Immensely flavourful with a tangy dressing, this oil free cowboy caviar makes a wonderful salad or dip. It’s not only oil free and naturally vegan, but it’s gluten free and free from refined sugar, too! With no cooking required, you can have this dish on your table in minutes. Perfect for lunches, dinners, and potlucks.
What is Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy caviar, also known as Texas caviar is a truly flavourful, budget friendly dish that is perfect for dipping.
It typically uses black eyed peas, (said to bring luck!) combined with chopped vegetables and a tangy, sweet dressing.
As I mentioned above, black eyed peas are said to bring good luck, and traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day to bring prosperity for the new year.
But I think this dish can bring good luck all year long!
It’s colourful ingredients make it a wonderful spring or summer time dish, and it’s perfectly dippable, making it great for parties any time of the year.
Use your cowboy caviar to dip your chips or crackers, serve it as a salad, or even use it as a relish!
How to make cowboy caviar?
Gather your ingredients.
Of course, I’m using black eyed peas as traditionally meant to be.
To mine I add black beans for extra heartiness, chopped veggies, fresh herbs and sweet corn.
To make the oil free vinaigrette I use freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and smoked paprika. (See the full recipe below.)
Then pour the dressing over the salad and mix well to combine.
Variations/Substitutions
This super adaptable dish can be made to your tastes, and to suit what you have on hand.
- If you belong to the “cilantro tastes like soap” club, sub the cilantro for fresh parsley or dill.
- Use frozen and thawed corn, or canned corn, or even leftover corn on the cobb. Anything works here.
- For the bell pepper, I use red, but any colour you have works great.
- If you want extra heat, use more jalapeno. Or add some cayenne pepper or a splash or two of hot sauce to your cowboy caviar dressing.
- You may also add black olives, celery, garlic, avocado, green onion or TEQUILA! You’re welcome.
How long does it keep?
You may prepare the ingredients ahead, but I recommend dressing the dish no more than a few hours before serving as some of the veggies will soften.
Cowboy caviar keeps about 3-4 days in the refrigerator, if it lasts that long!
For more easy party dips
- Peanut Butter Hummus
- Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Oil Free Dill Pickle White Bean Dip
- Sweet Hummus Fruit Dip
- 3 Minute Easy Guacamole
If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.
Buon appetito,
Rosa
Ingredients
- 1 13.5 oz can black eyed peas drained & rinsed (approx 1.5 cups)
- 1 13.5 oz can black beans drained & rinsed (approx 1.5 cups)
- 1 red bell pepper diced (or colour of choice)
- 2 firm roma tomatoes diced
- 1 cup frozen corn thawed (or canned)
- 1/3 cup red onion diced
- 1 jalapeno finely chopped & seeds removed
- 1/2 cup cilantro chopped (or parsley or dill)
For the Dressing
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1 lime juiced
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika or sweet
Deborah Parsons
I loved everything about this!!!
Rosa
Oh yay!!! Thrilled to hear that Deborah. Thanks so much for the review. 🙂
Sean
I made this today. Super easy and delicious!
Rosa
Thanks for sharing Sean!
Eric
This was flavorful and simple to prepare!
Rosa
Thrilled to hear that Eric!
Suzanne
Hubby has studied under a chef but I asked him to follow the recipe to the letter. He did. We found it to be very bland. Unfortunately we made a double batch and couldnt seem to fix it. No disrespect to Rosa but was disappointed.
Christina
Made these to enjoy for new years simce black eyed peas is supposed to bring good luck. It was absolutely delicious and let’s hope the luck comes this year too. 😆
Rosa
Haha, glad you enjoyed Christina. Hope you have a great 2021. 🙂
Eileen M Serrecchia
Spicy and delicious, Rosa! Thank you so much!
Rosa
My pleasure Eileen, thrilled you enjoyed! Thanks so much for the review. 🙂
Marianne
I was looking for a oil free texas caviar and came across this recipe and just made it w/o the tomatoe because I didn’t have any. Delicious! Thank you!
Rosa
Thrilled you enjoyed Marianne. Thanks very much for reporting back. 🙂
Jules G.
Oh my goodness. Cowboy Caviar is FANTASTIC! After one day, I’m ready to make a second batch. Can’t wait to experiment and put my own spin on this delicious dish!
Rosa
Thrilled you enjoyed it Julie! Thanks so much for the review. 🙂
Leslie Seeds
I made this tonight and it was wonderful!
Rosa
Thrilled you enjoyed. Thanks for the feedback Leslie. 🙂
John
Thank you!!!
This recipe is delicious. I had a taste for Texas Cavier but can’t have oil or salt. This is definitely a cook book quality recipe. I swapped pintos for black eye peas because I didn’t have them and it worked out great.
Rosa
Thanks very much John. Thrilled you enjoyed it so much and appreciate you taking the time to leave your feedback.
Lissa
Loved the recipe. Loved seeing my friends who usually don’t like eating my food because it’s “too healthy”, devour this. Planning on making more , just for me.
rosa
Thanks so much for the feedback Lissa. So glad you and your friends enjoyed. 🙂
Ali
We loved this recipe! Perfect on a summer evening and the dressing was really yummy. Really fresh tasting and we will definitely be making this lots more in the future. Thanks for the recipe😊
rosa
Thanks so much Ali, so glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Samantha
Ooh I’m so excited about this new recipe! I can’t wait to make it! 😆
And I just love anythingwith cilantro in it 😋 but I’ll have to put it in a side dish, I think my husband is president of the “cilantro tastes like soap” club 😉
rosa
Hehe thanks so much Samantha! I’m sure you’ll love this!