Salade Niçoise with Seared Tuna and Soft Egg

A proper salade niçoise is really more of an arrangement than a tossed salad — seared tuna, soft-boiled eggs, boiled baby potatoes, and blanched green beans are all laid out around a platter with cherry tomatoes and briny Niçoise olives, then finished with a simple Dijon vinaigrette.

Searing the tuna just until the center stays rosy keeps it tender rather than dry, and a soft-boiled egg with a still-jammy yolk does double duty as both protein and part of the dressing once it breaks open on the plate.

Between the tuna, eggs, and potatoes, this composed salad brings a genuinely high amount of protein to the table for a dish that still reads as light, and the mix of vegetables keeps the fiber count respectable too. It's a satisfying lunch on its own, no bread required, and every element can be prepped ahead and assembled just before serving.