It’s the middle of July and the summer heat is oppressive. Who wants to turn on their oven when walking outside feels like you’re in the oven?! Ree Drummond (aka, The Pioneer Woman) doesn’t want to, which is why she turns to a refreshing salad this time of year. Drummond just shared her recipe for a French twist on a classic salad, and we’re actually excited about making dinner again.
“In the heat of summer, sometimes you just don’t wanna have a big, hot, heavy meal,” Drummond says in a video on Food Network’s YouTube Channel. For something lighter (and cooler!), try Drummond’s amazing Salmon Nicoise Caesar, which is based loosely on a delicious Caesar salad.
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She starts by drizzling olive oil and spices over a salmon fillet before baking it (don’t worry, this is the only time you’ll need the oven for this recipe!). From there, she squeezes lemon juice over the salmon and lets that soak while she “doctors” up a bottle of pre-made Caesar dressing by adding capers and other ingredients to it.
Next, she flakes the salmon and gets all the ingredients out to assemble the salad. “This is one of those salads where — speaking of being in charge of your own destiny — you can pick what goes on your plate,” Drummond explains.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Nicoise means a dish “served with tomatoes, olives, or capers.” The word comes from Nice, France, which honors the region’s Mediterranean climate, per Taste France Magazine. Drummond includes fresh and flavorful produce into this salad by raiding her garden, including romaine lettuce, which she tops with boiled Yukon gold potatoes, tomatoes, salmon, and other cold ingredients. She adds the doctored Caesar dressing, then sprinkles some Parmesan cheese and more freshly squeezed lemon juice over the top. Voila! A recipe that’s almost too pretty to eat.
“Talk about a stunner of a salad!” Drummond praises. “This would be a beautiful center piece to a summer lunch, or you can just make the elements, keep them in containers in the fridge, and just build your own over the course of a few days.”
If you need more dinner ideas (including ones even the kids will like!), Drummond’s got you covered. And be sure to add Drummond’s Salmon Nicoise Caesar recipe HERE to your next dinner menu. Your overheated self will thank you.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
