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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Shirazi Salad

    Published: Nov 5, 2022 by Ayeh Manfre 22 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Shirazi Salad is a Persian salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion. It's crisp, refreshing and goes well with any meal!

    If I had to pick my favourite salad, it has to be this Persian Shirazi Salad, also known as Salad-e Shirazi in Farsi.

    You only need 3 ingredients for the base and it tastes so good with literally everything!  It’s sour, fresh and very popular to serve as a side dish.

    Three popular Persian dishes this salad pairs well with my Persian Patties, Persian Spaghetti and Persian Rice with Tahdig.

    The simplicity is the best part of a Shirazi salad. You’ll only need cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions.

    Take some time and dice everything into tiny cubes, which is a little therapeutic in my eyes. Then toss in the dressing and it’s ready to go.

    I’ve been eating Shirazi Salad since childhood, so I might be a little biased here as it’s in my veins, hehe.  But in all honesty, I think it will be your new go-to as it pairs well with any meal!

    This salad also inspired my popular Quinoa Salad and Chickpea Avocado Salad which are a must-try.

    Jump to:
    • What is a Shirazi Salad
    • Ingredients to make Shirazi Salad
    • How to make Shirazi Salad
    • Tips Persian Salad Recipe
    • More Chopped Salads
    • More Persian Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What is a Shirazi Salad

    Shirazi salad or in Farsi (Persian language) called Salad-e Shirazi, originated and adopted its name from a city called Shiraz located in Iran.

    The main ingredients are tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions diced into tiny cubes topped with herbs. The dressing is made with olive oil, Ab Ghooreh (an unripe sour grape juice), and salt.

    This is the most popular salad in Iran and makes the perfect side dish to complement any meal.

    Ingredients to make Shirazi Salad

    • Cucumbers, it's important to use Persian cucumbers (or Lebanese) as they are crisper, full of flavor and are less watery.
      If you cant access these, you can use regular or English cucumbers. I would suggest to remove the seeds as they are usually quite large and can be watery.
    • Tomatoes, make sure they are medium firmness, as too hard will have no flavor and too soft will be mushy when diced. Roma or regular tomatoes will do fine
    • Red onion is a perfect addition for its sweetness and taste. In this recipe I use less onion than normal, so adjust the quantity based on your preference. Spring onions can also be used as a substitute.
    • Lemon - traditionally Ab Ghooreh (unripe sour grape juice) is used for the dressing. It is sometimes harder to find, so I’ve used lemon juice here. Lime juice can also work
    • Fresh mint is my herb of choice. Traditionally dried mint is used, however I prefer using fresh herbs. If you're not a fan of mint, I would suggest using fresh Parsley over cilantro or dill

    How to make Shirazi Salad

    Time needed: 10 minutes.

    There are many versions of the Shirazi salad with small differences, as this salad is also very popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. This recipe uses cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion as the core ingredients.

    1. Prepare ingredients

      Dice cucumbers into small cubes. Next chop tomatoes into similar-sized cubes

      Then dice the onion into small pieces

    2. Add Dressing

      Add all ingredients to a large bowl and pour over olive oil and lemon juice then season with salt

      Top with fresh mint, mix together and allow it to sit for 10-15 mintues before serving

      Serve alongside so many dishes such as rice, stews, seafood and meats. I also like adding some chickpeas or even cooked lentils to make it a vegan main meal.

    Tips Persian Salad Recipe

    1. It's best to dress the salad 15 minutes before serving. This allows the salad to absorb the beautiful sour flavours and still say crunchy and fresh
    2. To avoid the salad becoming watery, you can de-seed the tomatoes. You can always add the seeds to a soup or another dish
    3. I have only used ½ a red onion as I personally don’t like a very strong onion flavour, however you can increase the amount
    4. If you’re like me and don’t like the harsh onion flavour, once diced, soak in a small bowl of water for 10 minutes.  This leaves a subtle onion taste, which still packs a punch

    More Chopped Salads

    • Asian Chopped Salad
    • Quinoa Salad
    • Chickpea Avocado Salad
    • Cowboy Caviar

    More Persian Recipes

    • Persian Patties (Kotlet)
    • Sabzi Polo (Persian Herb Rice)
    • Persian Eggplant Dip
    • Persian Rice with Crispy Tahdig
    • Makaroni (Persian Spaghetti)

    I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Shirazi Salad photo on Instagram so I can share the love!

