Best 3 Pasta Nicoise Recipes

PASTA NICOISE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring eggs and 6 quarts water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 6 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove eggs and run under cold water. Peel eggs when cool enough to handle.
• Salt water and return to a boil over high. Add pasta and potatoes and cook 3 minutes less than package instructions, then add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, 3 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain. Return to pot and add tuna, 1/3 cup reserved oil, tomatoes, olives, and vinegar. If necessary, add enough pasta water to create a light sauce that coats pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Slice eggs and scatter over pasta.

PASTA SALAD NICOISE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, shallot, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Cook the potatoes in the boiling water until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a colander with a slotted spoon and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add them to the bowl with the dressing. Cook the green beans in the boiling water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the beans to the colander with the slotted spoon and run under cold water. Add them to the bowl.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; add to the bowl.
• Add the tuna, celery, olives, anchovies and tomatoes to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

PASTA NIçOISE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water for pasta over high heat. Place a small saucepan of water over high heat. When small pan comes to a boil, add garlic and boil for 5 minutes. Cool, then peel. Place a large skillet over medium heat, warm the 3 tablespoons olive oil, and sauté garlic until golden and caramelized. Drain on paper towels, reserving oil in skillet; set skillet aside.
• When large pot of water comes to a boil, lightly salt it and add rigatoni; cook to taste, 12 to 15 minutes. While pasta cooks, place the skillet over medium-high heat, and add tuna. When tuna is seared but still pink inside, transfer to a plate. Add the beans to the skillet. When beans are cooked, drain off the olive oil (leave beans in pan) and add the extra virgin olive oil, the juice of half a lemon and the lemon rind. Stir, and add tomatoes, garlic, tuna, anchovies, parsley and half the basil leaves. Season with salt and pepper and more lemon juice to taste, if desired. Keep warm.
• Drain pasta well, and transfer to a large warm bowl. Add tuna mixture, and toss gently to mix. Garnish with remaining basil leaves, and serve.