Description
Iranian Shirazi salad blends crisp cucumber, ripe tomatoes, and tangy onions with zesty herbs. Fresh ingredients create a refreshing Mediterranean-style side dish you’ll savor alongside grilled meats or as a light, cool accompaniment.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tomatoes, ripe, finely diced
- 2 Persian cucumbers (or 1 large English cucumber), finely diced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced (or white onion for a milder flavor)
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) fresh lemon juice (or lime juice for a sharper flavor)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil (optional, traditional recipes often omit this)
- 2 tablespoons (8 g) fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (4 g) fresh mint, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried mint)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep Produce: Dice cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion into uniform, small cubes to create a consistent texture and visually appealing base for the salad.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, dried mint, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl to craft a zesty, aromatic dressing that will elevate the vegetable ensemble.
- Flavor Fusion: Gently fold the prepared dressing into the chopped vegetables, ensuring each morsel is evenly coated without compromising the delicate structure of the ingredients.
- Marination Moment: Refrigerate the salad for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, transforming the simple ingredients into a harmonious culinary experience.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro leaves just before serving, adding a burst of color and an extra layer of herbal brightness to the Shirazi salad.
Notes
- Precision in Chopping: Uniform dicing is crucial for texture consistency; use a sharp knife and cutting board to create small, even cubes of cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion.
- Marination Magic: Refrigerating the salad for 10-15 minutes allows flavors to meld and intensify, transforming the dish from good to extraordinary.
- Herb Flexibility: Swap between parsley and cilantro based on personal preference or availability; both add a fresh, vibrant touch to the salad.
- Dietary Adaptations: This salad is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb, making it an excellent option for various dietary requirements without compromising on taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Persian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg