Salade aixoise

This fresh-tasting salad from the old city of Aix-en-Provence makes the most of the pure, fragrant olive oil of the countryside. Often served in Aix and the surrounding area, it is a delicious alternative to the better-known salade niçoise as a first course, and is sometimes served as a vegetable accompaniment for poached or grilled fish or cold roast meats.

For colour and flavour contrast I sometimes add tiny sprigs of watercress or mâche (known as corn salad or lamb’