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    Home » Persian Recipes

    Salad Shirazi (Persian Cucumber Tomato Salad)

    Published: Sep 28, 2020 · Modified: Feb 4, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    4147 shares
    • 36
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Salad Shirazi is a Persian cucumber tomato salad that's easy to prepare and packed with flavors. This classic Persian salad can be served with any main dish. 

    Persian salad shirazi served on a plate with a fork on the side.

    When it comes to appetizers and side dishes, I love going down the Persian route because it's always fresh, light and flavorful. From our mouth-watering Persian appetizer platter and mast o khiar (yogurt and cucumber) to borani (mast esfenaj), everything is made with fresh and simple ingredients that you can find easily.

    Table Of Contents:
    • About this recipe
    • The origins
    • The ingredients
    • How to make salad shirazi
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Notes and tips
    • More Salad Recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    About this recipe

    Each country has its own traditional salad. Greeks have horiatiki -Traditional Greek salad and Turks have Gavurdagi (Turkish walnut salad). And us Iranians have our beloved salad shirazi, a simple combination of tomatoes, cucumbers and onions with an abundance of flavor.  

    Salad shirazi has two words: salad, which is what we call salad in Farsi and shirazi which means from Shiraz, a city in the south west of Iran. I've been to Shiraz only once but I can easily say it's one of the most beautiful cites in Iran. With all its flowers and amazing weather, Shiraz is a great place to visit in the springtime. 

    Salad Shirazi is a light and easy Persian salad that is a delicious alternative to the usual side dishes. It's refreshing, healthy and easy.

    The origins

    As far as I know, this Persian salad originated from Shiraz and through the years it has made its way to many tables around the world. It's probably the fresh flavor and crisp texture of this salad that has made it one of the staples in Persian cuisine since it compliments the flavors of the main dishes very well. Also, its simplicity and quick preparation time makes it a perfect healthy side dish on busy days.

    The ingredients

    Salad shirazi is made of 3 main ingredients and a simple dressing. Let's take a look at the components. 

    Cucumbers

    We traditionally use Persian cucumbers to make this recipe since they are seedless and very crisp. However, if that's not available, English cucumbers work as well, but make sure to scoop the seeds out. You want the cucumbers to be fresh and firm. They are usually chopped into small pieces. You don't need to peel the cucumbers. 

    Tomatoes

    Much the same as Turkish tomato salad, we are looking for fresh and firm tomatoes to make this recipe. Make sure they're not too seedy and if they are, remove the soft seedy parts. The tomatoes are also going to be chopped finely. 

    Onions

    Red onions are the best type of onion for this recipe. The amount of onion you use depends on how much you like them in your salad. I usually go for one small red onion or half of a larger one. 

    These vegetables are combined with a simple dressing traditionally made with unripe grape juice known as verjuice (ab-ghooreh), dried mint, salt and pepper. However, verjuice is of course not always available so for acidity and brightness we can simply use lemon juice.

    Pro tip: Don't skip the dried mint! Dried mint brings so much flavor to this simple salad and that's what makes it different from every other salad you've had.

    How to make salad shirazi

    1. Wash and dry the cucumbers, tomatoes and onion.
    2. Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into 3-4 pieces lengthwise. Chop the cucumber finely. Add them to a large bowl.
    3. Cut the tomatoes in half, if they're too seedy, discard the soft seedy part and slice the tomatoes into strips. Chop them finely and add them to the cucumbers. 
    4. Chop the red onion finely as well and add it to the cucumbers and tomatoes. Give everything a nice stir to combine. 
    5. Add in lemon juice, dried mint, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Taste and add more lemon juice or salt if needed. 
    Plump tomatoes and fresh cucumbers go well with red onion. This gluten free, vegetarian salad is perfect with any rice dish.

    Serving suggestions

    Salad Shirazi is usually served with Persian rice dishes and main courses such as Adas Polo (Persian Lentil Rice), or Meygoo polo (shrimp and rice) as a side dish. It also makes a great side for grilled dishes such as zaatar chicken or beef shish kabob or street food such as arayes (Lebanese stuffed pitas). 

    • Persian Chicken with Saffron
    • Joojeh Kabab (Persian Saffron Chicken Kebab)
    • Lubia Polo Persian Green Bean Rice
    • Ghormeh Sabzi - Persian Herb Stew (Video)

    The acidity and freshness of this salad pairs well with many different dishes and brings more flavor to the table.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I make this salad ahead of time?

    It's best to make and serve this salad on the same day. I usually make it a couple of hours before serving and refrigerate it so the flavors combine.

    Can I add other herbs to this salad?

    There is no right or wrong when it comes to making a salad. However, classic salad shirazi doesn't contain any herbs but dried mint. You can add fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro if desired, but it's not going to be the classic.

