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Cowboy Caviar Recipe

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4.2 from 14 reviews

Cowboy Caviar is a vibrant, fresh, and flavorful salad featuring black beans, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, corn, and colorful vegetables, tossed in a zesty and slightly spicy dressing. Perfect as a hearty appetizer or party snack, it pairs wonderfully with crunchy tortilla chips and can be prepared quickly with no cooking required.

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

  • 1½ cups cooked black beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1½ cups cooked black-eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 red bell pepper (stemmed, seeded, and diced)
  • ½ cup diced red onion
  • 1 medium jalapeño pepper (finely chopped)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 large avocados (pitted and diced)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Tortilla chips (for serving)

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 1 garlic clove (minced)
  • 1½ teaspoons sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the black beans, black-eyed peas, cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, diced red onion, finely chopped jalapeño, and lime juice until well mixed.
  2. Prepare the Dressing and Mix: In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, honey, minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until emulsified. Pour this dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Gently fold in the diced avocados and chopped fresh cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  3. Chill and Serve: If time permits, refrigerate the Cowboy Caviar for 1 hour to let the flavors meld beautifully. Serve chilled or at room temperature alongside crunchy tortilla chips for dipping.

Notes

  • For best flavor, allow the salad to chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
  • If fresh corn isn't available, thawed frozen corn kernels can be used.
  • Adjust the jalapeño amount according to desired spice level or substitute with a milder pepper.
  • Use ripe but firm avocados to prevent mushiness in the salad.
  • This recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days to maintain freshness.

Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/cowboy-caviar-recipe/