Oh Boy! You don't know how good this Cowboy Caviar. It is bursting with flavor and perfect for tailgating. It can be a dip, a salad topping or a filling. A colorful blend of fresh ingredients and mild spices with a touch of lime juice. It is one of the easiest dips to make because you throw everything into one bowl and it’s ready!
Sporting a rainbow of colors and a variety of flavors is the healthy, delicious chip dip called Cowboy Caviar. Also known as the iconic Texas or Mexican Caviar or Black Eyed Peas salsa, this salsa dip is the perfect appetizer for different occasions. It is the perfect Hors d’oeuvre for a wide array of dishes (though I do not mind going solo on it). You can eat it every week like myself, they disappear from your bowl in no time. I find myself staring at my bowl, asking ‘where did all that dip go?’ Cowboy Caviar should be on your bucket list because it is the king of all dips. If this is your first time of trying out this recipe, I’d advise you get your aprons ready, your knives sharpened and your chopping boards cleaned out. You are in for lots of chopping and cutting. It will be an experience you will relish!
This Tex-Mex dip has many fresh vegetables, tasty black eyed peas and savory dressing. The distinctive vinaigrette dressing is what makes a difference. I am such a huge fan of avocado, one can never go wrong with all that appetizing creamy taste, right? What’s more? They are packed with all the healthy fats we all need. This ‘salsa cruda’ as it is generally called in some areas of Mexico where it originates from, is gluten free and very perfect for vegans too, so no one is excluded in all the fun.
I got wind of this recipe a little over five years ago from a childhood friend and ever since then it has been a staple in my home. I particularly love this salsa because it is not seasonal. You can make it at any time of the year because the ingredients are readily available and always fresh. During summer, fresh peas and corn are what I use to prepare this dip but in winter months, its canned peas sweet-corns to rescue. If you are a big fan of homemade food like myself, you can prepare your black eyed peas at home. It is easy. To cut back on some cook time, I make a fairly large batch and store in a zip-lock in my refrigerator. Do not get festered by the piquancy of the jalapeno peppers, they are almost non-existent, your kids will gobble everything.
HOW TO MAKE BEST COWBOY CAVIAR DIP
I particularly love to chomp down this entrée with tortilla, sometimes when I want to tweak things I use it as a topping for burritos. Trust me, it is a total knockout! It will amaze you to know that the caviar can also be served as a salad for your barbecue.
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COWBOY CAVIAR RECIPE-CHEFJAR
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A colorful blend of fresh ingredients and mild spices with a touch of lime juice. It is one of the easiest dips to make because you throw everything into one bowl and it’s ready!
Ingredients
- FOR THE SALSA
- Tomatoes ( small diced)- 3 cups / 1 lb /500 gm
- Yellow/Green bell pepper ( seeded and diced)- ½ cup
- Red bell pepper ( seeded and diced)- ½ cup
- Black eyed peas ( drained and rinsed)- 1 can/ 400 gm/ 14 oz
- White beans ( drained and rinsed)-1 can/ 400 gm/ 14 oz
- Large avocado (peeled, pitted and diced)-1
- Corn ( drained)-1 can/ 400 gm/ 14 oz
- Jalapeno ( pepper, seeded and diced) -1
- Medium onion (finely diced)-1
- Fresh cilantro leaves- ½ cups
- COWBOY CAVIAR DRESSING
- Olive oil- ¼ cup
- Juice of 2 limes
- Dried Mexican oregano- 1 ½ tsp.
- Garlic clove ( finely chopped)- 2-3
- Cumin seeds- 1tsp.
- Red chili flakes- ¼ tsp.
- Honey- 1 tbsp.
- Ground black pepper- as needed
- Salt - to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil gently over low heat. Once it is warm, add the minced garlic, honey, dried oregano, cumin seeds and red chili flakes. Set aside until cool. Pour the oil into jar or any storage container and add lime juice.
- In a large bowl combine tomatoes, bell peppers, black eyed peas, white beans, avocado, corn, jalapeno, onion and cilantro leaves.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour then toss again just before serving.
Notes
* To make a good salad dressing you must achieve a balance between the acid and the oil when you feel the flavor of the acid and it is not dominated by the oil. The acidity of limes vary widely depending on the manufacturer and season, making it necessary to adjust the amount of lime juice.
The ratio for the perfect vinaigrette: 1:3 (lime juice/vinegar+oil).
* Olive oils can be very subtle or intense in flavor. Chose subtle flavored oil so that it will carry the other flavors in the vinaigrette.
* If you plan to use vinegar instead of lime juice, keep in mind that every vinegar has a different level of acidity.
*I advise to refrigerate this herbed oil for at least 3-6 hours ( depends on the intensity of flavors you want to achieve). It can be prepared 2-3 days ahead.
* Before dressing Cowboy caviar, recombine all the herbed oil ingredients.
EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING DRESSING
A small bowl, a small saucepan.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Salads
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
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COWBOY CAVIAR
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