Cowboy Caviar

Discover a hearty cowboy caviar recipe, loaded with beans and fresh produce tossed in zesty lime dressing for a delicious, flavoursome dish.

If you’re looking for an easy way to liven up your next backyard cookout, look no further than cowboy caviar! Also known as Texas caviar, this fresh and flavorful dip is sure to draw rave reviews from family and friends alike.

Cowboy caviar is a fun and flavourful Tex-Mex inspired classic. A southwestern-style dish packed with beans, corn, and other vegetables marinated in a bold lime dressing – it’s full of vibrant flavours and textures that will make your taste buds sing.

Now let us introduce you to this crowd pleaser so you can incorporate it into everything from backyard barbecues to game night snacks!

What is Cowboy Caviar?

Cowboy Caviar, also known as Texas Caviar or Southwestern salad, is a widely celebrated American appetiser that has become a staple at social events and festive celebrations.

Despite its name suggesting a lavish comparison to the highly prized sturgeon caviar, Cowboy Caviar is essentially a flavoursome and piquant dip composed of various legumes, vegetables, and a bold dressing.

The origins of this delectable dish date back to 1940 when Helen Corbitt, a renowned food service director for the Zodiac room at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, first introduced it on New Year’s Eve at the Houston Country Club.

Cowboy Caviar Variations

Protein – Add chopped chicken, small shrimp, or even crumbled bacon.

Make it spicy – Leave the seeds and ribs in the jalapenos for some spice. Craving more spice? Add a dash of your favourite hot sauce to the dressing.

Cheese – Add crumbled feta or cotija cheese.

Dressing – Many people enjoy using store bought Italian dressing with their cowboy caviar. While I think that the homeade lime dressing is far and beyond better, the Italian dressing may be a good short cut if it suits your tastes.

Tips for Making the BEST Cowboy Caviar

To ensure you make the best Cowboy Caviar, consider following these helpful tips and suggestions.

1. Let it chill. One of the secrets to a truly flavourful Cowboy Caviar is letting the mixture rest in the fridge for an hour or two. This helps the flavours meld together while keeping the freshness of the ingredients intact. The longer the ingredients marinate, the more intense and delectable the taste of the Cowboy Caviar becomes.

2. Give it a stir. While it chills the dressing and any liquid released from the veggies will pool at the bottom. Be sure to give it a good stir before serving.

3. Add the avocado just before serving. The key to maintaining the best texture and taste of Cowboy Caviar is adding the avocado at the right time – which is just before serving. Avocado, being a delicate and perishable ingredient, is prone to browning when exposed to air for too long. As a result, adding the diced avocado too early can detract from the aesthetics and freshness of the dish. By incorporating the avocado at the last minute, you can ensure that the Cowboy Caviar stays green and enticing throughout the time it is on the table.

4. Use high-quality, fresh ingredients. The soul and essence of Cowboy Caviar lies in the quality and freshness of its ingredients, such as the corn, tomatoes, and peppers. To make the most of this delightful dish, always use fresh vegetables and a high-quality, extra-virgin olive oil.

5. Adapt to personal tastes and preferences. Cowboy Caviar is an incredibly versatile dish – feel free to experiment with your own preferences and the preferences of your guests.

How to Serve Texas Caviar

Texas Caviar is a versatile and flavourful dish, and an undeniable crowd-pleaser. Here are some ways to serve Texas Caviar.

1. Side Dish Salad

Elevate your next barbecue or family gathering by serving Texas Caviar as a fresh, flavourful and nutritious side dish salad. Transfer the well-mixed Texas Caviar into a large serving bowl and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh, chopped cilantro or parsley. This gorgeous salad complements grilled meats, such as chicken, steak, or pork, and adds colour and zing to the table.

2. Dip

Turn your Texas Caviar into a scrumptious appetizer by presenting it as a dip for tortilla chips. Simply place the Texas Caviar in a decorative serving dish and arrange an assortment of crisp, lightly-salted tortilla chips around it. Your guests will love the satisfying crunch of the chips paired with the vibrant flavours and textures of the cowboy caviar, which will undoubtedly be a hit at your next game night or cocktail party.

3. Salsa Topping

Add a delightful twist to your breakfast burritos, tacos, enchiladas, or any other Mexican-inspired dishes by using Texas Caviar as an unconventional salsa topping. It even tastes great as a baked potato topping with a little sour cream! The combination of the bold vinaigrette dressing with the delightful flavours of black-eyed peas, sweetcorn, and vegetables creates a harmonious addition to several dishes. Simply spoon a generous amount of Texas Caviar onto your delectable creations and savour the incredible taste experience that ensues.

