Salade Niçoise

Now that the sun is finally shining, a Salade Niçoise is perfect fare, indoors or out.

Lightly toss boiled potatoes, steamed green beans, artichoke hearts and asparagus spears with your favorite vinaigrette (or Paul Newman's). Arrange around a mound of tuna* or tuna salad on a very large platter - or several small ones - with salad greens, tomato wedges, halved hard-boiled eggs, black olives, red and yellow peppers, fresh or roasted. You get the picture, and a pretty one it is!

* Please grill fresh tuna or find it canned in olive oil, not water.

But there is more. Serve with a bowl of Lemon Aioli, the finishing touch for those unafraid of garlic. To your own homemade mayonnaise or Hellman's add a lot of minced garlic, finely grated lemon zest (Use a microplane.) and fresh lemon juice. 

Great to have on hand. Try it with shrimp instead of cocktail sauce or spread it on bread for a sandwich or use as a dip for vegetables.