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SALAD SHIRAZI | PERSIAN CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD

October 20, 2014 By Homa

Salad Shirazi
This colorful refreshing salad is called Salad Shirazi, which is a Persian cucumber and tomato salad. Shirazi means from Shiraz, which is a beautiful city in southwestern Iran. It is the capital of Fars Province with friendly people, impressive historic sites and enchanting flower gardens. Among the many historic monuments in Shiraz frequented by tourists, are the memorials built for the two of the most famous Iranian poets, Hafez and Sadi whose books of poems are found in most Persian households and are translated to different languages.
ingredients
Salad Shirazi is different from your ordinary salads. It is almost always served as a side salad. It has a citrusy mild flavored dressing that complements the main course without being too filling. I usually use Persian cucumbers or English cucumbers for this salad. Both of these varieties have very little seeds and skin so delicate that no peeling is needed.
chopped ingredients
However if I have to use regular cucumbers that have tougher skin and more seeds, I would peel and deseed them before dicing.
Salad Shirazi
Salad Shirazi is served in most dinner parties and some restaurants in Iran. These days some restaurants have moved on to more elaborate salads that include more ingredients than just the few that are used in this salad, but this is an all-time favorite addition to most meals.

 

4.9 from 14 reviews
SALAD SHIRAZI | PERSIAN CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Total time
10 mins
 
Serves: 4-5 side salads
Author: Homa
Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: Persian
Ingredients
  • 3 small Persian cucumbers or 1 English cucumber, unpeeled
  • 3 ripe, firm Roma tomatoes
  • ¼ medium red onion
  • 2 TBSP thinly sliced sweet or hot green pepper (no seeds)
  • 3 TBSP roughly chopped fresh cilantro (may also use fresh parsley, dill, or mint instead)
  • DRESSING:
  • ⅓ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • ¼ tsp fine lime zest
  • 3 TBSP fresh squeezed lime juice (about one medium lime)
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
Instructions
  1. Dice the cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion into small cubes. Add to a medium bowl.
  2. Remove the seeds from the green pepper and slice very thin. Add to the bowl.
  3. Add the chopped cilantro.
  4. In a small bowl use a whisk to combine the lime juice, lime zest, salt, pepper and olive oil.
  5. Add to the salad ingredients. Toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.
Notes
You may prepare and combine the vegetables a few hours ahead and refrigerate without adding the dressing. Toss the vegetables with the dressing right before serving. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.

UPDATE: For a delicious change try substituting fresh shallots for the red onions in this recipe and see which one you like better.
3.4.3174

Filed Under: Quick & Easy, Recipe, Salads & Dressings, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: fresh herbs, salad sirazi, simple vinaigrette, vegetables

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Comments

  1. Vicki in North Carolina says

    September 25, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    This I love.

    • Homa says

      September 25, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      Thanks Vicki, glad to hear that 🙂

  2. Ferryal says

    March 4, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    Homa Jaan, Your salad came out awesome, so refreshing for the pallet & so yummy! For me though no salad in the world will ever come close to salad Shirazi.

    Thank you for sharing your love of cooking with us all.

    • Homa says

      March 4, 2016 at 5:57 pm

      Ferryal jan, Nooshe joon! I feel the same way about Salad Shirazi. Thank you for your lovely comment!

  3. Cassandra says

    April 4, 2018 at 8:20 am

    This is good and is not like the traditional shirazi salad that Persian/ Armenian restaurants serve.

    • Homa says

      April 4, 2018 at 10:58 am

      Cassandra, thanks for your comment 🙂

    • Erhat says

      August 13, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      So what’s the traditional one like?

  4. Wael says

    June 11, 2018 at 3:56 am

    So easy and so delicious. Thanks.

  5. Homa says

    June 11, 2018 at 9:51 am

    Thank you Wael; glad you liked this!

  6. Denyse says

    July 20, 2018 at 2:45 am

    Wow! I had most ingredients fresh from our garden and greenhouse today. I was searching for a new recipe and found this gem. We loved it!!!!! I can’t wait to make more of your recipes. A little taste of Persia has come to Alaska thanks to your wonderful site. Thank you for the hard work and generosity in sharing the food of your culture with the world!!!!

    • Homa says

      July 20, 2018 at 4:45 pm

      Hello Denyse; thanks for your comment and welcome! It’s lovely to hear that you grow your own produce; can’t beat the taste of homegrown veggies! It’s a pleasure to share my recipes with readers like you; please enjoy them and write me back and share your input when you try them. Keep in touch and have a wonderful weekend in beautiful Alaska 🙂

  7. Donna says

    October 6, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    This was delicious!! Very refreshing and light and full of flavors!! Thank you for a great recipe!!

    • Homa says

      October 7, 2019 at 11:41 am

      Hello Donna; so good to hear from you. I’m happy that you liked this salad! Have a great week and please keep in touch 🙂

  8. Tyana says

    December 16, 2019 at 9:54 pm

    Sooo delicious and refreshing. Mom and grandma loved! Will be making this in the future with many meals as well. Thank you and cheers! 🙂

    • Homa says

      December 19, 2019 at 12:23 pm

      Hello Tyana; thanks for your lovely comment. My regards to your mom and grandma; so glad this recipe has met their approval! Have a great weekend and keep in touch 🙂

  9. Ben Bagheri says

    February 19, 2020 at 10:41 pm

    There are no green peppers or cilantro (!) in authentic Shirazi salad. I realize there are regional and family variations of this recipe, but cilantro?! I’m sure it’s tasty but it’s not authentic Persian!

