Cowboy Caviar Recipe

You know summer is coming when the Food Bank is offering ears of corn at Community Produce Program Plus sites! As incredible tasting fresh corn is on its own, it also can be used to make “Cowboy Caviar.” The simple, flexible and nutritious recipe from Budget Bytes can be the star side dish at your next potluck or can be the answer to “what’s for dinner” when it’s too hot to cook!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 15oz. can black beans 
  • 1 15oz. can black-eyed peas
  • 1 bell pepper (any color) 
  • 2 Roma tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeño
  • 1/4 red onion
  • 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro

DRESSING

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 fresh lime (2 Tbsp juice) 
  • 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin 
  • 1/2 tsp salt 
  • 1/2 tsp sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Rinse and drain both cans of beans in a colander. Let the excess water drain as you prepare the vegetables.
  2. Finely dice the bell pepper, tomatoes, jalapeño, and red onion. Try to dice the vegetables into pieces that are roughly the same size as the beans. For a less spicy salad, scrape the seeds out of the jalapeño before dicing. Roughly chop the cilantro. Place the drained beans, bell pepper, tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, and cilantro in a large bowl.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, 2 Tbsp of juice from the lime, balsamic vinegar, chili powder, cumin, salt, and sugar. Pour the dressing over the salad, then stir until everything is well coated.
  4. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to eat.