    Recipe

    Shirazi salad in a bowl
    4.89 from 17 votes

    Shirazi Salad

    Shirazi Salad is a Persian salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion. It's crisp, refreshing and goes well with any meal
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time0 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Persian
    Keyword: fresh, healthy, quick
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 124kcal
    Author: Ayeh
    Pin Print Rate

    Ingredients

    • 3 Persian or Lebanese cucumbers
    • 2 tomatoes
    • ½ red onion

    Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 medium lemon squeezed (approx 4-5 tbsp) or traditionally Ab Ghooreh (unripe sour grape juice)
    • Handful fresh mint
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    • Dice cucumbers, tomatoes into small cubes, approximately the same size
    • Dice onion into small cubes. I prefer to dice them into smaller sized cubes and soak in water for 10 minutes so the taste isn’t as strong
    • Add all ingredients to a bowl and pour over the olive oil and lemon juice then season with salt
      Top with fresh mint, mix together and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 563IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Salads

    • Chopped Asian Salad
    • Kani Salad
    • Quinoa Salad
    • Healthy Italian Pasta Salad

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Julie

      March 04, 2022 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe looked and sounded so easy and I was not disappointed! It’s deliciously fresh and I’ll definitely be making it again and again.

      Thank you Ayeh!

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        March 06, 2022 at 9:21 am

        Its so easy right! So happy you loved it Julie 🙂

        Reply
    2. Agnes

      March 15, 2022 at 11:57 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious colorful salad. You eat with your eyes first and this salad looks and taste delicious. I made it couple times already and it is a keeper in our house. Thank you

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        March 17, 2022 at 10:23 am

        This is so lovely to hear Agnes! I totally agree 🙂

        Reply
    3. Luz Adriana

      April 05, 2022 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      This is an amazing recipe and way to complete your meal! It's healthy and easy to prepare; on the other hand, I read once that your plate should have different colors in order to get all the nutrients... this recipe is perfect for that. Regards from Mexico City!

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        April 05, 2022 at 11:12 am

        So true Luz!! I love adding it to every dish, so glad you love it as much as I do 🙂

        Reply
    4. Monica G

      April 07, 2022 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      This is such a simple and delicious salad! My kids (2, 6) absolutely love it! All their favorites in one. Apart from the tiny dicing, it’s easy to put together. And the dicing really isn’t that big of a deal breaker for me. The size of the veg really makes a difference in the one bite ratio, so it’s worth it. Also drinking the dressing at the end is . This will be a go-to in our house for sure.

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        April 10, 2022 at 9:51 pm

        This is so lovely to hear Monica!! I love that your kids loved it too 🙂 The tiny dicing does make the biggest difference doesnt it xxx

        Reply
    5. Rania Mk

      April 25, 2022 at 2:32 am

      5 stars
      Easiest and most delecious salad, you would make it at last minute and everybody will just fall in love, Thanks for Sharing Ayeh

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        May 25, 2022 at 4:41 pm

        So true dear! Its such a crowd pleaser 🙂

        Reply
    6. Rich S.

      June 09, 2022 at 8:23 am

      What do you think of adding chickpeas and perhaps some peppers to the salad as a variation? I don't want to overcomplicate the salad, but as more of a main course for someone who can't eat meat, would it be good in your opinion?

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        June 11, 2022 at 8:33 pm

        Yes of course! I love adding chickpeas and quinoa to this too 🙂 Check out my Quinoa salad and my Chickpea Avocado salad here on my website 🙂

        Reply
    7. Tara

      August 12, 2022 at 8:22 am

      5 stars
      Saw this recipe pop up on Instagram and immediately had to give it a crack! So easy, most importantly delicious!
      Super refreshing and my new “chameleon” go to salad- blends in with everything!!
      Yummmmm

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        August 12, 2022 at 9:39 pm

        So happy you loved it Tara!!! Your shirazi looked amazing!

        Reply
    8. Angelia

      January 03, 2023 at 7:54 am

      5 stars
      You popped up on FB yesterday and I clicked on your link. I made this salad today and it is so easy and fresh. I Love It!
      Definitely going to make it again
      I subscribed and are happy to follow

      Thanks for the great recipes Ayeh!

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        January 03, 2023 at 8:34 pm

        So happy you loved this one Angelia 🙂

        Reply
    9. Sarah

      January 06, 2023 at 4:20 pm

      Yes!! Salade Shirazi is the best. It’s good with any meal. It can also be a great appetizer. Nooshe jan 🙂

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        January 06, 2023 at 8:12 pm

        The absolute best!!!

        Reply
    10. Colleen

      January 24, 2023 at 5:04 am

      This is sooo delicious. So light and refreshing. thank you!

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        January 26, 2023 at 8:45 am

        Wonderful to hear, so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    11. Anna

      January 28, 2023 at 4:38 am

      Made this yesterday and its delicious so fresh and light. Only problem is that cucumber keeps repeating on me which spoils the enjoyment. I've tried different varieties, peeling them, cutting all the seeds out - but it keeps happening. So unfortunately for me this has to be an occasional treat rather than a fridge staple.

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        January 31, 2023 at 10:40 pm

        So glad you liked it Anna, sorry to hear this about the repeating. Are you sure its not the onion? As it does it to me too, this is why I soak the onion in water to also stop this xxx

        Reply

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