Have you heard of cowboy caviar? It’s a colorful blend of seasonal favorites that has an amazing taste. Whatever you do this summer, you simply MUST make this salsa!!!
Why I love cowboy caviar!
HOW in the world it got the name ‘Cowboy Caviar’ is beyond me. It’s kind of a mix between a salsa, a side dish, and a dip.
But whatever you want to call it, it has quickly become one of the most VERSATILE salsas I’ve ever made. It is devoured within minutes whenever I make it so now I’ve had to double the recipe just so there is some leftover for me when everyone goes back to school and work.
This salsa has absolutely everything in it from black beans to corn to diced tomatoes, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, and yummy avocado.
For texture lovers, this salsa is a dream come true. There is the creaminess of the avocado, the crunch of the peppers, the soft beans. And the lime dressing is to DIE FOR!
You really won’t stop eating this. It is a little HIGHLY addictive! It goes FABULOUS with tortilla chips and is great for potlucks or to bring to a family BBQ.
How to Make Your Own Batch
Ingredients:
Now that you know how much I love this salsa, it’s time to make your own. This recipe calls for all fresh ingredients, with the exception of a can of black beans. In addition to a can of beans, all you are need are:
- a couple ears of Corn
- Bell Peppers
- Cloves of Garlic
- Shallot
- Red Onion
- Avocado
- Grape Tomatoes
If you really want to pack in the flavor, I highly recommend grilling your corn with a little butter, salt, and pepper. That in combination with the smoky char will really pull through the taste.
As for the bell peppers, I like them colorful. So I opted in for using red, yellow, and green. The tomatoes help add some color as well, but it doesn’t hurt to get happy with the bell peppers. Mince and dice your garlic, shallot, and red onion. And cut your grape tomatoes into quarters so they blend well in the salsa.
Prepare the vinegarette:
The vinegarette is like the icing on a cake. The flavors of the ingredients listed below will tell you enough:
- Olive Oil
- White Vinegar
- Lime Zest
- Lime Juice
- Sugar
- Cilantro (or parsley)
- Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cumin
Is your mouth watering yet?
How to make Cowboy Caviar:
Here comes the easy part!
- Combine the corn, peppers, garlic, shallots, red onion, and avocado in a bowl.
- Drain and thoroughly rinse the beans and toss them into the bowl.
- Prepare the vinaigrette in a small measuring cup or bowl and pour over the beans and corn mixture.
- Give it a good toss and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Easy peasy, right?
A Few Last Minute Tips:
A few things to keep in mind… the longer the salsa sits, the more the flavors will marinade together. In other words, it gets better with time.
Your cowboy caviar can also be stored for up to 4 days when using an airtight container.
Oh, and be ready to share the recipe if you’re serving this up at your next gathering!
What to Serve with Cowboy Caviar:
I generally serve this salsa with those scoop tortilla chips, but I’ve seen a lot of people eat this over the years and here are their favorites:
- Burgers: A favorite among friends – the cold brightness of the salsa adds a refreshing contrast to the savory richness of burgers.
- Grilled Chicken: The vibrant flavors of the salad perfectly complement the smoky, tender grilled chicken.
- Blackened Salmon: Pairing with blackened salmon, the salad’s fresh ingredients balance the dish’s bold, spicy flavors.
- Tequila Lime Shrimp Tacos: The bright, citrusy notes of the salad enhance the tangy, savory taste of tequila lime shrimp tacos.
COWBOY CAVIAR RECIPE
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Cowboy Caviar
- Total Time: 10 minutes
Description
A deliciously addictive appetizer with beans, corn, avocado with a burst of lime!
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can Black Beans (preferably no salt)
- 2 ears of Corn (grilled outside with a little butter, salt and pepper adds TONS of flavor)
- 1 Bell Pepper (I used red, yellow and green)
- 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon Shallot
- 2 Tablespoons Red Onion
- 1 Large Avocado
- 5–6 Grape Tomatoes sliced in quarters
FOR THE VINIAGRETTE:
- 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Lime Zest
- 4 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- ¼ Cup Cilantro, chopped fine (or parsley)
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Cumin
Instructions
- Combine the corn, peppers, garlic, shallots, red onion and avocado in a bowl.
- Drain and thoroughly rinse the beans and add them.
- Prepare the vinaigrette in a small measuring cup or bowl and pour over the beans and corn.
- Mix and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
Cal 164; Total Fat 9.8 gr; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 433 mg; Pot 350 mg; Carb 17.3 gr; Fiber 4.2 gr; Sugar 3.3 gr; Protein 3.9 gr
Great recipe! I used some honey in place of the sugar and served it with Trader Joe’s corn chip dippers (Mexican street corn flavor). Crowd pleaser!
Excellent! I substituted the black eyed peas with kidney beans, used fresh parsley instead of cilantro and I used fresh corn off the cob. wow! the flavor difference with fresh corn!! There seemed to be a lot of the marinade leftover in the bottom of the container. Perhaps, it was the size container I used. Will definitely make again!
I’ve made this many times and it never gets old! So yummy.
This is soooo addictive!!! Love it.
This is the BEST tasting one!I added English cucumber too
MAKE THIS! It’s the best cowboy caviar recipe on the internet. Hands down!
Look no further. Amazing recipe!
WOW! Thank you Mrs. C 🙂
I wondered how many this recipe typically serves when served as an appetizer wth chips?
This is perfect just like it is. No tweaking needed. A family favorite!! ❤️
Thanks Holly!
I’ve now made this recipe twice & it is delicious!
I see in your notes you have the nutritional info but I am curious about serving size?