{"id":120855,"date":"2025-06-23T06:12:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T12:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kalynskitchen.com\/?p=120855"},"modified":"2026-05-01T12:01:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T18:01:39","slug":"nicoise-tuna-salad-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kalynskitchen.com\/nicoise-tuna-salad-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicoise Tuna Salad Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Nicoise Tuna Salad Recipe is my version of a famous salad from the south of France, and this classic salad doesn’t need potatoes! And this perfect main dish salad is great for dinner on a hot summer night!<\/em><\/p>\n

PIN the Nicoise Tuna Salad Recipe to try it later!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Nicoise<\/p>\n

Nicoise Tuna Salad<\/strong> is a famous French salad that I tried for the first time a few weeks ago when I went on a fabulous trip to France with my friends Carol, Donna, Cristina, and Bev! And if you’re following this blog, you can imagine how excited I was when I ordered the salad in a little sidewalk cafe in Nice, and it when it came it didn’t have potatoes!<\/p>\n

I had previously dismissed making this because I assumed the famous tuna salad required pieces of cooked potato. So I was so happy to hear that this salad without potatoes on the menu in France. When I made this with my niece and cooking assistant Kara<\/a>, we loved the low-carb version you see here! <\/p>\n

This is a perfect recipe to use the tuna packed in olive oil that I’m so fond of. It has some of my other favorite summer ingredients, plus a delicious garlicky dressing. We even added capers and caper juice to the dressing for an extra punch of flavor!<\/p>\n

I found that the traditional Nicoise Salad had lots of variations. So go ahead and add or subtract ingredients as you wish to make the version you prefer! Even add some boiled potatoes if that’s what works for you. But I hope you try it soon if you like the sound of this low-carb protein-packed summer salad!<\/p>\n

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What ingredients do you need?<\/h2>\n

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE<\/strong> link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)<\/p>\n

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  • fresh green beans<\/li>\n
  • hard-boiled eggs<\/li>\n
  • diced fresh tomatoes<\/li>\n
  • Kalamata Olives<\/a> (affiliate link), or use Nicoise Olives<\/a> (affiliate link) if they’re not too much of a budget splurge <\/li>\n
  • radishes<\/li>\n
  • tuna, I used Genova Tuna Packed in Olive Oil<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • Capers<\/a> (affiliate link), plus some brine from the jar<\/li>\n
  • fresh squeezed lemon juice, I used my fresh-frozen lemon juice<\/a><\/li>\n
  • extra virgin Olive Oil<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • Dijon Mustard<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • Minced Garlic<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • Spike Seasoning<\/a> (affiliate link), optional or use another all-purpose seasoning blend if you prefer<\/li>\n
  • Dried Thyme<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • salt and fresh-ground pepper to taste<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    More about the famous Nicoise Salad:<\/h2>\n

    Wikipedia shares a lot of information about the famous Salade Ni\u00e7oise<\/b><\/a>, which originated in the French city of Nice of course. Wikipedia says this salad can have canned tuna or cooked fresh tuna, and can be served as a composed salad (like my version) or a tossed salad. And although the article mentions the traditional ingredients of tuna or anchovies, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and olives, it also says that there’s a lot of difference of opinion among chefs about which ingredients must be included!<\/p>\n

    What other ingredients could you use in this salad?<\/h2>\n

    The Nicoise Salad I had in France included romaine lettuce. Some well-known chefs have recipes for this salad that use red bell peppers, artichoke hearts, avocado, mushrooms, or cucumbers.<\/p>\n

    How low in carbs is my Nicoise Tuna Salad Recipe?<\/h2>\n

    My version of this main-dish salad made without potatoes has only 7 net carbs in a generous serving, with 30 grams of protein!<\/p>\n

    \"Process<\/p>\n

    How to make the Nicoise Tuna Salad:<\/h2>\n

    (This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE<\/strong> link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)<\/p>\n

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    1. Bring a pan of water to a boil while you trim beans and cut in half.<\/li>\n
    2. Make perfect hard-boiled eggs<\/a>. Cool eggs in ice water, then peel and cut lengthwise.<\/li>\n
    3. When water boils, add beans and cook exactly three minutes. Drain beans and put in ice water.<\/li>\n
    4. Then drain beans well in a colander placed in the sink.<\/li>\n
    5. Cut tomatoes into quarters.<\/li>\n
    6. Cut olives in half and measure out capers.<\/li>\n
    7. Trim radishes and cut into quarters.<\/li>\n
    8. I used Genova Tuna Packed in Olive Oil<\/a> (affiliate link) for this recipe. Drain the tuna and discard the oil. Break tuna apart slightly inside the can, using a fork. <\/li>\n
    9. Whisk together caper juice, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Spike Seasoning (if using), and dried thyme to make the dressing.<\/li>\n
    10. Then add capers, season dressing with salt and fresh-ground pepper, and stir.<\/li>\n
    11. Arrange salad ingredients in sections on serving platter. Stir dressing again before you drizzle dressing over the salad, reserving some to pass at the table.<\/li>\n
    12. Serve Nicoise Tuna Salad right away and enjoy.<\/li>\n
    13. Both Kara and I thought leftovers from this Nicoise Tuna Salad were surprisingly good after they had been refrigerated overnight.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Make it a low-carb meal:<\/h2>\n

      You don’t need more than this salad for a light summer meal. If you want something else, Nicoise Salad would be great served with one of these:<\/p>\n

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      • Savory Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins<\/a><\/li>\n
      • Olive Bread<\/a><\/li>\n
      • Savory Almond Flour Bread<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \"Nicoise<\/p>\n

        Want more recipes ideas for canned tuna?<\/h2>\n

        Check out Amazing Healthy Tuna Recipes<\/a> to see some of my other favorite ways to use tuna packed in olive oil!<\/p>\n