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Rolling Sauce

Cowboy Caviar

Black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, and fresh vegetables tossed in a homemade lime-cumin vinaigrette. No cooking, no fuss — just make it a couple hours ahead and it's the best thing on the table.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Appetizer / Dip
Cuisine: American / Tex-Mex
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

The Dip
  • - 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • - 15 oz can black-eyed peas drained and rinsed
  • - 1½ cups corn kernels canned/drained, frozen/thawed, or fresh
  • - 1 red bell pepper finely diced
  • - 1 jalapeño seeded and minced
  • - ½ medium red onion finely diced
  • - 2 Roma tomatoes diced
  • - ½ cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
  • - 1 large avocado diced (added last)
The Dressing
  • - 3 tbsp olive oil
  • - 3 tbsp fresh lime juice about 2 limes
  • - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • - 1 tsp honey or sugar
  • - 1 tsp ground cumin
  • - ½ tsp chili powder
  • - ½ tsp garlic powder
  • - ½ tsp salt
  • - ¼ tsp black pepper
To Serve
  • - Tortilla chips

Method
 

  1. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, red wine vinegar, honey, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, bell pepper, jalapeño, red onion, tomatoes, and cilantro.
  3. Pour the dressing over the bowl and toss to coat evenly.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 3 hours) to let the flavors develop.
  5. Right before serving, fold in the diced avocado gently to keep it from breaking up.
  6. Taste and adjust with extra salt or a squeeze of lime if needed. Serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

  • Storage: Store without the avocado in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Stir and taste before serving leftovers; add a fresh squeeze of lime to freshen the flavor.
  • Make ahead: Mix everything except the avocado up to 3 hours before serving. Add avocado immediately before serving.
  • Swap: Replace one can of black-eyed peas with pinto beans for a slightly different texture. Add a second jalapeño (with seeds) for significant heat. Substitute mango for one tomato for a sweeter, tropical variation.