Description
Cowboy Caviar is a vibrant party salad from the 1940s that has gained a dedicated following. With its healthy mix of black-eyed peas, vegetables, and beans, it’s considered a good luck charm, making it perfect for your next barbecue or potluck.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup sugar (see notes)
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can wash black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (11-ounce) can super sweet corn, drained (see notes)
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 cup of chopped cilantro (from 1 bunch)
Instructions
- First of all In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sugar, white wine vinegar, chili powder, and salt.
- Add the diced tomatoes, black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, red onion, and bell peppers. Mix well to combine.
- Gently fold in the cilantro. Cover the bowl and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- You can substitute regular canned sweet corn or frozen corn for the super sweet corn. The equivalent measurement is about 3/4 cup, but you can also use the full 15-ounce can.
- A sweet onion or a bunch of green onions can replace the red onion.
- You can use one bell pepper instead of 1/2 cup each of red and green bell peppers.
- The sugar adds a nice sweetness to the dish, which is a Midwest tradition. If you find 1/4 cup too sweet, feel free to reduce the amount. Start with 1 tablespoon at a time. Some readers have found it overly sweet, which is disappointing. If you want to adjust after mixing, you can add more vinegar and salt to balance it out. This is how we enjoy it in America’s Dairyland, and we love it!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hours 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12 servings
- Calories: 194 kcal