Persian soft herb salad with fresh figs & labneh

One of the great pleasures of our travels around Iran a few years ago was the way each and every meal began with a basket of fresh herbs – called sabzi – along with soft white cheese and warm flatbread. It’s a habit that we’ve continued to this day, as it’s a brilliant appetite-sharpening way to begin any meal. This refreshing salad is really just a more refined variation on the sabzi theme: it’s all about the freshness of the herbs and leaves that you choose – and feel free to experiment with your own selection. Similarly, try replacing the figs with cherries, white peaches or nectarines, when they are in season. Eat, Persian-style, with griddled flatbreads or as an accompaniment to rich or filling dishes.