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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

    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

    • The Best Caprese Pasta Salad [Video]
    • Fattoush Salad Recipe
    • Easy Mediterranean Potato 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. 
    4.82 from 58 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes 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. Sylvie

      April 12, 2023 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      My way to get the closest substitute for ab-e limoo is by mixing fresh lemon juice with some bottled lime juice (Real lime). This flavour/smell brings me right back to Shiraz where I lived for 3 years.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        April 12, 2023 at 9:55 am

        Yes! What a great combo! Shiraz is such a beautiful place <3

        Reply
    2. Ann

      January 31, 2023 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      I managed to get some good tomatoes at the grocery store even though it's winter so I made this salad and it was SO good! Perfect side dish.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        February 02, 2023 at 12:52 am

        Happy to know you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    3. Taryn

      January 31, 2023 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      We love this salad. It is so refreshing.

      Reply
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