Best Tomatoes Niçoise Recipes

GRILLED HALIBUT à LA NIçOISE WITH HARICOTS VERTS, OLIVES, CHERRY TOMATOES, AND ANCHOVY BUTTER

Steps:

• Season the halibut with the zest of one lemon, 1 tablespoon thyme, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Place the potatoes in a roasting pan, cover with foil, and cook 30 to 40 minutes, until they're tender when pierced. (Depending on their size, age, and variety, the cooking time will vary.)
• Light the grill 30 to 40 minutes ahead of time. Take the halibut out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking it, so it comes to room temperature.
• Blanch the haricots verts in heavily salted water 2 to 3 minutes, until they're tender but still al dente. Remove to a baking sheet or platter to cool. Bring the water back to a boil, and carefully lower the eggs into the water. Turn the heat down to a very low simmer, and cook the eggs exactly 9 minutes. Remove the eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool completely. Peel the eggs, and cut them in half. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place the spinach and olives in a large salad bowl.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 1 minute. Pour in 1/4 cup olive oil, and add the sliced shallots and remaining tablespoon thyme to the pan. Cook 1 minute, until the shallots are just wilted. Add the haricots verts and the potatoes, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly round pepper.
• When the vegetables are hot, toss them into the bowl of spinach and olives. Season with another 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Toss well to dress the spinach and wilt it slightly. Taste for seasoning. Arrange the salad on a large platter. Tuck the eggs among the spinach leaves.
• Meanwhile, when the coals are broken down, red, and glowing, brush the halibut with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the fish on the grill, and cook 2 minutes. Give the fish a quarter-turn, and cook a minute or two more. Turn over, and cook until it's just barely cooked through; peek inside to check for doneness. When it's done, the halibut will begin to flake and separate a little, and the center will still be slightly translucent. Remember, the fish will continue to cook a little more once you take it off the grill. Arrange the fish on top of the salad.
• Return the vegetable pan to the stove, and heat over medium-high. Add the butter, and cook a few minutes, until it starts to brown and smells nutty. Add the anchovy, cherry tomatoes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and a few grindings of black pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, shaking the pan often, until the tomatoes release some of their juice. Squeeze some lemon juice into the butter, and taste for balance and seasoning. Stir in the basil and remaining 2 tablespoons parsley. Spoon the sauce over the fish and around the salad.
• Note
• Season the fish with lemon and herbs early in the day. You can roast the fingerlings, blanch the haricots verts, clean the spinach, cut the cherry tomatoes, clean the anchovies, and cook the eggs ahead of time.

TOMATOES NIçOISE

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette: Put the shallot in a small bowl. Add garlic, salt and pepper and cover with red wine vinegar. Macerate 10 minutes, then whisk in olive oil, chopped anchovy and chopped olives.
• Cut each tomato crosswise into 2 thick slices. Place slices on a platter in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Season cherry tomatoes with salt and dress with vinaigrette. Spoon cherry tomatoes and vinaigrette evenly over tomato slices.
• Top each tomato slice with half an anchovy filet, then sprinkle with capers. Garnish with basil leaves and whole olives. Serve at cool room temperature.

NICOISE CHICKEN STEW WITH TOMATOES AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet or pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat until hot. Add the onions and thyme and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer browned onions to a bowl. In the skillet heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot. Pat the chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken, in batches if necessary, and transfer to a plate.
• Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan and add the shallots and garlic, cooking over moderate heat for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes, wine, and cheesecloth bag and add the onions, chicken skin side up, and any juices that have accumulated on the plate. Bring the liquid to a boil, simmer the mixture, covered partially, for 20 minutes. Simmer the mixture, uncovered, for 15 minutes, or until the breast pieces are tender, and transfer the breast pieces to a plate. Simmer the remaining chicken and onions for 15 minutes more, or until they are tender, transfer them to the plate, and discard the cheesecloth bag. Cook the sauce over moderately high heat, stirring, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is thickened, add the chicken, onions, olives, and lemon juice and cook the stew, covered, over very low heat for 3 minutes, or until it is heated through.