A fresh and tasty dip or salad that everyone will rave about! This cowboy caviar is a perfect side dish for picnics, potlucks, and parties, and it’s ready in just 15 minutes!
This wonderfully flavourful and oil free cowboy caviar is covered in a tangy dressing, that’s perfect for salad or dip.
A fantastic dish that’s not only naturally vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, but this version is also oil-free, and refined sugar-free.
Serve it with homemade tortilla chips for the ultimate treat.
Jump to:
What is Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy caviar, also known as Texas caviar is a truly flavourful, budget-friendly dish that is perfect for dipping.
It traditionally contains black-eyed peas, which are said to bring luck!
Plus, add some chopped vegetables and a tangy, sweet dressing.
Black-eyed peas are said to bring good luck and fortune, so they are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day to bring prosperity for the new year.
(But feel free to enjoy it all year long!)
Its colourful ingredients make it a wonderful spring or summertime dish as well, and it makes a perfect party dip any time of the year.
Serve this cowboy caviar as a side dish, with chips or crackers, or even use it as a relish to top your burgers!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for our oil-free cowboy caviar recipe.
- Beans: A mix of black beans and don’t forget the black-eyed peas!
- Veggies: I’m using chopped tomato, jalapeno, red onion, red pepper, and corn.
- Herbs: I like cilantro, but you may also try parsley, basil, or dill if you prefer.
- Dressing: Made up of lemon juice, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and smoked paprika. I’m skipping the olive oil more commonly found in this salad to keep this dish virtually fat-free.
Instructions
(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Add all the chopped veggies, beans (drain first), and herbs to a mixing bowl.
Then pour the dressing on top, mix well and serve.
Serve your cowboy caviar as a side salad or a dip with chips or crackers.
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, canned sweet corn, or even leftover corn on the cobb. Anything works here.
- For the bell pepper, I use red bell pepper, but any colour you have works great.
- If you want extra heat, use more jalapenos. Or add some cayenne pepper or a splash or two of hot sauce to your cowboy caviar dressing.
- Spices! Add additional flavours like cumin, chili powder, oregano, and salt and pepper, to taste.
- You may also add black olives, celery, garlic, avocado, green onion, or TEQUILA! You’re welcome.
Storage
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.
That said, if you have leftover cowboy caviar, it keeps about 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
For delicious and easy party dips
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
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounce can black eyed peas drained & rinsed (approx 1.5 cups)
- 15 ounce 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)
- ⅓ cup red onion diced
- 1 jalapeno finely chopped & seeds removed
- ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped (or parsley or dill)
For the Dressing
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice approx. half a lemon
- 2 tablespoons lime juice approx. 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or sweet
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ
This popular chip dip is made with simple and healthy ingredients like beans, corn, pepper, avocado, tomato, and a sweet and tangy dressing.
Just like cowboy caviar, this dish contains beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and tomato. It originated in Texas where it was first served at the Houston Country Club on New Year’s Eve where it got its name.
This dish got its name due to its humble and budget-friendly ingredients. But despite its ingredients, this dish delivers BIG flavours.
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!