Delicious, quick to make, and fresh Salad Shirazi that you absolutely want to try! This simple Persian recipe uses just a few ingredients and is the perfect appetizer or side dish!
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what is Salad Shirazi?
Salad Shirazi is a simple Persian salad recipe comprising tomatoes, onion, and cucumbers dressed in lime juice and olive oil dressing. It is so popular in Iran that it is considered the national salad of the country. It has its origin in Shiraz, in the South of Iran (hence the name).
It is also very similar to the Israeli salad (also known as salat yerakot yisra'eli). This also comprises finely chopped tomatoes, onion, and cucumber and was adopted by Jewish immigrants to the Levant in the 19th century. Most versions of the Israeli salad include chili and bell peppers. It is normally dressed with lemon juice, yogurt, or Za'atar. The Israeli and Shirazi salads are basically a variation of each other and only differ with the addition of a few extra vegetables such as bell and chili peppers.
Other related salads include the Indian Kachumber, Turkish Çoban Salatası, East African Kachumbari, and Pico de Gallo!
ingredients
This salad, which is also known as salat e shiraz or simply Shirazi salad, uses just a few healthy ingredients and is absolutely easy to prepare.
Here are the ingredients you will need:
- Tomatoes - choose firm and fleshy Roma tomatoes.
- Onion - a small red onion, finely chopped.
- Cucumber - Shirazi salad is traditionally made using Persian cucumbers, which you can find in Middle-Eastern shops. But don't worry if you cannot get your hands on some, as you can simply substitute these for one unpeeled English cucumber.
- Chopped fresh mint leaves and parsley - you can also use dried mint leaves. In this case, rub the dried leaves between the palms of your hands to release the flavors. Also, there are many versions of the salad Shirazi recipe that do not use parsley so feel free to omit this.
Additionally, you will need the following ingredients to make the salad dressing:
- Extra virgin olive oil - acts as a great base for the dressing and helps with the absorption of nutrients from the vegetables.
- Lime juice - Normally, unripe grape juice (also known as verjuice or ab-ghooreh) is used for acidity but seeing that this may not always be readily available in stores, feel free to use lime or even lemon juice.
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste.
how to make Shirazi salad
This is a summary of how how to make salad Shirazi, see the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
- Rinse and chop the vegetables into small cubes (see quick tip below).
- Combine the chopped fresh vegetables, parsley, and mint in a medium-sized bowl.
- To make the salad dressing, combine lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Combine the chopped vegetables with dressing then adjust the salt to taste.
- Chill the salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
💡If the tomatoes are very seedy, remove the seeds before slicing to avoid a watery salad.
Shirazi salad vs Tabbouleh
Shirazi and Tabbouleh, while similar in some ways, have a few differences as follows:-
- ingredients - typically include cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and sometimes peppers as key ingredients, and is seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs like mint and parsley. Tabbouleh is predominantly a parsley salad made from finely chopped parsley, along with tomatoes, mint, onion, and soaked bulgur wheat. It's also dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
- origins - named after Shiraz, a city in Iran, this salad Shirazi is a staple in Persian cuisine. Tabbouleh on the other hand, originates from the Levantine region, primarily Lebanon and Syria.
- texture and flavor: salad Shirazi has a more crisp flavor due to the predominant use of chopped vegetables. Tabbouleh, on the other hand has a more herbaceous flavor due to the abundance of parsley. It also has a slightly chewy texture, because of the presence of bulgur wheat.
Craving more tasty salad recipes from around the world? Then try our Nüsslisalat (Swiss green salad), Jamaican coleslaw, and German egg salad, next!
what to eat with Shirazi salad
Salad Shirazi is so versatile and can be paired up with so many dishes! I cannot even count the number of dishes I like to enjoy my salad with! Some common pairings for you to try include:-
- Persian Jujeh Kabob
- Beef Kabobs
- Persian Crispy Rice (Tahdig)
- Baghali Polo (dill and fava bean rice).
- South African yellow rice or your favorite rice dishes.
- Stews: Persian stews, such as Ghormeh Sabzi (herb stew) or Fesenjan (pomegranate walnut stew).
- Grilled Fish.
- Flatbreads: Flatbreads like chapati, naan or pita are excellent for scooping up the salad.
- Feta Cheese.
- Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes such as falafel or dolmas (stuffed grape leaves).
- As a low-carb alternative, serve it with konjac or cauliflower rice.
useful tips
- when prepping the vegetables, deseed the tomatoes to prevent the salad from ending up soggy.
- remove the tang from the onion by soaking it warm, salty water.
- use more or less herbs to suit your specific taste or preference.
refrigeration and freezing
This salad tastes best when served fresh.
You can however, still make this salad ahead of time and chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours, just add the dressing before serving.
If you decide to keep it in the fridge longer, then store it in suitable airtight containers for a maximum of 1-2 days (without the dressing).
I do not recommend keeping it longer, as it will lose its crispiness or turn soggy. Similarly, I do not recommend freezing it.
recipe variations
Don't just stop here though. Feel free to play around with the ingredients in your pantry. Some of my favorite variations include:
- Dried small rose petals - will give the tomato and cucumber salad an amazing color and aroma. Simply rub a few between the palms of your hands and use these as a garnish.
- Sumac - stir in a teaspoon of sumac to add a spicy note.
- Pomegranate - half a cup of pomegranate seeds added to the salad will add a tangy and fruity flavor.
📖 Recipe
Salad Shirazi Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ripe and firm Roma tomatoes
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3 small Persian cucumbers (or 1 English cucumber - unpeeled)
- ½ cup mint and parsley leaves
SALAD DRESSING
- 1 small lime
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt (add more, if preferred)
- ⅓ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
SALAD
- Wash the tomatoes, cucumber, mint and parsley leaves.
- Peel the onion, dice it finely then set aside. Finely slice the mint and parsley leaves.
- Next, cut the cucumber lengthwise then cut each half into approximately 1 cm thickness, running lengthwise. Cut again into thin long strips then dice into small cubes.
- Similarly, finely dice the tomatoes (remove seeds if too seedy, to prevent the salad from going watery).
- Combine the diced vegetables (tomatoes, onion, cucumber, parsley and mint leaves) in a medium-sized bowl.
SALAD DRESSING
- Cut the lime and squeeze out the juice to a small bowl.
- Combine lime juice, olive oil, salt and black pepper then whisk.
- Pour the salad dressing to the bowl with the chopped vegetables. You can check for salt at this point and add more if you need to.
- For best results, allow your Shirazi salad to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, before serving. Serve as an appetizer or side dish. It pairs up absolutely well with meat-based dishes, such as kebabs.
Notes
- Shirazi salad is traditionally made using Persian cucumbers, which you can find in Middle-Eastern shops. But don't worry if you cannot get your hands on some, as you can simply substitute them with English cucumbers.
- This recipe is traditionally made using dried mint leaves but you can also use chopped fresh mint leaves and other herbs, such as parsley.
- You can make this salad ahead of time and chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours. For best results, add the dressing 15-30 minutes before serving. If you decide to keep it in the fridge longer, then store it in suitable airtight containers for a maximum of 1-2 days. I do not recommend keeping it longer, as it will lose its crispiness or turn soggy.
- Deseed the tomatoes to prevent the salad from ending up soggy.
Farrukh Aziz
Looks gorgeous! The salad was a perfect one, and the dressing was excellent! Adding it to my salads list!
Kate Hahnel
Happy you enjoyed it, don't forget to share with your friends!!
silvia
What a delightful recipe, so simple to make and full of flavor. Ideal for summer gatherings. We paired it with fish and it was perfect.
Kate Hahnel
I am happy you enjoyed it.
Loreto and Nicoletta
in Italy we have a similar recipe. To me tomatoes, cucumbers and onions are always a win win for a lively summer salad. I live the use of mint, and parsley. Lovely fresh flavors and I learned a little about Iran Today!😁❤️👍
Kate Hahnel
I am glad you found the post useful.
Katie Crenshaw
This is one of my favorite salads to eat in the summer. Everything is fresh and healthy. I make a huge bowl and eat on it all week.
Marisa F. Stewart
We love this salad combination, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion. But what you did with the dressing and herbs but the salad over the top. I make this the other night and it was such a welcome change from our regular tossed salad. I'll be making this again this week. It's a great salad to keep on hand and the mint just adds a touch of freshness to it.
Kate Hahnel
That is so true. Very quick to make as well!
Heidy
This Fresh Salad Shirazi was perfect tasting, and I can not stress enough how much our guests enjoyed this wonderful recipe. I loved the easy instructions and tips! I am looking forward to trying a few other recipes I noticed today! Have a wonderful day!
Kate Hahnel
Thank you, have a wonderful day as well!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
This is just the perfect salad for summer. Love that we can serve it with any main dish. I made a batch for lunch this afternoon and my boys loved it!
Natalie
Such a lovely summer salad. I love lime in the dressing. I bet it makes the salad so much more refreshing. I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks!
GUNJAN C Dudani
This salad is refreshing and delicious that I have been making this on rotation. Its easy and so good. Thanks for sharing.
Kathryn
This salad is so refreshing, simple and delicious! Loved all of the ingredients used and how it's so easy to make. Going to make this again soon, thanks!!:)
Kate Hahnel
If you get to try it let me know how you found it.
Allyssa
Thank you so much for this shirazi salad recipe! It turned out really amazing and I loved it!
Kate Hahnel
Happy you enjoyed it.
veenaazmanov
Healthy and a perfect salad made with all the refreshing veggies. This is so colorful and the dressing sounds yum and Tangy.
Kate Hahnel
Oh yes, that's so true. We love this salad, especially during the hot summer months.
Bernice
Great looking salad! I've made something similar before, but not with this kind of vinaigrette. I'm going to try it with the lime next time!