Description
Best Ever Cowboy Caviar is a vibrant and flavorful Texas-style salad featuring a colorful mix of beans, corn, and fresh vegetables tossed in a tangy, slightly sweet vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or party dip, this cowboy caviar is quick to prepare and delicious served chilled.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- ½ cup white sugar
Salad
- 1 (14 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (14 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
- 1 (11 ounce) can white shoepeg corn, drained
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Combine olive oil, vegetable oil, cider vinegar, and white sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove it from heat and allow it to cool completely to room temperature. This vinaigrette forms the flavorful base of the salad.
- Prepare the salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the rinsed and drained pinto beans, black-eyed peas, drained white shoepeg corn, chopped red onion, celery, red bell pepper, and cilantro until evenly combined. This fresh mix showcases a variety of textures and flavors.
- Combine salad and dressing: Pour the cooled dressing over the salad mixture in the large bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat all the ingredients evenly, ensuring every bite is full of flavor.
- Chill and serve: For best results, refrigerate the cowboy caviar for at least an hour before serving. Serving it chilled allows the flavors to meld beautifully, enhancing the overall taste and texture.
Notes
- Chilling the salad for at least one hour helps flavors develop for a richer taste.
- Use fresh cilantro and vegetables for the best texture and flavor.
- Adjust sweetness or acidity by modifying the sugar or vinegar quantities to your preference.
- This salad stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making it a great make-ahead dish.
- Serve with tortilla chips as a dip or alongside grilled meats as a refreshing side.
