Description
Mediterranean sunshine dances through our Shirazi Salad, bringing Persian culinary magic to your table. Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and zesty onions mingle in a refreshing symphony perfect for summer gatherings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Produce:
- 2 Persian cucumbers (or 1 large English cucumber), finely diced
- 3 ripe tomatoes, finely diced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced (or white onion for a milder flavor)
Herbs:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried mint)
Seasoning and Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or lime juice for a sharper flavor)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, traditional recipes often omit this)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the core ingredients by meticulously dicing cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion into uniform, petite cubes, ensuring each piece is roughly the same size for consistent texture and visual appeal.
- Transfer the precisely chopped vegetables into a spacious mixing vessel, creating a vibrant foundation for the salad.
- Craft a zesty dressing by whisking together tangy lemon juice, smooth olive oil, aromatic dried mint, nuanced salt, and freshly cracked black pepper in a separate small container.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the vegetable medley, using gentle folding motions to coat each ingredient thoroughly without crushing the delicate pieces.
- Allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for a brief marination period, approximately 10-15 minutes, which enables the flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Before serving, optionally enhance the salad’s visual and flavor profile by scattering fresh parsley or cilantro leaves across the top.
- Present the chilled Shirazi salad as a vibrant, refreshing accompaniment that complements main courses with its crisp and bright character.
Notes
- Achieve uniform chopping by using a sharp knife and cutting vegetables on a stable cutting board to create consistent, small pieces.
- Enhance flavor depth by allowing the salad to marinate longer, up to 30 minutes, which helps ingredients absorb the zesty dressing.
- Customize the salad by adding crumbled feta cheese for a creamy texture or incorporating diced bell peppers for extra crunch and color.
- Keep the salad fresh and crisp by preparing vegetables just before serving and storing separately from the dressing until ready to mix.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Persian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg