Description
A vibrant and zesty black bean salad, perfect as a dip or topped on tacos and salads.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups sweet corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- ½ small red onion, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Prepare the base ingredients – Start by draining and rinsing the black beans and black-eyed peas. This step keeps the mixture fresh and prevents it from becoming cloudy. Add them to a large mixing bowl where all the colors will come together.
- Chop the vegetables – Dice the bell peppers, halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely chop the red onion and jalapeño. As you add each ingredient to the bowl, you’ll start to see the vibrant colors that make Cowboy Caviar so appealing.
- Add corn and herbs – Stir in the corn kernels and chopped cilantro. The corn adds sweetness that balances the tangy dressing and the gentle heat from the jalapeño.
- Make the dressing – In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. The aroma of fresh lime immediately brings brightness to the mixture.
- Toss everything together – Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Gently stir until everything is coated.
- Let the flavors mingle – For the best flavor, let the Cowboy Caviar sit for about 15–20 minutes. This short rest allows the dressing to soak into the beans and vegetables, creating a balanced, zesty taste.
- Serve with tortilla chips or spoon it over tacos, grilled chicken, or salads.
Notes
- The combination of reds, greens, yellows, and deep black beans turns the bowl into something that looks almost like edible confetti.
- You can adjust the spiciness by adding more or fewer jalapeños based on your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg