Cowboy Caviar
Not caviar. Possibly not cowboys. Definitely gone by halftime.
- Time
- 20 MIN
- Serves
- 8 AS A DIP (THREE WHOLE CANS)
- Skill
- PARING KNIFE
- Tools
- KNIFE, BOARD, BOWL
- Heat
- Warm
- Protein
- No cooked protein
A Texas party dip from the 1940s that is really a bean salad in disguise: black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, peppers and tomatoes in a sweet-sharp vinaigrette, scooped up with tortilla chips. It makes a lot, it costs very little, and it is better the next day. This is the recipe to bring to the thing.
The lineup
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (about 15 oz) corn, drained
- 1 bell pepper, any color, diced small
- 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced small
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
- 2 scallions, sliced thin
- 1 large handful fresh cilantro, chopped
The chop
- Whisk the oil, vinegar, lime juice, sugar, cumin, garlic powder and salt in the bottom of the bowl.
- Add the beans, black-eyed peas and corn. Toss.
- Add the pepper, tomatoes, jalapeno, scallions and cilantro. Toss again.
- Let it sit 15 minutes if you can.
- Taste, then add salt and lime until it tastes right to you.
The extras
Dodge the Carbs
Beans and corn make this a carb dish. Eat a smaller scoop with pepper wedges in place of chips.
Beef It Up
It already carries plenty of plant protein. Over romaine with a diced avocado, it is a meal.
Future You
Keeps 5 days in the fridge and peaks on day two.
Show Off
Add 2 diced avocados just before serving.
Flavor Bomb
Swap the vinaigrette for 1/3 cup of Sub-Shop Oil and Vinegar, or stir in chopped giardiniera.
Heat Dial
Mild: leave out the jalapeno. Warm: seeded jalapeno, as written. Hot: two jalapenos, seeds in, and a few shakes of hot sauce.
