Pickles add a tangy crunch to salads, and the brine is delicious in vinaigrettes. Chef Spike Gjerde pickles his own beans at his Baltimore restaurants, but using store-bought versions in this mid-Atlantic take on a Niçoise salad works well, too.
How to Make It
Put the potato halves in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Add a large pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Boil over moderately high heat until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the bean pickling liquid with the cider vinegar, mustard, honey, mustard seeds and cayenne pepper. Whisk in the oil and season the dressing with salt and pepper.
Add 2 tablespoons of the dressing to the warm potatoes and toss. Add the cress, parsley, celery, pickled beans, smoked fish and the remaining dressing and toss well. Transfer the salad to plates, arrange the eggs on top and serve.
Notes
One serving: 311 cal, 17 gm fat, 2 gm sat fat, 32 gm carb, 3 gm fiber, 7 gm protein.