Shirazi salad is a delightful Iranian salad that originated in Shiraz, a city located in southern Iran. This salad is relatively modern, emerging after the introduction of tomatoes to Iran in the late 19th century during the Qajar era. From Wiki.
The primary ingredients of Shirazi salad include cucumber, tomato, onion, olive oil, herbal spices, and traditionally verjuice. However, if you don't have verjuice, you can use lemon or lime as a substitute. By the way, I've discovered a clever way to reduce the pungent harshness of the onion, which I'll share in the directions below.
Shirazi salad is perfect for beating the summer heat as it offers a refreshing and cooling experience. It pairs well with a variety of meaty dishes and complements rice dishes like loobia polo and Mujadara, which I'll be sharing with you soon. So, stay tuned for those recipes! Without further ado, let's dive into the recipe and enjoy the wonderful flavors of Shirazi salad.
Ingredients:
(Serve 8)
Pink Himalayan Salt, Pinch
Red Onion Finely Minced, 1
Cucumbers, 2 Large
Tomatoes (I'm using a combination of red and yellow cherry tomatoes), 250g
Parsley Coarsely Chopped, A Handful
Dried Mint, Pinch
Garlic Finely Minced, 1 Clove
Fresh Lemon / Lime Zest, 1 Lemon
Fresh Lemon / Lime Juice, 1 Lemon or Verjuice, 2 TBSP
Sumac, Pinch
Chili Flakes, Pinch (Optional)
Black Pepper, Pinch
Ground Cumin, Pinch
Ground Coriander, Pinch
High Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1/4 Cup
Equipment:
Large Salad Bowl
Directions:
Add some warm water and salt to a small bowl.
Mix until well combined.
Add in the onion and give it a stir to combine well.
Set aside until ready to use.
Slice the cucumbers lengthwise in halves.
Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard.
Coarsely dice the cucumbers.
Transfer to a large salad bowl.
I am using cherry tomatoes, so I am gonna just slice the cherry tomatoes in halves.
If you are using other types of tomatoes, you can wedge and coarsely dice them.
Transfer together with the cucumbers.
Drain the onion and discard the liquid.
Add in the onion and the rest of the ingredients.
Toss until well combined.
Taste and adjust for seasonings with pink Himalayan salt.
Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hr before serving.
Refreshing...
Perfect for summer...