    Notes and tips

    • This cucumber and tomato salad salad is best served chilled. Make it a couple of hours ahead of time and refrigerate it so the vegetables absorb the flavors of the dressing. Sometimes, vegetables starts releasing their juice and that's fine.
    • To make this recipe you need to use seedless cucumbers or ones with very small seeds like Persian or English cucumbers. These cucumbers also have very delicate skin so no peeling is needed.
    • You can find dried mint at Middle Eastern, Iranian shops or online. If you don't have dried mint, ½ cup chopped fresh mint would work, too.
    • Tomatoes, cucumbers and onions are usually chopped very finely for this recipe. Chopping the veggies into very small pieces would help them absorb more flavor.
     Add some dried mint and lemon juice to this salad for maximum flavor.

    More Salad Recipes

    • Fattoush Salad Recipe
    • Easy Mediterranean Potato Salad
    • Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
    • Tabouli Salad Recipe (Tabbouleh)

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Salad Shirazi (Persian Cucumber Tomato Salad)

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Salad Shirazi is a Persian cucumber tomato salad that's easy to prepare and packed with flavors. This classic Persian salad can be served with any main dish. 
    4.81 from 56 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine Persian
    Servings 3 servings
    Calories 65 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 Persian or English Cucumbers
    • ½ Red Onion
    • 2 Tomatoes
    • 4 tablespoon Lemon Juice
    • 1 tablespoon Dried Mint
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the cucumbers, onion and tomatoes into very small pieces.
    • Mix them in a bowl and drizzle lemon juice. 
    • Add in dried mint, salt and pepper. Toss to combine the salad with the dressing. 
    • Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour and then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • You can add a couple tablespoons of olive oil to the dressing if you like. 
    • It's possible to use lime juice instead of lemon juice for this recipe. However, traditionally the recipe calls for verjuice (unripe grape juice).
    • You can refrigerate and use the leftovers for up to 2 days. 
    • This salad is best served chilled. Make it a couple of hours ahead of time and refrigerate it so the vegetables absorb the flavors of the dressing. Sometimes, vegetables starts releasing their juice and that's fine. If you like the veggies to be chunkier, add the dressing right before serving.
    • To make this Persian salad, you need to use seedless cucumbers or ones with very small seeds like Persian or English cucumbers. These cucumbers also have very delicate skin so no peeling is needed. If using regular cucumbers, peel and deseed them.
    • You can find dried mint at Middle Eastern or Iranian shops. If you don't have dried mint, ½ cup chopped fresh mint would work, too.
    • Tomatoes, cucumbers and onions are usually chopped very finely for this recipe. Chopping the veggies into very small pieces would help them absorb more flavor.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 65kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 401mgPotassium: 650mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 955IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vicki K

      September 20, 2022 at 9:15 am

      Does it matter whether one uses white verjuice or red verjuice?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        September 20, 2022 at 12:44 pm

        Traditionally it's the red verjuice, but white would work as well.

        Reply
    2. Tayler

      August 15, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this salad several times and it always turns out perfectly. Quick and easy to throw together and so flavorful!

      Reply
    3. rebecca

      August 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm

      5 stars
      This is such an easy recipe but it's so delicious! I have never bought dried mint, but it's so good in this recipe.

      Reply
    4. MJ

      August 15, 2022 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is so yummy and refreshing! It's my new favorite summer salad.

      Reply
    5. Tavo

      August 15, 2022 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      This is my kind of salad; it reminded me of Tabbouleh, another favorite in our house! It was delicious!

      Reply
    6. Anjali

      August 15, 2022 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a light and refreshing salad! Went perfectly with my lunch today!

      Reply
    7. Miska Knezevic

      July 11, 2022 at 11:50 pm

      5 stars
      I,,make this today!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply
    8. Mary Jo

      April 14, 2022 at 5:03 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious I did not have red onion so used some fresh green onions from my garden. WOW, also used lime juice as in notes. THANK YOU. I always have lots of cucumbers, onions, and mint in my garden so will be making this again.

      Reply
    9. Leticia Hernandez

      October 22, 2021 at 11:42 am

      5 stars
      Made this today and will serve with chicken skewers marinated in yogurt and bloomed saffron.

      This salad is so delicious and refreshing. Love the mint!

      Reply
    10. Heather

      July 02, 2021 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe has all of my favorite ingredients and sounds like it has AMAZING flavor! Cannot wait to try this salad during the summer.

      Reply
    11. Elizabeth

      July 02, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      This is so delicious! The perfect summer side dish--super simple and refreshing.

      Reply
    12. Lima Ekram

      July 02, 2021 at 12:46 pm

      5 stars
      Just made it - OMG so flavorful - really needed a simple side for my biriyani - paired really well!

      Reply
    13. Dannii

      July 02, 2021 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      This is one of my favourite salads. So simple, but so much flavour.

      Reply
    14. Claudia Lamascolo

      July 02, 2021 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      This salad is flavorful and so addicting cant get enough!

      Reply
    15. Pam

      February 17, 2021 at 8:17 am

      5 stars
      We love this as a side with so many meals. Bold flavor and colors!

      Reply
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    Welcome to Unicorns in the Kitchen, where we share delicious recipes from our kitchen to yours. You’re in for a delicious adventure and collection of unique and tasty recipes.

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