Texas Caviar
User Reviews
5
Texas Caviar
Description
The Texas Caviar recipe combines drained black-eyed peas or black beans with white corn, diced tomatoes, creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, and thinly sliced green onions or substitute red onion for an aromatic base. The dressing is prepared separately by whisking lime juice, honey or agave syrup, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and then emulsifying olive oil into the mixture for a smooth, flavorful coating.
All ingredients are tossed with the dressing allowing the flavors to meld. The seasoning can be adjusted with additional salt, pepper, cumin, or chili powder to achieve the desired intensity. Garlic powder or garlic salt are optional enhancers. This salad stands out for its combination of fresh vegetables and bold spices, complemented by the creamy avocado and the tangy, slightly sweet dressing.
Texas Caviar is versatile as a dip served with chips, a side dish at barbecues, or a topping for grilled meats. The recipe allows room for ingredient substitutions and additions such as various peppers to adjust heat and texture, making it adaptable for different tastes.
Ingredients
Texas Caviar
- black-eyed peas drained and rinsed (black beans may be substituted for part or all of the black eyed peas, one 15-ounce can
- white corn Frozen, thawed, and drained corn OR fresh corn may be substituted; white or yellow ok, one 15-ounce can
- 2 cups Roma tomato diced small
- 2 avocado halved, seed removed, flesh scored, and scooped out, large or 3 medium ripe Hass
- ¼ to ⅓ cup cilantro finely minced, fresh
- 2 green onions trimmed and sliced very thin (I use root to tip; 1/4 cup finely diced red onion may be substituted)
- ½ to 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste, freshly ground
Dressing
- ¼ cup lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ⅓ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Texas Caviar - To a large bowl, add all the ingredients, and stir well to combine. Tip - Read the blog post for the myriad of substitutions and swap you can make with the ingredients. I listed the obvious in the ingredients above in the recipe like black beans in lieu of black eyed peas, or red onions instead of green. But you can add bell peppers of any color, jalapeno pepper, serrano chile, etc.
- Dressing* - To a medium bowl, add all the dressing ingredients except the olive oil, and whisk to combine.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly to emulsify it.
- Pour the dressing over the Texas caviar, stir and toss well to combine, and taste. Seasoning Tips - If it tastes at all flat, boring, or lacks oomph, it likely needs more salt, so add it, and fairly generously. The same is true for pepper. Then move on to a dash more cumin and chili powder for more flavor. While not specifically called out above, garlic powder or garlic salt is a nice addition. Add more lime juice if you like more acid, or a bit more sweetener if that's your preference, etc.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to 12-24 hours) in the fridge before serving. Serve with white or yellow corn chips, or your favorite dippers. Leftover Texas caviar will keep airtight in the fridge for 4-5 days, noting that the mixture will become more watery as time passes as the vegetables release their natural juices over time. And the avocado will oxidize. The taste will be fine, despite the color.
Notes
- Pre-made dressings like Italian salad dressing mixed with lime juice and olive oil can substitute the homemade dressing if desired; adjust seasoning accordingly.
- Additional honey or agave syrup and spices like cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika can be added to customize flavor.
- Various additional ingredients such as bell peppers or jalapeño can be included for extra texture or heat according to preference.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 309 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 309kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 35g | 12% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 14g | 82% |
| Sodium | 553mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 9g | 36% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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