

    Step 4

    Grill, broil, pan-fry, or poach your favorite fish (see page 152), and top it with Sauce Niçoise. It’s also good on shrimp or scallops. Stir some into Potato Salad with Green & White Beans (page 105) to transform it into a fresh new dish.

Cover of the cookbook Moosewood Simple Suppers with a red floral motif.
From Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table. Copyright © 2017 by Moosewood Collective. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Buy the full book from ThriftBooks or Amazon.
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