Salade Nicoise

Serves 4

This recipe comes from the Bionic Woman! Linsday Wagner, the actor who portrayed the omnipotent woman in the popular television series, is a vegan with talents that extend to the kitchen. Featured in her vegetarian cookbook, “The High Road to Health,” this recipe for Salade Nicoise is inspired by the traditional dish from the south of France. While the traditional version includes cooked fish and hard-boiled eggs, the present recipe is just as tasty while excluding the excessive fat and saturated fat.

1 head Boston lettuce

2 medium tomatoes, cut into 12 wedges each

10 green beans, ends and strings removed

8 Greek olives

6 new potatoes

1 clove garlic

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

1 Tbsp. Natural soy sauce

1 Tbsp. White wine vinegar

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1 Tbsp. Fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. Dijon-style mustard

1 tsp. tomato paste

1 Tbsp. White wine

Slice the clove of garlic and soak it in the olive oil for about 30 minutes, then discard the garlic and reserve the oil.

Steam the potatoes until they are just tender when pricked with a fork. The skins should not split. Soak the cooked potatoes in cold water for 1 minute. They will still be warm but cool enough to handle. Slip off the skins and slice into moderately thin pieces. Combine the soy sauce and vinegar in a bowl, add the sliced potatoes, and toss. Cover and let stand until the rest of the salad is prepared.

Break the green beans into thirds and steam for 4 minutes or until barely tender. Set aside to cool.

Wash and dry the lettuce and break it into bite-sized pieces. In the bottom of a large salad bowl combine the salt, pepper, lemon juice, mustard, tomato paste, wine, and garlic oil. Whist well until emulsified. Add the lettuce, potatoes, and their juice, if any, and the green beans and olives. Toss well. Garnish with tomato wedges and serve immediately.