This healthy nicoise salad is packed with healthy ingredients and it’s a very filling but figure friendly. Sometimes salad can get a little bit over done with toppings, and before you know it a healthier option really would’ve been a burger and fries. But not this beauty.
Okay, okay I’ll admit I have an affinity for salad. Call me weird, call me crazy, but I can’t get enough. I’ll happily eat my weight in salad every day without complaining. But don’t fret if salad is not for you, I’m here to change your mind!… or at least I’ll try.
There are some key ingredients for the salad that I think really make it noteworthy and irresistible. Roasted potatoes, do I even have to explain why these are delicious? These potatoes are super crunchy on the outside and deliciously soft and creamy on the inside. the perfect salad topper. Certainly better than croutons, and better for you.
Hard-boiled eggs. I love hard-boiled eggs in a salad. When the soft crumbly yolk mixes with the vinaigrette, it ends up giving the dressing a creamy consistency. But I get it, some people don’t love eggs like I do. So I like to leave them halved like this, in case people don’t like the yolks (they can pop the yolks out and still enjoy the egg whites) or if they don’t eat eggs, they can avoid them completely. This is a much better option than chopped eggs for this reason. Eggs not your thing? That’s okay add some hemp hearts. You get the same benefit of heart healthy fat and you also get some protein!
Whatever you do, don’t skip on the healthy fats. They help you feel full with less food. To get the most out of your salad you have to have fats; those fat-soluble vitamins aren’t doing you any good with that fat-free dressing and lettuce.
Salads are a great way to get your daily recommended fruit and veggie intake. Remember most vegetables are packed with water and are very low-calorie on their own. Where people get in trouble with salads is adding too many high-fat or high calorie toppings. Let’s not forget that pesky salad dressing. Most bottled brands that you find on your local grocery shelf are unfortunately packed with so many chemicals and nonfood substances, I try to stay away from them all together.
But this girl loves her salad dressing. So I found ways to make my own salad dressing! I love the use of dijon mustard as the emulsifier (that means it helps the dressing get thick and stay together) and a flavor agent. I keep about seven or eight types of vinegar in my home at all times. I find that vinegar is usually exactly what I need to add brightness to a dish. And of course you have to add spices and heart healthy olive oil for added flavor and to balance out that acidity in the vinegar.
I think everyone has a different level of acidity that they love and they also have different vinegars that they prefer, so the recipe is more just for reference, please feel free to add more or less vinegar as you find suitable for your pallet. If you’re new to making your own salad dressings I would recommend red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and sherry vinegar. The list might seem excessive but I’m sure you probably already have two or three of those in your home already; and if you commit to making your own salad dressing you’ll quickly find that the investment in the vinegar’s was well worth it.
Healthy Salad Nicoise #eatgreenfood #eatmoresalad #fitfluential @PancakeWarrior_ Click To Tweet
- 1 package spinach
- 1 package arugula
- 2 large beets, chopped
- 1½ cups roasted potatoes
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 large avocado, cubed
- Juice of half a lemon or lime
- ½ cup red cabbage, sliced thin
- 3-4 hard boiled eggs or 2 tbs. hemp hearts
- 1 tbs. dijon mustard
- 3 tbs. champagne vinegar
- 2-3 tbs. olive oil
- 1 tsp. herbs de province or italian seasoning
- pinch salt
- black pepper to taste
- Roast potatoes (use these directions) and beets the day before or earlier in the day so they have time to cool.
- Hard Boil eggs (start eggs in cold water, bring to boil, once boiling, turn off heat and cover) let rest 10 minutes. Drain and add cold water to pan with ice cubes. Peel within 10 minutes to ensure egg shells are easily removable. Let eggs cool 1 hour.
- Once eggs have cooled, cabbage, red bell pepper and beets and start to assemble the salad.
- Place spinach and arugula in bowl. Add each ingredient to the salad, moving around the plate.
- Slice avocado and add lemon juice to avocado before adding it to the salad so it doesn't brown.
- Slice eggs in half and add to salad.
- In a small bowl, add dijon mustard, spices and champagne vinegar. Stir. Slowly whisk in olive oil until thick dressing is made. Add salt and pepper, and taste.
What About You?
- Favorite salad topping?
- What is you favorite vinegar?
- Do you make your own salad dressing?
Linking Up with Amanda and Link Parties.
Would never call you crazy–I adore salads and have 1-2 every day! And nicoise salad is one of my absolute favorites. Though I would be all about the tuna, for me. I will order it just about anywhere. And you know how I feel about beets so GIMMMMMME
I love nicoise salads! Everything about them is so delicious, all the veggies and tuna and potatoes and eggs… Except olives. Hate olives.
Roasted potatoes in salad? Yes, please!!!
This looks amazing! I love colorful salads like this. One of my favorite salad combos is spinach with roasted sweet potatoes, shredded carrots, hummus, tomatoes, and grilled chicken. nom nom nom.
I like salad–this one looks too pretty to eat!
I love nice hearty salads like this one! Yum to hardboiled eggs! So so good!
Oooh! Looks so good! I, too, love salads. WHY I never thought about roasted potatoes as a topper I do not know! Sounds amazing!! Thanks for all your suggestions! (Makes me want to try diff. dressings, as well. (I typically just top with extra virgin olive oil/salt/pepper/garlic powder).
I’m generally not a huge fan of salads, but this. This looks incredible!
I’ve never thought to put potatoes on a salad, but YUM! A healthier alternative to croutons, for sure. 🙂
I love roasted potatoes, and have never thought to put them on top of a salad. I need to give that a try!
I’ll skip the eggs but otherwise this looks delicious!!
I have been LOVING salads lately! I don’t know if it’s the warmer weather or what. This one looks delicious!
I am a big fan of salads too and this one looks pretty darn tasty!
That looks so delicious! NOM NOM NOM
YES for hard-boiled eggs in salad! It’s my #1 favorite fixing for it! (Even more so than dressing. I can totally just eat salad without the dressing, hahaha.) Roasted potatoes are such a genius addition! <3
goodness gracious this looks amazing!!
I could eat this daily and not get tired of it! Yum! It helps that I’m obsessed with one bowl meals 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend Sam xoxo
Oh my goodness, this salad looks amazing! I would never have thought to put potatoes in a salad, but now it sounds great!
Oh this is so colorful and looks SO yummy! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I love avocados on my salads (the few times I eat them) cuz they add a little creaminess where there’s usually a lot of crunch. Different textures make me excited haha
And I don’t make my own dressing usually, but I tried a cashew cream one the other day that was pretty epic.
Oh HEY! This looks awesome!! Love the roasted potatoes…xoxo!!
That is quite a salad! Wow! We also like salad and there are times it is a whole meal for us, if we have some type of bread with it. We love a good chef salad and even my growing young men end up feeling satisfied from it, although when they first come to the table and see only a salad, they feel some panic that they won’t be filled up. 🙂 Meat, eggs, and more help to make it a meal.
This looks delicious! I love eggs in my salad and that dressing looks yummy!
this is a great looking salad! I need to eat salad everyday and I love lots and lots of veggies in mine, putting roasted potatoes in my salad definitely fills me up.
I LOVE salad and nicoise salad is on my list of favorites. I love all of the substitutions you have suggested. I’m totally putting hemp hearts on my nicoise next time.
That looks HUGE! Love it! Eggs are so filling so I love putting them in salads!
Hmmm. I said in my post that salad isn’t comfort food but this one is making me rethink that. Those potatoes. Pretty comforting!
What a gorgeous salad! I love love love eggs in salads. In fact I’m making one with them tonight. I’ll need to try this one soon!
Yum! Love all the colorful additions to this salad, I just love beets and I would never have thought of potatoes!
Thanks Jen – the potatoes have been my new obsession!
This salad looks SO delicious! I love potatoes on salads!
You have a lot of goodness packed into your salad! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t find you one bit odd for loving salad so! I love it too. As low as I had a protein in it and different dressing, I could eat it every day as well.
So glad I’m not alone with my love for salad!!
I love my salads too. I never thought of adding roasted potatoes to salads, I love the idea. Your homemade salad dressing sounds great too.
Love love love the incorporation of the roasted potatoes into this salad. Yes I agree….WAY better than croutons. Why had I not htought of this before??
Thanks for sharing at Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.
Yum!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday – Link Party!! Hope to see you again on Thursday!! Pinned!
I love that you put beets in this. I can’t wait to make this version!!!
Yum, what a delicious looking salad! I could seriously eat my weight in salad too!
This looks awesome! I’m sure it tastes just as good as it looks. Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at Funtastic Featured. You’re featured this week. Hope we see you again at this week’s party.