Salade Lyonnaise
This bistro classic balances crisp, slightly bitter frisée with smoky lardons and a tangy warm mustard vinaigrette. When the poached egg is cut open, its rich yolk mingles with the dressing to create a silky sauce that coats every leaf.
Ingredients
Salad
- 180 gfrisée lettuce
- 30 gshallot, finely chopped
- 5 gflat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Garnish and eggs
- 120 glardons
- 2 largeeggs
Warm vinaigrette
- 10 gDijon mustard
- 20 mlred wine vinegar
- 15 mlextra-virgin olive oil
- 1 gblack pepper
- 1 gfine salt
Instructions
- 1
Bring a small saucepan of water to a gentle simmer for the eggs. While it heats, wash and thoroughly dry the frisée, separate it into bite-size leaves, finely chop the shallot, and roughly chop the parsley. Divide the frisée between 2 plates or wide bowls.
- 2
Set a frying pan over medium heat and cook the lardons for 4-5 minutes, stirring, until their fat renders and they are lightly crisp at the edges. Do not let them burn; you want browned, still-supple pieces and about 1 tablespoon of rendered fat left in the pan.
- 3
Lower the heat. Add the chopped shallot to the pan with the lardons and cook for 30-60 seconds just until softened. Whisk in the Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, and salt. Stir for 15-20 seconds until the vinaigrette looks glossy and lightly emulsified. Taste and adjust salt only if needed, as the lardons are already salty.
- 4
Poach the eggs in the gently simmering water for 3 minutes for runny yolks. Lift them out carefully with a slotted spoon and briefly drain on a clean towel or paper towel. The whites should be just set and the yolks soft.
- 5
Spoon the warm lardon vinaigrette over the frisée so the leaves soften slightly but keep their crunch. Top each salad with a poached egg and scatter over the parsley. Serve immediately so the egg yolk can enrich the dressing when broken.
Nutrition per serving
Notes
- •Dry frisée very well so the warm vinaigrette coats the leaves instead of sliding off.
- •If poaching feels stressful, crack each egg into a small cup first so you can slide it neatly into the water.
- •For an even more classic bistro touch, add a small handful of toasted croutons, though this will no longer be low-carb.
- •Use a wide pan for the lardons so they brown rather than steam.
Background
Salade Lyonnaise is a classic bistro salad from Lyon, a city celebrated as one of France's great culinary capitals. It traditionally combines bitter frisée, smoky pork, a sharp vinaigrette, and a soft poached egg, creating the kind of hearty yet elegant salad associated with Lyonnaise bouchons.
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