Cowboy Caviar Bean Dip (Printable)
Colorful bean and vegetable dip with a zesty lime-cumin dressing, perfect for potlucks and gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beans and Pulses
01 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
08 - 1/2 red onion, finely diced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Dressing
10 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
11 - 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 1 tsp ground cumin
14 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
17 - Juice of 1 lime
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, toss together the drained black beans, black-eyed peas, corn kernels, diced red and green bell peppers, finely chopped jalapeño, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, and chopped cilantro.
02 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and fresh lime juice until well blended.
03 - Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust the salt, pepper, or lime juice to your preference.
05 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Serve chilled with tortilla chips as a dip, spooned over greens as a salad, or use as a taco filling.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Zero cooking required, which means your kitchen stays cool and you stay sane when entertaining a crowd.
- The dressing seeps into every bean and veggie while it chills, so it actually tastes better the longer it sits around waiting for people.
02 -
- If you skip the chilling step the flavors will taste separate and sharp, so plan ahead even if you are impatient.
- Diced avocado folded in at the last minute turns this into something luxuriously creamy, but add it too early and it will brown and mush into everything.
03 -
- A squeeze of hot sauce added right before serving wakes up leftovers that have been sitting in the fridge overnight.
- Use a slotted spoon to serve if it has been resting a long time, because nobody wants a soggy chip.