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A bowl of Texas caviar with tortilla chips on top served as a dip
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5 from 2 votes

Texas Caviar (Cowboy Caviar)

This Texas Caviar (a.k.a. Cowboy Caviar) is loaded with black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, tomatoes, jalapeno, avocado, and more. We put a twist on it by adding cooked shrimp! Toss it with a tangy lime dressing for a healthy and easy dip, salad, or side dish that everyone will love.  You can make it in advance in just 30 minutes!  
Course:Appetizer, Salad
Cuisine:American
Keywords:appetizer recipes, cowboy caviar, dip recipes, quick recipes, texas caviar, texas caviar dip
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12 people
Calories81 kcal
Cost $ 1.25 per person

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 Mason jar

Ingredients

For the Texas Caviar:

  • 2 15 oz cans black eye peas drained and rinsed (800 grams)
  • 1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed (400 grams)
  • 1 15 oz can yellow corn drained and rinsed (400 grams)
  • ½ red onion chopped
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeno chopped
  • 2 bell peppers chopped (any color of choice)
  • ¼ cup chopped green onions
  • 1 avocado chopped
  • 8 oz cooked large shrimp cleaned and tail-off (optional) or 227 grams

For the dressing:

  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt or more if desired
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon honey or sugar
  • 3 tablespoon chopped cilantro or parsley
  • corn tortilla chips to serve with

Instructions

  • For the dip/salad: In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients for the Texas caviar dip, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Chill the avocado (whole and unpeeled) for at least one hour. Take off the pit and slice to add to the salad right before serving to prevent turning brown!
  • If you want, add cooked shrimp. Or heat a dash of oil in a no-stick skillet over medium heat, season the shrimp with salt and pepper, and sauté until just becomes pinkish. Let it cool before adding to the salad!
  • For the cowboy caviar dressing: In another bowl or Mason jar, whisk in/shake well all the ingredients for the dressing. Refrigerate covered.
  • Right before serving or about 30 minutes prior, pour the dressing over the Texas caviar and toss until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
  • Serve with corn tortilla chips as a dip or by itself as a salad or side dish for meats.

Recipe Notes

Storage
Consume Texas caviar salad within 24 hours if it contains avocado. Or up to 3-4 days if it contains shrimp and no avocado.
If it doesn’t contain either shrimp or avocado, keep it in the fridge for up to one week in an airtight container.
Freeze for up to 2 months. Make sure to thaw in the fridge and stir well before serving. 

Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 130mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 738IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

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