Cowboy Caviar – FeelGoodFoodie

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Fresh, flavorful and full of flavor, cowboy caviar is a delicious way to immerse yourself in the Texan spirit. This colorful dip is inspired by salsa and pico de gallo. It’s traditionally made with black-eyed peas, corn, and fresh greens, but you can use any type of beans or greens you like in this recipe.

Large bowl of corn and bean salad with lime slices and cilantro on top.

The key to cowboy caviar is in the dressing: a savory combination of oil, vinegar, garlic, onion and spices that gives this dish its signature flavor. Serve cowboy caviar with chips, crackers, or fresh veggies for dipping, or use as a condiment for tacos or burritos. It’s also great as a salad topper or just like that. So grab your boots and hat and give this delicious recipe a try. You’ll be collecting seconds in no time.

Why You’ll Love This Texas Caviar Recipe

  • Lively and delicious. All the colorful veggies in this dish make for a beautiful and appetizing presentation.
  • Perfect for entertaining. Cowboy caviar easily doubles or triples, making it ideal for large gatherings.
  • Forward-looking friendly. This dish can be made up to a day in advance, giving you one less thing to worry about when entertaining.
  • rave worthy. Your friends and family will be asking you for the recipe after just one bite.

Ingredients for making cowboy caviar

  • beans: I like black beans and black-eyed peas in this recipe, but you can really use any type of beans you like.
  • Corn: Frozen sweetcorn is best, but you can use fresh or canned corn. Make sure you drain and rinse it well beforehand.
  • Vegetables: I like to use a mixture of diced jalapenos, peppers, avocados, red onions and cilantro in my cowboy caviar. Feel free to mix and match your favorite veggies.

Cowboy caviar dressing

  • Olive oil: I prefer extra virgin olive oil for this recipe, but you can use any type of oil you like.
  • Lemons: Fresh lime juice is preferred, but bottled lime juice can be used in a pinch. If you like, you can also grate half the lime to increase the spiciness.
  • Treasure: Just a touch of honey for balance. You can also use agave syrup or sugar.
  • Spices: A mixture of cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper completes the dressing.
Pre-prep recipe ingredients: red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, red onion, oil, jalapeno pepper, honey, corn, black eyepeas, black beans, 2 limes, 2 avocados, spices, and cilantro.

How to make cowboy caviar

Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. This recipe is actually quite easy to make and worth the ingredient list.

Prepare vegetables & beans

  • Drain the beans, dice the veggies and get everything ready to start making your dip.
Prepared vegetables and ingredients for salad recipe in individual bowls.

assemble and toss with the dressing

  1. In a large bowl, combine black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, red peppers, orange peppers, jalapeño peppers, avocados, red onions, and cilantro.
  2. Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients.
  3. Swirl well to combine.
  4. Season with salt and pepper and serve with tortilla chips.
4 picture collage of making a one bowl salad recipe by adding chopped veggies to the bowl, pouring the dressing over it then tossing it together and the final salad after combining.

Tips for making cowboy caviar dip

  1. Cut the vegetables into even pieces. You want to keep the pieces small enough that they can be easily picked up with a chip, but not so small that they become mush when mixed with the other ingredients.
  2. Use fresh lime juice. The taste cannot be compared to bottled lime juice. If you must use bottles, start with less and add more as per taste.
  3. Taste as you go. This recipe is very forgiving, so don’t be afraid to adjust the ingredients to your liking. Add more lime juice if you like it tangier, or more honey if you like it sweeter.
  4. Make in advance. This recipe actually gets better when it sits, so don’t hesitate to make it a day or two in advance. Just leave out the avocado and keep covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

popular substitutions and additions

  • Use Italian dressing instead of the homemade vinaigrette. If you’re pressed for time, you can use a store-bought bottle of Italian dressing.
  • Try different beans. Kidney beans, chickpeas, and pinto beans are all delicious in this recipe.
  • Add diced fruit. Mango, pineapple, and watermelon are great additions to cowboy caviar.
  • Try different types of vegetables. Cucumber, zucchini, and yellow squash are tasty options.
  • make it vegan By leaving out the honey in the dressing or using a plant-based alternative, this cowboy caviar recipe becomes vegan in no time.
Shot from above showing a bowl of cowboy caviar under a hand holding a tortilla chip with the recipe loaded on it.

what to serve with texas caviar

This is usually enjoyed on its own, like a dip or salsa with tortilla chips. However, you can use it in place of salsa in any Tex-Mex recipe, including:

How to store cowboy caviar

Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long does cowboy caviar keep in the fridge?

Without the avocados, this cowboy salsa will keep in the fridge for up to four days. If you add avocados, it’s best to enjoy them within a day or two.

frequently asked Questions

Why is it called cowboy caviar?

According to Wikipedia, the dish was created in the 1940s by Helen Corbitt, a well-known Texas chef. She originally dubbed it “cowboy caviar” because she thought it resembled the beluga caviar that was all the rage at the time.

What is the difference between cowboy caviar and Texas caviar?

No problem! The two terms are used synonymously. Because it’s from Texas, some prefer to call it Texas Caviar instead of Cowboy Caviar.

I don’t like cilantro. What can I use instead?

If you’re not a cilantro fan, you can just leave it out or substitute another fresh herb like parsley or basil.

Close up of tortilla chips loaded with cowboy caviar.

Also known as Texas Caviar Dip, this cowboy caviar is perfect for any party or gathering! Inspired by salsa and pico de gallo, it’s easy to make and can be customized by adding different ingredients to your liking. Plus, it’s a vegan-friendly recipe that everyone will love! So what are you waiting for? Try it today!

More Tex-Mex Recipes:

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preparation time 20 minutes

cooking time 0 minutes

total time 25 minutes

The Original Vidalia Chop Wizard
  • In a large bowl, combine black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, red peppers, orange peppers, jalapeño peppers, avocados, red onions, and cilantro.

  • In a small glass, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, cumin, and garlic powder until well combined.

  • To serve, drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and mix well. Season with salt and pepper and serve with tortilla chips.

Top: Omit the avocado and let your cowboy caviar sit overnight to allow the flavors to blend. Add your avocado when ready to serve.

Calories: 303kcal, Carbohydrates: 38G, Protein: 10G, Fat: fifteenG, Saturated Fatty Acids: 2G, Polyunsaturated fat: 2G, Monounsaturated fatty acids: 10G, Sodium: 217mg, Potassium: 721mg, Fiber: 12G, Sugar: 8thG, Vitamin A: 1112ie, Vitamin C: 54mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 3mg

The nutritional information given is an estimate. It depends on the cooking method and the specific ingredients used.

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