The perfect summer salad HAS to be a Shirazi Salad. Named after the city of Shiraz in Iran, this salad is a classic in Persian cuisine and for good reason. Its vibrant, refreshing flavor pair incredibly well with almost any dish — from meaty roasts, to grilled fish, to rich rice and legume dishes (such as Mujadara). It can even be served on its own as a light lunch or appetizer.
It’s honestly the perfect salad, and this is my version of it which I can tell you will be a staple in my summer cooking.
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INGREDIENTS (6 Servings)
5 Persian cucumbers, finely diced and seeds removed
2 medium tomatoes, finely diced and seeds removed
½ red onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons lemon juice + more to taste
2 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sumac + more for serving
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
4 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
Black pepper
Kosher salt
METHOD
Prepare the ingredients. Remove the seeds from the cucumbers and the tomatoes. Finely diced the tomatoes, cucumbers and onions into small, equal sized cubes
Finely chop the fresh mint and parsley
Pretend this is a Persian cucumber, as I only had these minis when I decided to record this recipe :) Step by step on how to remove the seeds and finely chop the cucumber.
Combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Give it a stir with a large spoon to mix everything together. Add the chopped mint and parsley and mix everything together once more
Make the simple dressing. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, sumac, and lemon juice. Mix to combine
Slowly incorporate the dressing into the salad, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. You might not end up using all of the dressing, but it’s there if you need to add more! Add a generous pinch of salt and a few cracks of black pepper and mix once more. Taste, and adjust for salt and more lemon juice if needed
Place in the fridge and chill for 10-15 minutes before serving. Top with more sumac before serving
This salad is delicious on its own, but also pairs very well with rich or meaty meals such as grilled meats, roasted or grilled fish, and rich dishes such as Mujadara.
