Recipe: Cowboy Caviar

Bowl of cowboy caviar dip with wooden spoon, tortilla chips, lime

Cowboy caviar is a popular bean-based dip with colorful veggies and a zippy vinaigrette. This appetizer won't last long at your next potluck. Go all in on local ingredients from the Lenexa Farmers Market. You can get Kansas-grown dried beans from JET Produce and Meats. Peppers, tomatoes, onions, fresh herbs, olive oil, garlic and honey are also available from other vendors.

Recipe credit: Kathryne Taylor, Cookie & Kate

Total time: 30 minutes

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Cowboy caviar

2 cans (14 ounces each) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained, or 3 cups cooked black-eyed peas
1 can (14 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained, or 1 ½ cups cooked black beans
1 ½ cups fresh or defrosted frozen corn kernels (about 2 ears of corn), or 1 can (14 ounces) corn, drained
1 ½ cups chopped ripe tomatoes (about ¾ pound)
1 medium red, orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped
¾ cup chopped red onion (about ½ small red onion)
½ cup chopped cilantro, leaves and stems
1 to 2 jalapeños, ribs removed, seeded and finely chopped
1 avocado (optional)
Tortilla chips, to serve

Italian dressing

⅓ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar or lime juice
2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 to 1 ½ teaspoons salt, to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. In a large serving bowl, combine the drained black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, chopped tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cilantro and jalapeño. If you’ll be including avocado, wait to dice it until you’re ready to serve the dip, so it doesn’t turn brown in the meantime.

  2. In a cup, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well blended. Drizzle the dressing over the serving bowl and toss until well mixed. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. If you’d like the salad to have more of a pickled flavor, add another tablespoon of vinegar, or for more richness, add another tablespoon or two of olive oil.

  3. For best flavor, let the mixture marinate for at least 20 minutes before serving. If you’re adding avocado, mix it in just before serving.

     

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