Description

Cowboy Caviar is a vibrant and flavorful bean salad perfect as a refreshing side dish or a hearty dip. Combining black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, and crisp vegetables dressed in a tangy, zesty vinaigrette, this recipe offers a colorful, nutritious, and easy-to-make dish that can be enjoyed with tortilla chips or crackers. It’s a perfect option for gatherings or light meals, served chilled for maximum flavor infusion.

Ingredients

Scale

Canned and Fresh Ingredients

15 ounces black beans (1 can, rinsed and drained)
15 ounces black eyed peas (1 can, rinsed and drained)
1 ½ cups sweet corn (frozen, thawed)
1 red pepper (chopped)
1-2 jalapeno peppers (seeded and chopped)
1 pint grape tomatoes (halved, drained if necessary)
¼ cup green onion (sliced)
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (finely chopped, plus more for garnish)
1 avocado (diced, optional)

Dressing Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime, plus more as desired)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
½ teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder (optional)

Serving

1 box crackers (optional)
1 package tortilla chips (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, minced garlic, black pepper, kosher salt, ground cumin, and chili powder if using. This creates the flavorful Cowboy Caviar dressing that ties all the ingredients together.
Combine Beans and Vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, add the rinsed and drained black beans, black eyed peas, thawed sweet corn, chopped red pepper, and seeded chopped jalapeno peppers. Pour the prepared dressing over these ingredients and toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the mixture for at least 4 hours or overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the ingredients to soak up the zesty dressing for best taste.
Add Fresh Ingredients Before Serving: About 30 minutes before serving, gently fold in the halved grape tomatoes, sliced green onions, and chopped fresh cilantro. This step keeps these ingredients fresh and vibrant in color and texture.
Serve: Serve the Cowboy Caviar chilled, garnished with additional cilantro if desired. Optionally, add diced avocado on top for a creamy contrast. Enjoy it with crackers or tortilla chips as a festive appetizer or side dish.

Notes

Chilling the salad for several hours or overnight enhances the flavor development significantly.
This dish works perfectly as a crunchy and colorful dip for tortilla chips or as a fresh salad side.
Adjust the jalapeno quantity to control the heat level to your preference.
Avocado is optional but adds a creamy texture that complements the zesty flavors.
Use fresh lime juice for the best acidity and brightness in the dressing.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 279 kcal
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 271 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 36 g
Fiber: 8 g
Protein: 9 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg