Description
Cowboy caviar celebrates southwestern charm with a refreshing medley of crisp vegetables, black beans, and zesty lime dressing. Packed with bold flavors and nutritious ingredients, this colorful salad offers a delightful twist you’ll crave at summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 can black-eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup (240 ml) corn kernels (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes (diced)
- 1 cup (150 g) bell peppers (diced)
- 1 avocado (diced)
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1/2 cup (75 g) red onion (finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup (15 g) cilantro (chopped)
Dressing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) lime juice
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey or agave syrup
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Finely chop fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and avocado into uniform, bite-sized cubes to ensure balanced texture and even distribution.
- Thoroughly drain and rinse black beans, black-eyed peas, and corn to remove excess liquid and prevent diluting the salad’s vibrant flavors.
- Gather the chopped vegetables and legumes in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a colorful and nutritious base for the cowboy caviar.
- Craft a zesty dressing by vigorously whisking together tangy lime juice, robust olive oil, acidic red wine vinegar, sweet honey, earthy cumin, and seasoning to create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Delicately fold the dressing into the vegetable mixture, ensuring each ingredient is gently coated without crushing the delicate components.
- For optimal taste development, allow the cowboy caviar to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, enabling the ingredients to marinate and intensify their collective flavor.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro just before serving to add a bright, herbaceous note and enhance the dish’s visual appeal.
Notes
- Chopping Trick: Use a sharp knife and cut vegetables into uniform, small pieces for a consistent texture and even flavor distribution.
- Customize Heat: Adjust spiciness by adding jalapeños or hot sauce according to personal preference.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this dish a day in advance to enhance the flavor profile, allowing ingredients to marinate and intensify taste.
- Dietary Flexibility: Easily transform this recipe into a vegan, gluten-free, or low-carb option by swapping or omitting specific ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg