Description
Cowboy caviar brings zesty Southwestern charm to your table with a colorful medley of beans, corn, and fresh vegetables. Crisp ingredients and tangy lime dressing create a refreshing salad that keeps you coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables and Proteins:
- 3 roma tomatoes, seeds removed, diced
- 2 avocados, diced
- 15 ounces (425 grams) canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces (425 grams) canned black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups (240 grams) frozen corn kernels, thawed
- 1 bell pepper, diced, any color
- 1 jalapeno, seeds removed, finely diced
- 1/3 cup (50 grams) diced red onion
- 1/3 cup (15 grams) chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Serving:
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious mixing bowl for combining fresh ingredients. Dice Roma tomatoes evenly, removing seeds to prevent excess moisture. Cut avocados into substantial chunks to maintain their structural integrity.
- Add finely chopped red onion for sharp flavor notes. Incorporate thoroughly drained black beans and black-eyed peas to maintain a crisp texture. Mix in thawed corn kernels for subtle sweetness.
- Incorporate diced bell peppers and optional finely chopped jalapeno for mild heat. Sprinkle fresh cilantro throughout the mixture to enhance aromatic profile. Gently blend ingredients until uniformly distributed.
- Create dressing in a separate container by whisking olive oil, lime juice, and red wine vinegar. Balance flavors with granulated sugar, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Combine ingredients until fully integrated.
- Pour prepared dressing over vegetable mixture. Delicately toss ingredients to ensure complete coating without crushing delicate components like avocado.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes at 40°F to allow flavors to meld and intensify. Before serving, briefly stir to redistribute dressing and reinvigorate ingredients.
- Serve chilled alongside crispy tortilla chips as a refreshing appetizer or vibrant side dish. Best consumed within 24 hours for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Drain beans and veggies thoroughly to prevent watery texture, ensuring crisp and fresh mouthfeel.
- Adjust spice levels by removing jalapeno seeds or adding more for extra heat depending on personal preference.
- Make ahead and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop and intensify, creating a more complex taste profile.
- Customize recipe by swapping ingredients like replacing black beans with chickpeas or adding diced mango for tropical twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg