The tuna sauce for this salad is based on the Northern Italian tonnato— a summer sauce served over chilled veal roast. You could use light tuna, but white tuna makes the sauce a more attractive color.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 4 side-dish servings

　　1 pound green beans, trimmed

　　1 (3-ounce) can white tuna packed in oil, drained and flaked

　　1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

　　2 tablespoons water

　　1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

　　1 teaspoon anchovy paste

　　2 tablespoons Niçoise or other small brine-cured black olives

　　2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

　　

Step 1

Cook beans in a large pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately transfer to a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. When beans are cold, drain and pat dry with paper towels, then arrange on a platter and season with salt.

　　

Step 2

Purée tuna with olive oil, water, lemon juice, and anchovy paste in a blender, scraping down sides as necessary, until very smooth. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over beans. Scatter olives and parsley leaves on top.