Vegan Shirazi Salad is a low-calorie and colorful Persian salad. It is seasoned with fresh lime juice, dried mint leaves, juicy tomatoes, chopped onions, and cucumbers. This salad looks great with grilled meals, stuffed vegetables, Mediterranean spreads, or dips. This salad is ideal for warm weather because it’s light, hydrating, and refreshing. It is great for sunny days because of the high water content from the tomatoes and cucumbers. While the onions contribute a strong savory flavor to this vegan Shirazi Salad. The amount of saturated fats and cholesterol present in this salad is low. This nutritious salad highlights the richness of Persian cuisine and the beauty of simplicity.
STATS
- Course: Appetizer, Side dish
- Cuisine: Middle-Eastern
- Diet: Vegan, Gluten-free, Vegetarian
- Total Time: Twenty minutes
- Preparation Time: Twenty minutes
- Cook Time: Zero minutes
EQUIPMENT
- A sharp knife
- One large dish
- Serving plate
INGREDIENTS
- One pound cucumber, approx. 3 1/2 cups
- Medium-sized and finely chopped white onion 1
- Dried mint 1 tbsp
- 1 pound vine tomatoes, about 2 1/2 cups
- One-fourth cup of squeezed lime juice
- 2 tbsp of (Extra virgin) Olive oil
- Salt 1 tsp, or to taste
- Chopped black pepper 1/8 tsp, or add to flavor
INGREDIENT NOTES
Tomatoes:
- We used ripe tomatoes to prepare the salad. Make sure to use red and fresh tomatoes.
Mint:
- It adds a lively and refreshing feel to the salad.
Cucumber:
- This item provides a soothing effect to the salad.
INSTRUCTIONS
- With a knife, Cut the vine tomatoes and cucumber into tiny half-centimeter sizes.
- Shift the finely bite-sized cucumber and tomatoes into a large dish.
- Next, cut the onion into small and fine size.
- Add the chopped onion to the same dish.
- Then, add dried mint, black pepper, lime juice, salt, and olive oil to the dish.
- Mix thoroughly to ensure that the mint is uniformly distributed.
- Then, taste the salt and tweak the salt (if needed) before dishing.
- The flavorful Shirazi Salad is ready to serve.
- Transfer the tangy salad to a serving plate and garnish with crushed herbs.
SUBSTITUTIONS OF THE SALAD
Cucumber:
- American, Persian, or English cucumber all work well with the salad.
Tomatoes:
- Try this salad with a variety of tomatoes such as heirloom, Roma, and beefsteak tomatoes.
White onion:
- Replace this item with green spring onions, shallots, and red onions.
Mint:
- You can use a variety of dried herbs such as zaatar or oregano.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Serve this salad with vegan-friendly hummus, avocado spread, Baba Ganoush, Tzatziki, and Muhammara.
- Enjoy it with falafel, mutabal, and pita bread.
- Grilled halloumi and zucchini fritters also pair well with the salad.
- You can also enjoy the Shirazi salad with sumac onions and low-fat feta cheese.
- Pair the salad with vegan lentil or vegetable kebabs.
TIPS
- Use high-quality and fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs.
- Choose the right type of cucumber.
- Select ripe and flavorful tomatoes like vine or heirloom tomatoes.
- Don’t over chop the mint. Crush the mint leaves just before incorporating them into the salad to preserve their fresh flavor.
- Use a flavorful and fresh juice.
- Customize the salad with different salad dressings or colorful vegetables.
- Add plenty of herbs for a refreshing and lively flavor.
STORAGE INFORMATION
Advance preparation:
- You can prepare the salad in advance about one hour before plating.
Fridge:
- Store the leftover Shirazi salad in a closed container and refrigerate it for three days.
Freezer:
- This salad is not appropriate for freezing. Because cucumber and other veggies are used that contain a high amount of water. After freezing, the salad’s texture will be watery.
FAQs:
Can I make this salad by using different ingredients?
- You can add extra items to the salad like chopped bell peppers or crumbled vegan feta cheese.
Are there any kinds of tomatoes I can use?
- Olum or Roma tomatoes are wonderful options because the inside is less watery. Quartered or halved cherry tomatoes can also be utilized.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION/SERVING:
Total quantity 4 people servings
Total Calories 112 kcal
Carbohydrates 11 g
Total Fat 7 g
Protein 2 g
Sugar 6 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Iron 1 mg
Sodium 529 mg
