Nicoise Pasta Salad
with lentils / green beans / olives

Name: Nicoise Pasta Salad
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 clove Garlic, chopped; 1 Tbsp Vinegar, sherry (sub red or white wine vinegar); 2 tsp Lemon juice; 2 tsp Mustard, Dijon; 2 tsp Honey; 4 Tbsp Oil, olive; 8 oz Green beans, trimmed and chopped into 1" / 2.5 cm pieces; 8 oz Pasta, any fun shape; 4 Eggs; 2 Tomatoes, medium, chopped (sub cherry / grape tomatoes); 2 stalks Green onions, chopped, green and white parts combined; 1/2 cup Olives, nicoise (sub pitted kalamata, use pre-sliced olives if you’d like); 4 oz Cheese, mozzarella pearls (sub chopped mozzarella or crumbled feta); 2 cups Lentils, cooked (use pre-cooked lentils or if cooking from dried, use half the amount of dried and prepare according to package directions)

Active: 35 Total: 35

Original GF Paleo Vegetarian

This pasta salad version of the classic French Nicoise Salad was last featured in 2021. It can be made ahead and is great served warm or at room temperature.
Smarts #1: Be sure to season your pasta water before cooking the pasta. Salt in the pasta water will add flavor to both the pasta and the green beans.
Smarts #2: Look for pre-sliced olives for the pasta salad or slice them yourself before adding them.

Ingredients

Metric

Servings:

Sherry Vinaigrette:

Garlic - 1 clove , chopped
Vinegar, sherry - 1 Tbsp (sub red or white wine vinegar)
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Mustard, Dijon - 2 tsp
Honey - 2 tsp
Oil, olive - 4 Tbsp

Nicoise Pasta Salad:

Green beans - 8 oz , trimmed and chopped into 1" / 2.5 cm pieces
Pasta, any fun shape - 8 oz
Eggs - 4
Tomatoes, medium - 2 , chopped (sub cherry / grape tomatoes)
Green onions - 2 stalks , chopped, green and white parts combined
Olives, nicoise - 1/2 cup (sub pitted kalamata, use pre-sliced olives if you’d like)
Cheese, mozzarella pearls - 4 oz (sub chopped mozzarella or crumbled feta)
Lentils, cooked - 2 cups (use pre-cooked lentils or if cooking from dried, use half the amount of dried and prepare according to package directions)

Prep

Green beans / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Pasta and green beans - Cook pasta according to package directions. In the last 4 minutes of cooking, add green beans to the boiling pasta. Drain well. If cooking ahead, toss with some oil to minimize sticking. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Boil eggs - Cover eggs with cold water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then turn off heat. Put a lid on the pan and let eggs sit in hot water for 11 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Make vinaigrette - Whisk together garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, and honey. Add olive oil while whisking. Season with some salt and pepper. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Tomatoes / Green onions - Prep as directed.

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Make

If you would like the pasta warm and it was cooked ahead, reheat it briefly in the microwave. (This is optional - the pasta salad can be served warm or room temperature.)
In a large mixing bowl, gently combine pasta, green beans, tomatoes, green onions, olives, mozzarella pearls, and lentils. Fold in vinaigrette.
Taste and season pasta salad with some salt and pepper.
Roll eggs against a hard, flat surface to break up shell and then peel. You can chop the eggs and fold them into the pasta or slice them down the center and serve them on top. (Season the tops of the eggs with some salt and pepper if you’re serving them on top.)
Divide pasta salad between bowls and serve. Enjoy!

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