This Texas caviar (cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowding around the bowl! It’s packed with big, zesty flavors and perfect for parties.
Here’s a delicious dip with a party vibe: texan caviar! Cowboy caviar, as it is also known, was invented in Texas and spread throughout the United States. This combination of black-eyed peas, veggies, and a dressing is both savory and comforting—and you can use it as a dip for fries or as a healthy side dish. This recipe is loaded with colorful veggies, cilantro, and jalapenos, and a simple, flavorful dressing that tastes perfect. Even better, it’s also a vegan and gluten-free appetizer that’s packed with plant-based protein. This is how this festive dip is prepared!
Ingredients of Texas Caviar, also known as Cowboy Caviar
Just like a good potato salad, everyone has their own take on Texas caviar ingredients. The common denominator: black-eyed peas absolutely must be used! From there they have all sorts of variations on veggies and dressing. Here are the main fresh ingredients you will need for the salad:
- black Eyed Peascanned or cooked (see below)
- Black beanspreserved or cooked
- Corn
- Red pepper
- cherry tomatoes
- Green Onions
- jalapeno pepper
- coriander
Texas Caviar Vinaigrette
Now we come to the cowboy caviar dressing. A common variation of this recipe uses a store-bought Italian dressing. But of course you have to do it yourself! The dressing is super easy to make with just a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and spice drawer. Here’s what’s included in this Texas Caviar Dressing:
- lime juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sugar
- Spices: garlic powder, cumin and oregano
- olive oil
To make Texas caviar, simply chop all the veggies, then stir in the dressing and toss to combine. As simple as that! Jump to the recipe below for details.
Why is it called cowboy caviar?
Some people call this dip cowboy caviar, which is the nickname of texan caviar. Texas caviar is named after its place of birth: Texas! It was founded around 1940 by a woman named Helen Corbitt. She first served it on New Year’s Eve at a country club (perhaps because black-eyed peas are known as a New Year’s lucky food). When she later served it at a Texas hotel, it was dubbed “Texas caviar,” after a play on real caviar, a fancy fish roe appetizer. The name sticks!
What are black-eyed peas anyway?
Black dots aren’t actually dots at all. Those are beans! Black-eyed peas belong to the legume family, along with black beans and chickpeas. Although often eaten in the southern United States, they are eaten around the world.
One of the most popular black-eyed pea recipes in the United States is a New Year’s happiness tradition: Hoppin’ John, a dish with rice and pork. But there are so many other ways to serve them, like Texas caviar! A few of our other favorites as a black-eyed pea salad or as a side dish.
Canned or boiled black-eyed peas
For the Texas caviar, we like to use canned black-eyed peas because they’re quick and easy! They also have a wonderfully soft texture. But some stores don’t carry them (at least here in Indiana!). You can also cook your black-eyed peas dry. Here’s what to do:
- In a large saucepan, add ½ pound of dried black-eyed peas to 2 cups vegetable stock, 2 cups water, and ¾ teaspoon kosher salt. (You can also cook the whole pound and double those ingredients! That leaves leftovers.)
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until tender but still holding together. Then drain.
How to serve Texas caviar
There are many ways to serve Texas caviar or cowboy caviar, but the most popular is fries! Here are some more ideas for turning your wheels:
Do you want to advance it or save leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This Texas caviar recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
The description
This Texas caviar (cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowding around the bowl! It’s full of big, zesty flavors and perfect for parties and BBQs.
For the vegetables
- 2 15-ounce cans of black-eyed peas (or 3 cups cooked)
- 15– ounce can of black beans (or 1½ cups cooked)
- 1 15 ounces corn (or 1½ cups frozen and thawed)
- 1 Red pepper
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 3 Green Onions
- 1 medium jalapeño, seeded (optional)
- ½ cup chopped coriander
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
For the salad dressing
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 4 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Drain and rinse beans and corn.
- Dice peppers. Chop cherry tomatoes. Cut the spring onions into thin slices. Deseed and chop jalapeno peppers. Chop the cilantro.
- Put all the vegetables and beans in a bowl. Mix with kosher salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, and cumin. Gradually add the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix together.
- Eat immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve (it tastes best after marinating for 30 minutes or more). Serve with fries for dipping. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Category: aperitif
- Method: Raw
- Kitchen: Tex-Mex
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Texas caviar, cowboy caviar
More dip recipes
This Texas caviar is the perfect holiday dip! Here are some other dip recipes you might like:
- Spinach Artichoke Dip Irresistibly creamy and tangy! Everyone will park in front of the bowl and then ask you for the recipe.
- Taco Dip Simple and absolutely effective! Made with Greek yogurt and a blend of house spices.
- Easy Guacamole Perfect Taste! Creamy, flavorful and perfectly balanced, you’ll hear a chorus of “Wow’s” every time you serve it.
- Dill Pickle Dip Perfect for the Holidays! Creamy and flavorful, it’s like biting into a dill pickle.
- Peanut Butter Dip Wow, people like this one! This healthy dip only has 4 ingredients and tastes like icing! Perfect for dipping apples, pretzels or fruit.
