Mediterranean Shirazi Salad

This salad dates back only a couple of centuries to when tomatoes were introduced in Iran, but it’s a staple on many Persian tables, especially in summertime when tomatoes and cucumbers are at their peak. 

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Serve it as a salad on its own, or as a side dish to accompany chicken, fish, or heartier stews. Here are other options.

• Turn it into a balanced meal by adding 2-3 cups of cooked whole-grain pasta, barley, or quinoa, and 6 ounces of feta or mozzarella cheese. 
• Have it in a whole-grain wrap with hummus and falafel or chicken.
• Use it as a topping for baked potatoes or sweet potatoes.
• Stir in garbanzo beans or lentils for a heartier dish.

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A Shirazi salad is naturally healthy, with vegetables, olive oil, and herbs. It’s a Mediterranean-style side dish that you can put together within minutes. While it’s delicious and fresh immediately, you can also serve it the following day after the flavors strengthen and blend. 

Ingredients

• It traditionally includes verjus (verjuice), which is a product of unripe fruit like unripe grapes or crabapples, but you can use lemon or lime juice to add acid. They can be easier to find.
• Persian cucumbers are sweetest, but English cucumbers are also good choices. If using regular cucumbers, peel them if the skins are tough or waxy.
• Ripe roma, salad, grape, or cherry tomatoes are all good choices. Choose whichever looks best!
• If you don’t have a red onion, use half a brown onion instead.
• Use 1-2 tablespoons of dried mint, or ¼ cup of fresh mint leaves, chopped.

Recipe for Shirazi Salad

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients: 

• 4 Persian cucumbers or 1 English cucumber, chopped
• 1 lb of ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• Juice from 2 limes or 1 lemon
• 1-2 tablespoons of dried mint
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cucumber, tomato, and onion.
2. Drizzle on the lemon juice and sprinkle on the mint. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the olive oil over the top before serving.

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Nutrition information per serving: 50 calories; 4 grams of fat; 1 gram of saturated fat; 50 mg of sodium; 5 grams of carbohydrates; 1 gram of fiber; 2 grams of sugar; 1 gram of protein

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