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Texas Caviar being served in a bowl with a spoon garnished by cilantro
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Best Cowboy Caviar Recipe

This Cowboy Caviar recipe (Texas Caviar) will have everyone swarming over the bowl OR serve it as a protein topper to make EVERYTHING better!  It can be thrown together in 20 minutes, is endlessly adaptable, and make-ahead friendly (tastes even better the next day), for a stress-free potluck, party, and/or picnic win.  This Texas Caviar recipe is elevated by homemade tangy, zesty dressing infused with a bevy of seasonings that will have everyone declaring it the “best Texas Caviar they ever tasted!”
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Author [email protected]

Ingredients

CAVIAR

  • 1 10 oz. pkg. cherry tomatoes, halved, quartered if large
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 15 oz. can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1½ cups fresh corn kernels from 2 to 3 cobs or 1 15 oz. can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
  • 1 orange bell pepper, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded, deveined, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup packed cilantro, minced (measure before chopping)

ADD LAST

  • 2 ripe avocados, diced

DRESSING

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon honey or sugar
  • 1 tsp EACH chili powder, salt
  • 1/2 tsp EACH ground cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • pinch-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

FOR SERVING

  • Tortilla chips

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, stir together all of the “Caviar” ingredients (don’t add avocados).
  • In a separate medium bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together.
  • Pour the dressing over the Caviar and stir to combine.
  • Time permitting, refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve.
  • Fold in the avocado.
  • Season to taste with salt, cayenne pepper and/or lime juice. Serve as a side salad, or protein topper, or incredible with tortilla chips!

Video

Notes

Storage

Store the recipe for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.  It will last for up to 5 days, but the avocados will start to turn brown and the vegetables soften a bit. 

Prep Ahead Options

1.   Fully assembled: Make the complete recipe (with or without avocados) and store in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. Drain off excess liquid before serving.
2.   Without avocados:  Make the Cowboy Caviar through tossing with the dressing, but hold the avocados.  Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.  Stir, then drain off excess liquid before adding the avocados and serving.
3.   Prep ingredients:  The dressing and ingredients can be prepped, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to assemble for up to 2 days by layering in this order:
  • Black beans
  • Black eyed peas
  • Corn
  • Bell peppers
  • Jalapeno
  • Red onion
  • Tomatoes
  • Cilantro
  • Add avocados when ready to serve