4. Topping for a Green Salad

Experiment with new salad combinations by using Texas Caviar as a topping. Texas Caviar’s bright flavours and textures can transform a simple green salad into a more substantial and satisfying mouth-watering creation. Begin by laying a bed of leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce, arugula or spinach, on a serving plate and top it off with a hearty scoop of Texas Caviar and prepare to be amazed.

How to Make Cowboy Caviar Ahead of Time

Cowboy Caviar can be easily made ahead of time. However, since it contains avocado, there are a few essential steps to take to ensure it remains fresh and delicious right up to the moment of serving.

Do not add or prepare the avocado until just before serving to prolong the life of this dish. Since avocado has a tendency to brown when exposed to air, it is best to wait until just before serving to dice and add it to the Cowboy Caviar.

Make sure you remove the seeds from the tomatoes if preparing and storing ahead of time. This is something you may want to do anyway.

Prepare the rest of the mixture, and stir in the dressing until everything is well coated. This will allow the flavours to meld and intensify while the Cowboy Caviar sits in the refrigerator.

Before serving, taste the Cowboy Caviar and adjust the seasonings as needed, adding additional salt, pepper, or lime juice if desired.

How to Store Leftover Cowboy Caviar

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Glass containers or high-quality plastic containers with tight-fitting lids work well.

Keep in mind that cowboy caviar is best consumed within 3 to 4 days of being stored in the refrigerator. Beyond this period, the ingredients may begin to lose some of their crispness, and the flavours may become less vibrant.

It’s important to note that freezing leftover cowboy caviar is not advised. The delicate textures of the avocado and tomato may be compromised when frozen and then thawed, resulting in a less appetising dish. So, for optimal taste and enjoyment, it’s best to consume your cowboy caviar within the recommended time frame and avoid freezing the leftovers.

About the Ingredients for Cowboy Caviar

Tomatoes – Use fresh tomatoes, do not substitute with canned.

Beans – Instead of pinto beans, you can use black eyed peas. You can also use all black beans if you desire. Rinse and drain your beans well.

Corn – You can use raw or lightly cooked corn in this recipe. Frozen or canned corn will also work in a pinch but fresh is more crisp and juicy. If using frozen or canned corn, be sure to drain the corn from the liquid.

Onion – If you aren’t a red onion fan try soaking the chopped onion in cold water for a bit before assembling. Soaking will take the bite out of the onion, leaving it sweet and mild.

Sweet peppers – I used a red bell pepper and a green bell pepper but you can switch things up with different combinations of bell peppers.

Avocado – Make sure you use ripe Hass avocados.

Jalapeno – Want more kick? Do not discard the jalapeno seeds and be sure to mix it in. You can add more jalapeno peppers to the recipe or choose spicier peppers.

Cilantro – The cilantro is very optional. If you are like me, and it tastes like soapy parsley, feel free to omit entirely. I’ve been told it is supposed to have a lemony flavour and the dressing is made with lime juice, so no need to make substitutions.

Looking for More Tasty Tex Mex Recipes?

Check out more of my favourite Tex Mex dishes!

This easy Mexican ground beef casserole recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal! It’s a hearty, comforting, and delicious Tex Mex casserole.

The BEST Homemade Cowboy baked beans recipe with step by step instructions for baking in the oven, in your crock pot, or over the campfire.

This Mexican Macaroni Salad recipe is a very versatile summer salad perfect for picnics and barbecues as as a tasty side dish.

How to Make Cowboy Caviar

Yields: 12 cups | Prep time: 15 minutes | Chill time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 medium tomatoes, diced
• 15 oz can black beans, drained
• 15 oz can pinto beans, drained
• 3 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 cobs shucked)
• ½ large red onion, diced
• 1 small red bell pepper, diced
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• 2 hass avocados, diced
• 2 jalapenos, diced
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped (about 1 cup packed)

Dressing:

• 3 medium limes, juiced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a large serving bowl, combine the tomatoes, beans, corn, red onion, bell pepper, avocado, and cilantro.

In a small bowl, stir together the ingredients for the dressing. Adjust the seasonings to taste as needed.

Pour the dressing over the cowboy caviar and toss to combine.

Refrigerate for at least 20-30 minutes for maximum flavour.

Serve with tortilla chips or eat it in burrito bowls or salads.