Easy Summer Supper {Nicoise Pasta Salad}

Sometimes when it is stinkin' hot outside, I don't feel like cooking. Not a big shock there. Who loves to be in a kitchen in the summer, with the stove on, just adding to the heat?

This past week we had a few really warm, sweltering days. Supper still had to be made though, so I turned to my summer staple: Salad Nicoise or Nicoise Pasta Salad - whatever you want to call it. This salad is chock full of goodness. It is a meal in itself, which is great. Unfortunately, the stove still needs to be used, but you could make the ingredients earlier and then just throw everything together later. 

This recipe is actually originally from one of my mom's Company's Coming cookbooks. I really couldn't tell you which one though (I have it scratched down in one of my own recipe books). 

There are many variations of this salad. I have seen examples with a more creamy dressing and small potatoes. We usually make it with canned tuna, but for this recipe, I used fresh salmon and it tasted wonderful. 


Nicoise Pasta Salad

You will need:

• Cooked Fusilli Pasta (I used Penne this time)
• Small head of lettuce, coursely shredded 
• Small red onion, sliced very small 
• Canned solid tuna, drained and broken up into chunks (or fresh, cooked salmon, broken up into chunks)
• Fresh (or frozen) cooked green beans, cooled and cut 
• (Optional) Whole pitted ripe olives, halved
• Two medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 3 hard boiled eggs, sliced

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup cooking oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

 Directions:

1. Cook pasta. I throw the beans in near the end of the pasta's cooking time so I don't need to use another pot. Drain the pasta and beans and rinse with cold water. Transfer to large bowl and let cool completely. 
2. Add the lettuce, onion, and tuna to the cooled pasta and beans. 
3. Mix the dressing together in a small container. Pour over salad mixture and toss. 
4. Mix in tomatoes and egg wedges

  And voila. Supper is ready and you barely broke a sweat. 

Enjoy! 

(If you are interested in learning more about Company's Coming cookbooks and recipes, go to, www.companyscoming.com)

Remember, if you don't want to miss a post, 

subscribe to us via email or RSS feed or "like" us on Facebook!