Photo of Chicken nicoise salad with tarragon-olive viniagrette by WW

Chicken nicoise salad with tarragon-olive viniagrette

3
Points® value
Total Time
50 min
Prep
30 min
Cook
20 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Easy
Nicoise salad is traditionally made with tuna, but we switched it up and use chicken instead. Perfect for a summer picnic, this salad shows off potatoes, green beans, lettuces, and fresh tarragon at their peak and is hearty enough to enjoy as a complete meal. Here, we’ve used kalamata olives instead of the French Niçoise variety since kalamatas are easier to find at most supermarkets. Grilled salmon or shrimp would also be delicious in this dish. To pack it up for an al fresco lunch, store the dressing in a separate container and drizzle it on just before serving.

Ingredients

Cooking spray

4 spray(s)

Table salt

½ tsp(s), plus more for salting water

Uncooked whole white potato

8 oz, fingerling variety

String beans

8 oz, thin, trimmed

Uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast

20 oz, 4 (5-oz breasts)

Black pepper

¼ tsp(s)

White wine vinegar

2 tbsp(s)

Extra virgin olive oil

1½ tbsp(s)

Dijon mustard

½ tsp(s)

Olives

8 large, Kalamata variety, pitted and minced

Shallots

1 small, minced

Fresh tarragon

2 tsp(s), chopped

Mixed greens

5 oz

Plum tomato

4 medium, cut into wedges

Hard boiled egg

2 large, quartered

Red onion

1 small, thinly sliced

Black pepper

tsp(s)

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan over high heat, bring salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender, about 8 minutes, adding green beans during the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Drain and rinse under cold running water until cool. Set aside.
  2. Spray a ridged grill pan with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat until hot.
  3. Sprinkle chicken with 1⁄2 tsp salt and 1⁄4 tsp pepper; add to grill pan. Grill chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into slices.
  4. Meanwhile, to make vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, oil, mustard, 1⁄8 tsp black pepper, and 1 1⁄2 tbsp water. Stir in olives, shallot, and tarragon. Set aside.
  5. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. In a large bowl, toss potatoes, green beans, and 2 tbsp vinaigrette until coated.
  6. Among 4 plates, evenly divide mixed greens. Arrange potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, eggs, and onion on greens. Top with chicken slices. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette.
  7. Serving size: about 3 cups salad, 1 chicken breast, and 2 tbsp vinaigrette