By Barbara Beltrami

Wasn’t it fun coloring Easter eggs? And aren’t they pretty? But then what do you do when  you’re stuck with all those eggs? Egg salad, of course! Try a curried egg salad on croissants or an egg salad tartine with fresh herbs, and if you still have left over Easter eggs, think about a nice big salad Nicoise or an iceberg wedge with gribiche. They all will take those hard-boiled eggs to new places on your palate.

Curried Egg Salad on Croissants

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

Salt and white pepper to taste

2 tablespoons mayonnaise (or more to taste)

1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives

1/4 cup finely minced celery

1/2 roasted red pepper, finely minced

Dash cayenne pepper

4 croissants, halved

DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl combine the eggs, curry powder, salt and pepper, mayonnaise, chives; celery, red pepper and cayenne. Spread on 4 croissant bottoms, then top with croissant tops; cut each croissant in two. Serve with mango chutney.

Egg Salad Tartines with Fresh Herb Topping

YIELD: Makes 6 tartines

INGREDIENTS:

8 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped

1/3 cup mayonnaise

teaspoon prepared Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

6 slices 12-grain bread, toasted

2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced

1/4 cup torn basil leaves

1/4 cup snipped chives

1/4 cup chopped chervil

1/4 cup chopped dill

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon orange juice

DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl combine the eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper. Spread mixture on toasted bread. In a small bowl gently toss together the scallions, basil, chives, chervil, dill, olive oil, orange juice, and salt and pepper; then sprinkle over egg salad. Serve warm or at room temperature with bread and butter pickles and crudités.

Salade Nicoise

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons minced shallot

1 1/2 tablespoons prepared Dijon mustard

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 head Boston lettuce, washed drained and leaves separated

1 pound creamer potatoes, scrubbed, boiled and halved

1/2 pound haricots verts, trimmed and steamed till al dente

8 radishes, thinly sliced 8 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered

10 ounces Italian olive oil -packed ventresca tuna

1/2 cup Kalamata or Nicoise olives

DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl whisk together the vinegar, shallot, mustard, oil and salt and pepper. Line a large salad bowl with the lettuce, then the potatoes and drizzle 1/3 of the oil and vinegar mixture over it; add the haricots verts and radishes and drizzle another 1/3 of the mixture over them, and finally arrange the tomatoes, eggs, tuna and olives on top and drizzle the remaining 1/3 of the mixture over them. Serve at room temperature with crusty bread and unsalted butter or extra virgin olive oil and a chilled dry white wine.

Iceberg Wedge with Gribiche

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

4 wedges iceberg lettuce, washed and drained

2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped

6 cornichons, chopped

1/4 cup chopped chives

1 garlic clove

1 teaspoon capers, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon prepared Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 cup chopped parsley

DIRECTIONS: Arrange lettuce wedges on plates or a platter. Place eggs, cornichons, chives, garlic, capers, mustard, lemon juice, oil and salt and pepper in jar of electric blender; puree until smooth, then pour evenly over wedges and sprinkle with parsley. Serve at room temperature with ham and scalloped potatoes.