Salata is a very popular side dish in Afghan cuisine, a frequent accompaniment during lunch and dinner. The ingredients are usually only cucumbers and tomatoes that have been uniformly diced as much as possible, dressed with freshly squeezed lemon juice, then seasoned with salt and either mint, parsley, or cilantro.

Today you will even find recipes where the most common ingredients include onions, and sometimes even bell peppers, radishes, and lettuce.