Say howdy to the finer things in life with this tangy Texas caviar—no fish eggs needed! This cowboy caviar recipe is going to be on repeat.
Cowboy caviar recipe
Caviar is often thought to be the domain of the rich and powerful. It's expensive, elusive, and... salty. If that's what you're looking for, I'm afraid you're in the wrong place (although there is salt here, too!).
This ain't your rich uncle's caviar. This ain't anyone's caviar...
unless you're a cowboy.
Okay, kidding aside, this is definitely a caviar for everyone, because it has almost nothing to do with caviar in the first place.
Cowboy caviar (or Texas caviar if you're a real Texan) is essentially a salad of tasty veggies dressed in vinegar. It's got a zing, and it's great as an accompaniment to your favorite chip (though you may just eat it on its own).
Ingredients for easy cowboy caviar recipe
Any time you start tossing ingredients into a bowl or pot, someone's bound to take issue with how you do it. This is true with chili (the Texans are at it again!) and it's also true of this cowboy caviar.
Here's what goes into my recipe:
Ingredients:
- bell peppers (use orange, red, or yellow)
- red onion
- green chiles
- roma tomatoes
- black beans
- black eyed peas
- sweet corn
- jalapeno
- avocado
- cilantro
Dressing:
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- red wine vinegar
- honey
- lime
So there's more here than the bare minimum, but I added everything for a reason: it tastes good.
How to make Texas caviar
- Gather all ingredients.
- Start by making the dressing.
- To make the dressing, add all of the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake well until thoroughly mixed. (You can also mix using a bowl and whisk). Taste test and adjust as preferred. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, start adding the dip ingredients.
- Make sure to prepare the ingredients as necessary by dicing the peppers, red onion, tomatoes, jalapeno, and avocado. Chop the cilantro, too.
- Rinse & drain the black beans, black eyed peas, and sweet corn. Add to the large bowl.
- Mix all of the ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the dip and mixx until everything is coated well.
- Serve with chips and enjoy!
Why is it called cowboy caviar?
Sources tell me that it was originated as Texas caviar, so my best guess is that the name cowboy caviar came to appeal to those outside of the Lone Star State.
Then again, I'm not really sure I knew what it was called the first few times I was introduced to it. I just knew I liked it!
How long can you keep cowboy caviar in the fridge?
If you keep this in a sealed, airtight container, this cowboy caviar is good for 5 days in the fridge. I do find that I can make cowboy caviar during my meal prep and enjoy it all week long. It maintains its freshness well, and it's a welcome cold snack, especially in the summer.
What can I use instead of black eyed peas in cowboy caviar?
Some people don't like black eyed peas, some just don't know what they are, and some try to stick to foods that are currently in season. Whatever the reason, you can skip just about any individual ingredient in this recipe.
Some ingredients will change the flavor more. For example, removing the bell pepper or corn is probably not going to make a huge impact, but skipping the vinegar would definitely change this up!
I have two kinds of beans in this recipe: black eyed peas (which are a bean!) and black beans. If you left out the black eyed peas, you'd still have beans represented, which is probably a good thing to have.
Ultimately, you should make this with whatever you want. Different folks have different taste, but the format of this cowboy caviar allows for some fun experimentation. If you have a particular variation that you enjoy, let me know!
How many calories is cowboy caviar?
A serving of this cowboy caviar recipe will give you about 150 calories, give or take.
Need more recipes?
Perhaps you need some more recipe ideas? You're in luck, partner! Check out some of these Jordo's World staples:
Cowboy Caviar Recipe
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 bell peppers diced, use orange, red, or yellow
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 can green chiles 4 oz, mild or medium
- 3 roma tomatoes diced
- 1 can black beans 10 oz, rinsed & drained
- 1 can black eyed peas 10 oz, rinsed & drained
- 1 can sweet corn 10 oz, rinsed & drained
- 1 jalapeno seeds removed, diced
- 1 avocado diced
- cilantro chopped
Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 lime juiced
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Start by making the dressing.
- To make the dressing, add all of the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake well until thoroughly mixed. (You can also mix using a bowl and whisk). Taste test and adjust as preferred. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, start adding the dip ingredients.
- Make sure to prepare the ingredients as necessary by dicing the peppers, red onion, tomatoes, jalapeno, and avocado. Chop the cilantro, too.
- Rinse & drain the black beans, black eyed peas, and sweet corn. Add to the large bowl.
- Mix all of the ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the dip and mixx until everything is coated well.
- Serve with chips and enjoy!
Sarah temple says
Wow! What a tasty recipe and it makes A LOT! Great job on this one 👏🏼
Jennifer says
So good!
Sarah says
A staple in our house!
Raquel says
This is a good one! I will be making again soon! Perfect and fresh for the warmer weather!
Jordan Smith says
This is a NEEEEED in the summer! I usually eat with chips but I thought it'd go well on grilled chicken this summer too!