    • Homa says

      February 20, 2020 at 11:28 am

      Oh I actually love cilantro in this salad! You are more than welcome to use your own recipe without the cilantro 😉

  10. Dee says

    May 6, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    I LOVE this salad! It’s my go-to food whenever I feel nauseous during my pregnancy. I always feel better and more refreshed after eating this ?

    • Homa says

      May 7, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      Awww, thank goodness this is helping! I used to carry a bag of cut lemons and a bag of saltines in my purse 😉
      Thanks so much for writing to me. Take care of yourself, and please keep in touch. Sending lots of love your way!

  11. Tery says

    June 2, 2020 at 12:53 pm

    This salad is so good. I made it today for the 3rd time. It is so refreshing. Love everything with cilantro. We’ve been having exceptionally hot weather so it is perfect.

    • Homa says

      June 3, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      Hi Tery, you’re so right, this is the perfect time of year for this salad! I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying it. Please stay in touch and keep cool 🙂

  12. NEGAR AMELI says

    June 15, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Beautiful salad! Fresh and the lime zest takes it up a notch!

    • Homa says

      June 16, 2020 at 5:31 pm

      Glad you like the lime zest in this recipe dear Negar! Salad Shirazi is really the best ever! Take care 🙂

  13. Kevin Stout says

    June 18, 2020 at 2:36 pm

    Caesar used to be our fave salad, but hands down this salad is the most satisfying for flavour and simplicity to make, not to mention it’s part of a healthy meal. !
    Our new fave !!

    • Homa says

      June 18, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      Hi Kevin, it is wonderful to hear from you! I’m glad you like this salad. You’re so right; this is a very healthy salad and Summer is simply the perfect time to make it! Have a glorious weekend and keep in touch dear friend 🙂

  14. Allison says

    July 19, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    Delicious with so many Persian dishes. I skip the cilantro because I hate it though, haha –

    • Homa says

      July 20, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      My favorite too! Sorry about the cilantro. I’m sure you probably know that some people are hypersensitive to a certain chemical in cilantro and this herb, that I love, tastes like soap to them 🙁 No worries though, if you like parsley, just use that. Have a lovely week!

      • Allison Shertzer says

        July 20, 2020 at 7:24 pm

        When they came out with the research about genetics and cilantro, several friends emailed me the article saying, “This must be what is wrong with you!” Ina Garten feels the same way, so at least I have some good company, haha –

        • Homa says

          July 21, 2020 at 12:56 pm

          Yes you do; I love Ina! Thank goodness for all the other amazing herbs that we have. You can use just about any herb that you love in this salad 😉

  15. Said says

    July 24, 2020 at 1:27 am

    Thank you, Homa jan. I tried your awesome recipe and as a result my wife and children love me a lot more.

    • Homa says

      July 26, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      Said aziz, great to hear from you! I really appreciate that you feel it is my salad that has made your family to love you more. But I have a feeling that they have always loved you and your kind efforts to prepare meals for them 😉 Take care dear friend and please keep in touch!

  16. Julia says

    November 4, 2020 at 11:13 pm

    I sometimes add a teaspoon of pomegranate sirup! That’s how I ate it somewhere in Teheran. I loved it.

    • Homa says

      November 8, 2020 at 12:06 pm

      Dear Julia, thanks for sharing that. I love pomegranate syrup on everything and I can just imagine how it will taste on this salad!! Please take care and keep in touch 🙂

  17. Amanda says

    December 8, 2020 at 8:08 am

    Hi Homa,
    This salad is absolutely delicious! It is now my new favorite salad. I made this for the first time 2 years ago and since then have made it a staple in my weekly dinners! It’s so refreshing and unbelievably delicious how the flavors meld together. I especially love the dressing and how everything is cut small so that you can have a little of each ingredient in every bite! The colors and presentation is so pretty. So wonderful!! I also love how well the leftovers can last as there’s no lettuce to get soggy.

  18. Homa says

    December 10, 2020 at 11:27 am

    Thank you dear Amanda 🙂 Glad you like this salad, as it is the most beloved salad in most Iranian households. Because it is so light, it pairs perfectly with most Persian entrees. You’re so right, it does keep way better than the lettuce based salads. Please stay well and keep in touch!

  19. majid says

    April 17, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    I used to use lemon juice in this salad and it didn’t taste good.once in a party I had it with a mixture of dried mint, dried fenugreek,dried tarragon vegetable, black pepper, salt and a tablespoon of white vinegar, and I fell in love with it.
    try this recipe and you will love it too.

    • Homa says

      April 26, 2021 at 6:36 pm

      Dear Majid thanks for sharing this, I always have those herbs in my pantry and will try your recipe next time I make Salad Shirazi. Please take care and keep in touch

Homa

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