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    Home » Salads

    Shirazi Salad

    Published: Aug 12, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Shirazi salad is a refreshing Iranian dish made with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and onion and seasoned with dried mint.

    Salad-e Shirazi is an easy recipe with a few simple ingredients and a uniquely minty flavor. You can serve it as a tasty appetizer or side dish.

    Shirazi salad
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make Ahead
    • Storage
    • Questions
    • Similar Recipes
    • More Salad Recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our Best Salad Recipes

    Shirazi salad (also known as Salad-e Shirazi) takes its name from the people of Shiraz, a city in Southwestern Iran, where this recipe is akin to a national dish.

    They serve it throughout the year, mainly as an appetizer or as a side dish.

    The main ingredients in this salad are cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. However, while this dish looks similar to an Israeli salad, Taboule, or a simple cucumber tomato salad, its taste is unique thanks to the use of dried mint as the main seasoning herb.

    The original Shirazi salad recipe calls for Verjuice in the dressing. Verjuice (ab-ghooreh in Persian) is a sour grape juice from crab apples, unripe grapes, or other fruit.

    However, since Verjuice is not common in western supermarkets, you can replace it with lime juice or lemon juice.

    Our favorite way to enjoy this dish is as an appetizer (easily turned into a main meal) with other delicious Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean recipes such as our creamy-dreamy hummus, eggplant dip, and Moroccan carrot salad. Check out our "serving suggestions" chapter for more inspiration.

    Shirazi salad in a serving bowl

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for Shirazi salad

    Cucumbers

    Traditionally, small Persian cucumbers are used for Shirazi salad. Persian cucumbers are smaller than American or English cucumbers; they have a thinner peel and fewer or no seeds.

    If you can't find Persian cucumbers, you can replace them with American garden cucumbers or a large English cucumber.

    However, if your cucumbers have a lot of seeds, you might want to discard some.

    Tomatoes

    Ripe, juicy, and meaty tomatoes are best for this recipe. We like to use beefsteak tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes.

    If you can't find these, you can use Roma tomatoes, or other tomato varieties, as long as they are ripe but not overripe and soft. Please ensure you use tomatoes at room temperature, as they taste much better when not cooled.

    Onion

    White onion is best for this recipe; however, if that's too harsh for you, substitute a shallot or scallions for the onion. You could also use red onions if you prefer those to white onions.

    Dried Mint

    Dried mint is the key ingredient in traditional Shirazi salad, and I would not replace it with anything else.

    We tried using fresh mint; however, the salad's flavor differs substantially from fresh mint, so we can't recommend it.

    Lime or Lemon juice

    We use lime juice or lemon juice instead of Verjuice (ab-ghooreh in Persian), a sour grape juice obtained from crab apples, unripe grapes, or other fruit that is difficult to find in western supermarkets.

    Olive oil

    Extra virgin olive oil is not always used in the original recipe; however, we like to add some to balance the citrus's acidity and the freshness of the cucumber and tomatoes.

    Extra-virgin olive oil is best because it has a better, fruitier, and richer flavor. It's also healthier than regular olive oil as it contains more antioxidants.

    Salt and Pepper

    Use sea salt or kosher salt for the best flavor and freshly ground black pepper.

    Popular add-ins

    We've seen people add fresh herbs such as fresh parsley, dill, cilantro, olives, and green bell peppers. While these ingredients are not present in the original Shirazi salad recipe, they are a good flavor match, so feel free to add them in if you like.

    Shirazi salad with dried mint

    Instructions

    Finely chop the cucumbers into about ⅕-Inch or 0.5 cm dice and add them to a large bowl.

    Tip: if you use small Persian cucumbers, you can chop them up. If you use big English cucumbers or garden cucumbers, we recommend peeling off some skin and removing some of their seeds.

    dicing the cucumber

    Finely chop the tomatoes into about ⅕-Inch or 0.5 cm dice and add them to the same mixing bowl.

    Tip: if your tomatoes are very watery, drain some of their water before adding them to the bowl. Also, make sure your tomatoes are at room temperature. They taste much better.

    dicing the tomatoes

    Finely chop the white onion and add it to the same bowl.

    finely chopped white onion

    Season the vegetables with olive oil, lime or lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dried mint.

    Tip: there's quite a bit of dried mint in Shirazi salad. Start adding one tablespoon, mix, then add more if you like. We like it with one and a half tablespoons of dried mint.

    Mix the salad well until the mint is distributed evenly, then taste, and adjust for salt before serving.

    Tip: you can make the salad an hour before serving it for the flavors to meld. Remember that tomatoes should be eaten at room temperature for the best taste, so if you keep the salad in the fridge, take it out at least 15 minutes before serving it.

    dried mint and olive oil mixed in the salad

    Serving Suggestions

    Shirazi salad is the perfect appetizer and the perfect side dish salad.

    We love serving it with other Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean dishes and eat it as a tasty, nutritious, fulfilling brunch, lunch, or dinner. For example, it goes well with any of these dishes and plenty of warm pita bread.

    • Creamy-dreamy chickpea hummus
    • Incredible avocado spread with a Mediterranean twist
    • Smokey eggplant dip - also known as baba ganoush
    • Moroccan Zaalouk - an eggplant salad with cumin and tomato
    • Italian sauteed eggplant - a tasty and easy stovetop eggplant recipe
    • Classic crunchy bruschetta with tomatoes
    • Homemade crostini with tangy and tasty olive tapenade
    • Vegan frittata with zucchini, asparagus, artichokes, or many other veggies.
    • Falafel, Middle-Eastern or Mediterranean Salads, such as tabbouleh and couscous.
    • Hummus
    • Avocado Spread
    • Eggplant Dip - Baba Ganoush
    • Zaalouk
    • Sauteed Eggplant
    • Tomato Bruschetta
    • Olive Tapenade
    • Vegan frittata - no eggs, no tofu

    Make Ahead

    It's best to make this salad about 1 hour ahead of time so that the flavors have time to meld, and it'll taste delicious.

    You can also make it up to a day ahead of time and store it in the fridge. However, if you do so, the tomatoes and cucumbers might lose some water, making the salad watery.

    If this happens, drain some of the liquid from the salad, then add fresh olive oil, and lime juice before serving it.

    Also, keep the salad for 15 minutes at room temperature before serving it because the tomato tastes best when it is not cooled.

    Storage

    Store Shirazi salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. We do not recommend freezing this salad.

    Questions

    Do you need to peel Persian cucumbers?

    No, you don't need to peel Persian cucumbers because their skin is very thin and completely edible.

    What does Shirazi mean?

    Shirazi is the name of the people of Shiraz, a city in southwestern Iran.

    Can you substitute regular cucumbers for Persian cucumbers?

    Yes, you can substitute regular cucumbers, such as American garden cucumbers or English cucumbers, for Persian cucumbers.

    However, regular cucumbers might have a thicker peel and more seeds than Persian cucumbers, and you might need to peel them or seed them.

    Is Shirazi salad gluten-free?

    Yes, Shirazi salad is gluten-free and suitable for vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and low-carb diets.

    Similar Recipes

    If you are looking for more tasty and refreshing salads with tomatoes and cucumbers, check out our:

    • Mixed tomato salad with fresh basil
    • Tomato cucumber and onion salad
    • Tasty greek salad
    • Creamy avocado salad
    • Easy and fulfilling chickpea salad
    • Italian bread salad - Panzanella
    • Easy tofu salad with creamy tahini dressing
    • Italian salad
    • Tomato Salad
    • Cucumber Tomato Salad
    • Greek Salad
    • Avocado Salad
    • Chickpea Salad
    • Panzanella
    • Tofu Salad
    • Italian Salad

    More Salad Recipes

    You probably realized we love big tasty salads, right? Here are some more delicious ones:

    • Tasty green bean salad with a creamy mustard dressing
    • Sweet potato salad with plenty of fresh veggies
    • Farro salad with crunchy, fresh seasonal vegetables
    • Rice salad
    • Green Bean Salad
    • Sweet Potato Salad
    • Farro Salad
    • Rice Salad

    Recipe

    Shirazi salad

    Shirazi Salad

    Author: Nico
    Shirazi salad is a refreshing Iranian dish made with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and onion and seasoned with dried mint.
    Salad-e Shirazi is an easy recipe with a few simple ingredients and a uniquely minty flavor. You can serve it as a tasty appetizer or side dish.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer, Side dish
    Cuisine Iranian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 109 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3½ cups cucumber diced* (1 pound)
    • 2½ cups tomatoes diced (1 pound)
    • 1 white onion diced
    • 1 to 2 tablespoons dried mint
    • 4 tablespoons lime juice or lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Finely chop the cucumbers into about ⅕-Inch or 0.5 cm dice and add them to a large bowl.
      dicing the cucumber
    • Finely chop the tomatoes into about ⅕-Inch or 0.5 cm dice and add them to the same mixing bowl.
      dicing the tomatoes
    • Finely chop the white onion and add it to the same bowl.
      finely chopped white onion
    • Season the vegetables with olive oil, lime or lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dried mint.
      chopped vegetables and dried mint
    • Mix the salad well then taste, and adjust for salt before serving.
      dried mint and olive oil mixed in the salad

    Notes

    Check out the "Serving suggestions" chapter above to learn how to eat Shirazi salad.
    *Traditionally, small Persian cucumbers are used for Shirazi salad. Persian cucumbers are smaller than American or English cucumbers; they have a thinner peel and fewer or no seeds.
    If you can't find Persian cucumbers, you can replace them with American garden cucumbers or a large English cucumber.
    However, if your cucumbers have a lot of seeds, you might want to discard some.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Shirazi Salad
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 109 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 476mg14%
    Carbohydrates 10g3%
    Dietary Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 1069IU21%
    Vitamin B6 0.2mg10%
    Vitamin C 25mg30%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 22µg21%
    Calcium 41mg4%
    Folate 40µg10%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 0.3mg15%
    Magnesium 32mg8%
    Zinc 0.4mg3%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂
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