This Asian Nicoise Salad is healthy spin on the classic that uses a sesame ginger vinaigrette and seared tuna steaks for a healthy, whole30 compliant paleo-friendly meal that’s packed with protein!
Ohhhhh we faaaancy today.
Like, we’re eating some classic French food AND making our own (SESAME CRUSTED!) seared Ahi tuna steaks all in one recipe.
Are we the next Food Network Star? I THINK YES.
Anyway.
So, Nicoise salad. Have you had one? Or have you spent MOST of your life seeing it on menus at fancy-people restaurants where they have tools to scrape crumbs off tables (WHAT ARE THOSE?!) and you really want to try it. HOWEVER, you feel like the impending doom of you butchering the name is looming, because your French does not extend past “fromage”
Maybe that’s just me though.
Either way. A few weeks back I was at a bar (like where they serve non-fancy but delicious things like a Hawaiian Pizza BURGER) and my eyes peeped this classy little salad full of veggies and juicy tuna on the menu.
Feeling adventurous (and like there may be a lack of judgement in a bar atmosphere) I made the wise-person choice to finally take hold of my own life and TRY THE SALAD ALREADY.
WHOA. Soft pieces of boiled eggs, all mixed with crisp spinach, salty capers, tangy olives, tender potatoes (potatoes in salad might just be my new JAM) and then topped off with a protein-packed tuna steak, thats juicy-goodness rivaled that of the SOY vinaigrette that was competing for the numero uno place in the best-part-of-the-salad competition?
I could eat that all. Day. Long.
Considering we have A-L-S-O been on a tuna rampage lately (Hi Citrus Tuna Ceviche Bowls and Healthy Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocados!) I knew that re-making it was the next logical step.
If you are a classy person who has had this salad you may be suspiciously pondering the addition of asparagus and soy vinaigrette, and the lack of beans and general herb-a-licious dressing.
Well, I guess it was a SPIN on the traditional salad. SO, I GUESS I have still never eaten the “classic” version.
Whatever. It just means that I have nothing to compare it to and my re-make version wins the salad competition by default.
I don’t care what you’re mom said. ERYTHANG is a competition. AND it IS about winning.
And this (whole30 approved!) salad that is actually, like, FILLING (hello aforementioned new favorite addition of potatoes in lettuce) is most definitely winning the yummy-healthy-food-that-you’re-gonna-love category of life.
I’m not gonna try to keep any secrets from you though: this bowl of love and happiness and health is a touch more time consuming to prepare than some of the other salads that you may have mixed together, and called it DONE, in the years that your salad-eating-self has walked the earth.
BUT, one thing I can PINKY PROMISE, is that every moment you spend blanching asparagus (WAY easier than it sounds,) waiting for potatoes to boil and making a second batch of vinaigrette because you accidently drank the first batch after tasting it’s addicting tangy-salty deliciousness, is SO WORTH IT.
Mostly because it’s a salad that is amazingly-yum and equally full of superfoods, protein and general good-for-you-ness.
But also because an excuse to put carbs in a bowl of spinach.
You understand me.
Which means you understand that it is now your turn to pave the way of your own life and stop missing out on delicious food for fear of name-butchering-judgement.
YOU GOT THIS.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 6 ounces Creamer Potatoes About 6 small potatoes
- Salt
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 large Red Bell Pepper Cut into large cubes
- 1 small bunch Asparagus
- 2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 8 ounces Ahi Tuna Steaks 2 small steaks
- 6 cups Spinach Packed
- 1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes Halved
- 3 tablespoons Sliced Black Olives
- 4 teaspoons Capers
For the Vinaigrette:
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Aminos Plus 1 teaspoon
- 1/2 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Minced Fresh Garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon Minced Fresh Ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon Mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon Ground Turmeric
- 1/8 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
- Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Season generously with salt. Bring the pot of water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce to medium-high and cook the potatoes until fork tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- While the potatoes cook, place the eggs in a medium pot and cover with 1 inch of cold water. Bring the water to a rapid boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn the heat off, cover the pot (but don’t remove it from the heat) and let the eggs stand for 10-12 minutes. Then, drain out the water and cover with cold water to chill until ready to use.
- Bring another medium pot of generously salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add in the red pepper and asparagus, and cook just until fork tender, about 3 minutes. Immediately drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Heat the 2 tsp of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. While the oil heats, spread the sesame seeds into a shallow plate that has sides.
- Lightly press each side of the tuna steaks into the sesame seeds until all sides are evenly coated.
- Place the tuna into the hot pan and sear just until the seeds darken, about 1-2 minute per side, depending on how cooked you like your tuna. Make sure you sear all the sides, not just the front and back! Set aside while you make the vinaigrette.
- Whisk all the vinaigrette ingredients, up to the olive oil, together in a medium bowl. Then, while constantly whisking, stream in the olive oil until well mixed.
- Place the spinach, tomatoes, asparagus and bell pepper into a large bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Divide between two large bowls.
- Then, divide the capers, olives, eggs and potatoes (slice them if you wish) on top. Finally, slice the tuna and divide between the bowls.
- DEVOUR.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
Hi Taylor!! This salad looks unbelievably awesome! I love your spin on this classic recipe. The addition of asparagus and your vinaigrette sound crazy good!! And as always your photography makes me want to jump right in with my fork:)
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much Katie – you’re the sweetest!
Marye says
Oh my goodness, this looks absolutely amazing!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you Marye!
Matt says
Love absolutely everything about this salad. Wow!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you heaps Matt!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
This salad looks sooooo amazing, and definitely worth a little extra time! I don’t know what I love best about this, but would enjoy it from to to bottom!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much Patricia!
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire says
Oh my gosh, this salad is seriously EVERYTHING!! I am actually not a huge fan of tuna steaks (I had a bad experience once!), but I think I can try it again with this salad. And you know, even though it takes some time to make, you can proooooabably make a lot of this salad in bulk and make the next time you wanna eat this salad because lets be honest, we’re all gonna want this salad again tomorrow.
Taylor Kiser says
A bad experience?! Oh no!!! I hope this makes up for that!!
And…you are BRILLIANT girlfriend. I love you.
Cassie says
I actually did NOT like nicoise salads growing up! I thought the hard boiled eggs and weird-looking tuna ruined everything! You just gave this salad a HUGE makeover and now it looks better than ever!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you Cassie! I hope this one changes your mind girl!
gerry @ foodness gracious says
That tuna looks way bomb!!!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks Gerry!
Steve says
Awesome recipe you got here, Taylor! You definitely got me at tender potatoes and protein packed tuna! Definitely two things I would always include in my diet. Although, I must admit I am not the salad type of guy. I am definitely one of those guys who would also be looking away from French named menu items! Anyway, I am really happy you shared this recipe. I will ask my sister to help me in preparing this one of these days, if I’m feeling a little fancy. I’m pretty sure my readers would love this, so I will forward it to them as well, if you don’t mind. Great post overall, keep on updating us with your latest winning recipes.
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much Steve! I hope you like it if you feel fancy enough to try it! I don’t mind if you share the link and a photo with your readers, but I do ask that you please do not re-publish the full recipe.Thanks!! 🙂
Steve says
Sure, I meant to say I’ll send them the link to it. 🙂 I don’t want to take all the credit for it.
Taylor Kiser says
You’re the best 🙂 Thanks Steve!!