This tasty easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe is a cornucopia of black beans, black eyed peas, fresh corn, sweet red onion, tomatoes, bell pepper, and jalapenos all in a slightly spicy sweet lime vinaigrette. The flavors come together so well and it tastes amazing on tacos, quesadillas, and omelets.
Did you know that eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day is supposed to bring you prosperity and good luck? As a matter of fact you should eat 365 of them. One for each day of the New Year. That being said this bean salad is the perfect anytime snack for picnics, potlucks, reunions, and barbecues. Make a big batch because everyone loves it!
What is Cowboy Caviar?
It is a southern twist on caviar without any fish eggs or any fish for that matter. This Texas caviar is a fun mixture of black beans, black eyed peas, fresh corn, red onion, tomatoes, jalapeno, bell peppers and cilantro all in a fresh lime vinaigrette. Enjoy this bean salsa as a side dish or scoop with corn chips or tortilla chips. Use like salsa and spoon over tacos, burritos, enchiladas, grilled chicken or fish, and omelettes. Serve as a healthy side salad. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
How do you make Cowboy Caviar?
Start by whisking together the olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, ground cayenne, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Then in a large bowl combine the black bean, black eyed peas, corn, red onion, tomatoes jalapeno, bell pepper and cilantro. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the veggies and toss to coat. Store covered in the fridge until 30 minutes prior to serving then remove to take the chill off. Toss again right before serving.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Use any colored bell pepper or use a variety for color.
- Chop the vegetables fairly fine so a little bit of everything ends up in a chip full or spoon full.
- If the season permits use fresh corn cut right off the cob.
- Mix up to 1 day in advance but hold the chopped cilantro until about an hour before.
- In a hurry? Skip the dressing and add 1/2 cup zesty Italian dressing.
- Feel free to add finely diced avocado. However if you are preparing this in advance add the avocado right before serving.
- Feel free to substitute pinto beans for the black beans.
- Store leftovers up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Other appetizer recipes you will love!
Cowboy Caviar
Tasty Cowboy Caviar made with beans, black eyed peas, and fresh vegetables all in a spicy lime vinaigrette. Serve as a dip, or spoon over grilled fish, grilled chicken, omelettes, tacos, burritos and enchiladas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: appetizer
- Method: bowl and spoon
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
Lime Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Cowboy Caviar
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce) can black eyed peas drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups fresh corn kernels
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1 jalapeno minced
- 1 bell pepper finely diced ( I used ½ red and ½ orange)
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, ground cayenne, and red pepper flakes.
- In a large bowl combine the black bean, black eyed peas, corn, red onion, tomatoes, jalapeno, bell pepper and cilantro.
- Drizzle the vinaigrette over the caviar and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Store covered in the fridge until 30 minutes prior to serving. Toss again right before serving.
Notes
- Use any colored bell pepper or use a variety for color.
- Mix up to 1 day in advance but hold the chopped cilantro until about an hour before.
- In a hurry? Skip the dressing and add 1/2 cup zesty Italian dressing.
- Feel free to add finely diced avocado. However if you are preparing this in advance add the avocado right before serving.
- Store leftovers up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Keywords: cowboy caviar dip, how to make cowboy caviar, cowboy caviar recipe
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