With record high temperatures hitting most of the country right now, we wanted to serve up a cold recipe. I love the combination of flavors in Texas Caviar. Plus, it’s vegan, gluten-free, full of nutrients, and high in protein.
This is a quick dish that is great as a salad or as a side dish. Pair it with some grilled salmon or BBQ chicken.
What is Texas Caviar?
A native New Yorker created this dish while living in Texas. Helen Corbitt first served it at the Houston Country Club in 1940. Texas Caviar earned its name as a humorous comparison to fish roe caviar, which was expensive and hard to sell when the country was going through war times.
The dish, also called Cowboy Caviar, is a salad of black-eyed peas, chopped tomatoes, corn, bell pepper, onion, and cilantro. All the ingredients get tossed in a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Although these are the ingredients of the traditional recipe, you can easily change out or add other ingredients. You’ll notice, in our recipe, we add avocados.
How long does Texas Caviar last?
Texas Caviar will keep well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. After this, the vegetables break down and come softer as they soak up the vinaigrette dressing. Keep in mind, if you’re preparing this recipe in advance, leave the avocado and tomatoes out. Add them right before you’re ready to serve.
You can also freeze Texas Caviar in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Place it in the refrigerator to thaw a day before you’re ready to eat it. Give it a good stir and add any additional ingredients (like avocado) prior to serving.
How healthy is Texas Caviar?
Black-eyed peas are the star of this dish for a few reasons. Despite the word pea in its name, they’re actually a type of legume that is grown in warm regions around the world. Black-eyed peas get their name from the little black speck in the center of the bean, marking where they once attached to the plant.
Legumes, including black-eyed peas, are an excellent source of both carbohydrates and protein. They’re also high in folate, copper, vitamin A, and thiamine. Studies have found that legumes may help lower cholesterol levels, support eye and skin health, and help with regular digestion.
Since legumes are high in fiber, some people experience additional intestinal gas after eating them. If you haven’t enjoyed legumes recently, start with a small serving the first time you make this dish.
Are canned black-eyed peas okay to eat?
Canned foods are affordable, convenient, and last longer than fresh versions of the same foods. They can be part of a healthy diet, especially when you want to reduce prep and cook time.
A few things to watch for when choosing your canned beans for Texas Caviar:
- Choose the low-sodium or no-salt added brands. This gives you more control over the sodium levels, as you can always add a little salt to the recipe if needed.
- Do not use a can that is bulging, dented, cracked, or one with a broken seal, all signs of spoiled canned foods.
- Watch the lid of the can prior to opening it. It’s hard to see dirt and germs sitting on top of the can.
Texas Caviar Recipe
Ingredients
1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce can black-beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
½ red bell pepper, finely diced
½ green bell pepper, finely diced
½ red onion, finely diced
2 Roma tomatoes, finely diced
2 ripe avocados, diced
⅓ cup cilantro, finely chopped
Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup lime juice
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon brown sugar
¾ teaspoon red chili flakes (adjust to your spice preferences)
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Most of the work for this recipe is dicing and preparing the ingredients. Once you’ve got all the ingredients prepped, add them to a large bowl. Mix well. Set it aside while you prepare the dressing.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad. Stir well. You can serve this immediately but if you have time, put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.
Texas Caviar
Equipment
- Sharp chopping knife
- Cutting Board
- Serving bowl
- Small Mixing bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 15 ounce can Black eyed peas Rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can Black beans Rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can Sweet corn Rinsed
- 1/2 Red bell pepper Finely diced
- 1/2 Green bell pepper Finely diced
- 1/2 Red onion Finely diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes Finely diced
- 2 Avocados (ripe) Diced
- 1/3 cup Fresh Cilantro Finely diced
Dressing
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 cup Lime juice
- 2 Tbsp Cilantro Chopped
- 2 Garlic cloves Crushed
- 1 Tsp Brown sugar
- 3/4 Tsp Red chili flakes adjust to your spice preferences
- 1/4 Tsp Ground cumin
- 1 Tsp Salt
Instructions
- Most of the work for this recipe is dicing and preparing the ingredients. Once you’ve got all the ingredients prepped, add them to a large bowl. Mix well. Set it aside while you prepare the dressing.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad. Stir well. You can serve this immediately but if you have time, put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.