It’s the perfect dish to take to a potluck or family get-together. The perfect healthy dish to make and snack on during the week ensures you’re getting your veggies in for the week. It’s kinda like a salad, but most often used as a dip. It can be used as a side dish or a meal. It’s easy cowboy caviar. This dish is delicious, fresh, and worth all the chopping. It’s versatile and can be made in LOTS of different ways.
What is cowboy caviar?
I’ll admit this isn’t a family recipe or something I have made in the past. I follow a girl on TikTok named Bria and she makes it all the time on her page. I’m pretty sure that’s launched her into fame. That, and her sweet friendly personality. Anyway, watching her make it over and over made me just have to try it and it was a hit at our house.
This recipe isn’t a new one. It is a Tex-Mex dish that’s often called Texas caviar or redneck caviar. It’s the perfect end-of-summer dish to use up some things out of your garden
Is this Bria’s recipe? Not exactly. She makes it so many different ways on her channel. I make every recipe my own, so this one is a bit different. I’ll be sure to give you lots of options for add-ins. Cowboy caviar can be made in so many different ways!
What goes in cowboy caviar?
It’s a mix of peppers, onions, corn, 2 types of beans, and feta cheese. It is dressed with a fresh lime dressing. It makes a lot so be prepared to share it at a gathering or eat on it all week.
I make mine with red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, chickpeas, black beans, jalapeños, cucumber, fresh corn, tomato, and feta. Then, the dressing is an easy lime, olive oil dressing with salt and pepper.
The thing is, there are many ways to make it. There are lots of fun combinations! Here are some options you can add.
- Pinto beans ( this is the most common, but I switched them out for chickpeas)
- Candied jalapeños. I used fresh, but these would be great!
- Switch out the feta for cotija cheese
- Black olives
- Green bell pepper. I just don’t like them, but if you do, add them!
- Avocado
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Bria uses frozen corn instead of fresh. I just don’t think I would like that texture.
- Pickled jalapeños
In the dressing, you can add
- White wine vinegar ( I like ACV)
- Taco seasoning (this is common, but I opted out and just added paprika)
- Bria uses spicy honey. I can’t find it so I just use regular honey.
- I’ve seen lemons used, but limes would just be better.
- I’ve also seen someone add a little pickled jalapeño juice
How to serve cowboy caviar
You can serve this in a few different ways. I like to eat it with tortilla chips as a dip. It can also be eaten as a salad or a side dish. Another way you could eat it is on top of tacos like these spicy chickpea tacos!
Love Mexican food? Check out some of my favorite dishes:
Easy Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients
- 2 diced bell pepper use red, yellow, or orange you can also add a green in there if you like
- ½ large red onion diced
- 2 medium cucumbers diced
- 15 cherry tomatoes cut in slices
- 2 red or green jalapeños diced remove seeds for less heat
- 4 ears of corn cut off the cob
- 1 large handful of fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup feta cheese
Lime honey dressing
- 2 large limes juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoon pink salt or sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Dice bell peppers into small chunks and put them in a large bowl.
- Dice cucumbers and red onion and add to the bowl.
- Slice cherry tomatoes into small slices and add them to the bowl.
- Chop the jalapeños into small chunks and add them to the bowl. Remove seeds for less heat.
- Cut the corn off of the cob and add it in. I have seen people use frozen corn but I think the texture would be weird.
- Chop the cilantro up really well and add to the bowl.
- Drain and rinse chickpeas and black beans and add to the bowl.
- Add in feta.
Lime Honey Dressing
- Juice large limes into a small bowl
- Add in olive oil, ACV, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Pour over the salad and mix well.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
- See the post for lots of variations.
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