Shirazi Salad Recipe

Shirazi Salad (Salad Shirazi, Salade E Shirazi or, سالاد شیرازی) is one of the Iranian’s national salad. As it is clear, this salad was originated in Fras province, in Shiraz city. Incredibly, you can extract such a delightful flavor out of those simple ingredients.

The main ingredients of salad Shirazi are cucumber, onion, and tomatoes. The herbs, juices, and spices you add to the combination of the cucumber, tomato, and onion create an alluring taste. It is so delicious that most people like to have this side salad in their everyday courses.

The history of salad Shirazi’s invention is somehow, funny. Shiraz residents used to repute as lazy people in Iran. The governor of Shiraz decided to force people to do some daily task to make Shirazian people more productive and less lazy. Making this salad beside the daily meals was the governer’s solution to solve this problem. Making it was harder then since people had to squeeze the juices and grind the spices on their own.

Shirazi salad types:

Any method you follow to make salad Shirazi, contains cucumber, tomato, and onion as the main ingredients. The garnishes that you add to these ingredients to make a better flavor are the essential items that give you different types of salad Shirazi. However, your salad’s flavor can vary depending on the kind of herbs and vegetables you use. For example, you can use Armenian cucumbers or cherry tomatoes.

Nutrition facts

Salad Shirazi has 81 kcal per 100 gr. It is an excellent choice for people following a low-calorie diet.

It has a high percentage of fiber and zero percentage of cholesterol. Moreover, it contains a notable number of vitamins and minerals necessary for the body. The combination of tomato, onion, and cucumber serves brain cells as well and helps lose weight.

Serving style:

Shirazi salad is one of the most natural salads to serve. Because the dressing is not served separately. You add the dressing to the main ingredients and mix them in a bowl.

To decorate your salad better, you can use some of the herbs as a topping. However, sometimes people decorate their by opposing the diced vegetables without mixing them. The most common dressings are verjuice, lime juice, mint, and parsley. Other dressing options maybe vinegar, balsamic or mayonnaise.

Salad Shirazi is a very digestible salad that can accompany any menu. You can usually find it in every casual Iranian party as well as in the fanciest restaurants. You can serve it as an entry course before soups or any other appetizer.

It is also widespread to use it as a side salad next to most Persian main courses, especially the courses that contain rice.

This recipe is adequate for four people. The preparation time is about 15 minutes.

This is a low calorie and utterly vegetarian salad that you can serve with 80% of the foods.

You can use mayonnaise as a dressing if you like.

What are the ingredients?

Salad Shirazi can be established as the most simple salad in the world. It has only three main ingredients, including cucumbers, tomatoes and onions, which are available everywhere in any markets. These ingredients can differ according to the type of component. For example, you can use English cucumbers or  Persian cucumbers, or you can use cherry tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes, or red onions instead of white onions. You can add to your Salad Shirazi’s delightfulness by adding some herbs such as parsley or mint. You can use either dried herbs or fresh herbs. Verjuice or lemon juice are the knacks in Shirazi Salad’s ingredients since their presence makes a notable difference in the final taste.

Preparing process:

To make Shirazi Salad, you should dice the vegetables. The smaller you cut the vegetables, the better your salad looks. If you are using fresh herbs, chop them before adding. Finally, you mix all the ingredients in a bowl and add some olive oil, salt and either verjuice or lemon juice. If you prefer a juicer taste, add the verjuice and oil half an hour before serving.