Description
Cowboy caviar blends fresh Texan-style ingredients in a colorful salsa-like salad. Black beans, corn, and crisp vegetables mingle with zesty lime dressing, offering you a refreshing southwestern party starter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1.5 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 0.5 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 0.5 cup olive oil
- 0.5 cup diced red bell pepper
- 0.5 cup diced green bell pepper
- 0.5 cup diced red onion
- 0.5 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
- 0.25 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsps lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, and red onion in a large mixing bowl, creating a colorful and textured base for the cowboy caviar.
- Flavor Enhancement: Fold in minced garlic, finely chopped jalapenos, and freshly chopped cilantro to introduce aromatic depth and zesty undertones to the vegetable medley.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lime juice together, then integrate cumin, chili powder, salt, and freshly ground pepper to craft a vibrant and balanced dressing.
- Marination: Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture, gently tossing to ensure complete and even coating, then refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
- Serving: Stir the chilled cowboy caviar to redistribute the dressing, then serve alongside crisp tortilla chips or as a refreshing side dish, showcasing its bold and zesty character.
Notes
- Adjust Spice Levels: Modify jalapeno quantity based on heat tolerance, removing seeds for milder version or adding extra for bolder kick.
- Optimize Vegetable Freshness: Select crisp, ripe vegetables at peak season to enhance overall flavor and texture of the cowboy caviar.
- Master Marinating Technique: Longer refrigeration (up to 4 hours) allows deeper flavor infusion, but avoid exceeding 8 hours to prevent vegetable softening.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Easily transform into gluten-free, vegan, or low-carb dish by swapping chips with lettuce wraps or cucumber slices.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg