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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💭A Brief History of the Dish
Salad Shirazi a simple Persian salad recipe comprising of tomatoes, onion, and cucumbers dressed in a 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). Whenever I share my recipe posts on social media, I am always amazed by how similar some dishes are, although they belong to different countries and sometimes even continents miles apart! Just to put it into perspective, I can tell you that it is very similar to the East African Kachumbari or 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. It is exactly for this reason, that I love making it for busy weeknight dinners, or to serve it as a refreshing side dish, during summer. I also love how tasty the dressing is, you just can't beat this!
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 - you will need the juice of one small lime. Normally, unripe grape juice (also known as verjuice or ab-ghooreh) is used for the 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.
🔪Step by Step Instructions
- Wash the tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, and mint leaves.
- Peel the onion, dice it finely then set it aside. Finely slice the mint leaves.
- Next, cut the cucumber lengthwise then cut each half into approximately 1 cm (or about half an inch) thick, 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 chopped fresh vegetables (tomatoes, onion, cucumber, and mint leaves) in a medium-sized bowl.
- For best results, allow your Shirazi salad to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, before serving.
- To make the salad dressing, cut the lime and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Add olive oil, lime juice, salt, and black pepper then whisk.
- Stir in the salad dressing into the chopped vegetables then combine. Check for salt at this point and add more if you need to.
- Allow your salad Shirazi to chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
💭Serving suggestions
Salad e Shirazi pairs up well with many dishes, especially meat-based dishes such as kebabs. For a true Persian experience, pair it up with some crispy rice (Tahdig) or some Jujeh kebabs. It also tastes amazing when stuffed into pita bread. As a low-carb alternative, serve with konjac or cauliflower rice.
📖Recipe Variations
Don't just stop here though. Feel free to play around with the ingredients in your pantry. Some 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.
💬Frequently Asked Questions
Tabouleh which has its origins in Lebanon and Syria is a salad made from tomatoes, onion, mint, and bulgur, or semolina and is normally served as part of a meze. Salad Shirazi on the other hand has its origins in Israel and is made from tomatoes, onions, cucumber, and parsley or cilantro, but without any form of grains.
You can make this salad ahead of time and chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours. If you decide to keep it in the fridge longer, then store it in suitable airtight containers for a maximum of 2-3 days. I do not recommend keeping it longer, as it will lose its crispiness or turn soggy.
Similar to the Shirazi salad, the Israeli salad which is also known as salat yerakot yisra'eli, also comprises of finely chopped tomatoes, onion, and cucumber and was adopted by Jewish immigrants to the Levant in the 19th century. Most versions include chili and bell peppers. It is normally dressed with lemon juice, yogurt, or Za'atar. In summary, both of them 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 from the region include the Indian Kachumber and the Turkish Çoban Salatası.
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📖 Recipe
Salad Shirazi Recipe
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.
- Dried small rose petals - these will add amazing color and aroma.
- Sumac - stir in a teaspoon of sumac to add a spicy note.
- Pomegranate - add half a cup of pomegranate seeds for a tangy and fruity flavor.
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!