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Try this EASY Texas Caviar recipe – it’s got minimal chopping and is FULL of flavor. Serve with chips or bread for a yummy appetizer!
Texas Caviar Recipe
Texas Caviar (also known as Cowboy Caviar Dip) is a make ahead appetizer that is full of fresh ingredients. It’s really become a staple in Texas and many other southern states.
Don’t let the name caviar fool you – it’s not a fancy dish! In fact, this recipe is a jab at expensive caviar. The shape of the black-eyed peas mimic the fish roe and thus the name Texas Caviar was born!
🍴TIP: This recipe is from our Celebration Series Menu Planning Made Easy set!
Why is this called cowboy caviar?
Texas caviar dip was originally created in the 1940’s by Helen Corbitt (the culinary director of Neiman Marcus). Since it was originally served in the Houston area, it’s since become a Southern classic.
It’s really just a salad. The unique thing about this dip is that it can be made with a combination of all different foods. Usually it will have varieties of canned or cooked beans, black-eyed peas, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, corn, avocado, and mango. Other herbs and spices or dressings add the finishing touch to this salad.
This “cowboy caviar” can be served as an appetizer, snack, or a dip. We like to serve it with tortilla chips, but you could also use crackers or bread.
It can also be used as a topper for meats. Everything including chicken, pork, steaks or fish. It’s the perfect dish for potlucks and barbecues because it can be made ahead of time. The list of common ingredients also makes this a recipe you can serve all year round.
What is Texas Caviar made of?
- black eyed peas
- black beans
- garbanzo beans
- green onions
- red bell pepper
- yellow bell pepper
- zesty Italian dressing
- salsa
How To Make Texas Caviar:
You’ll want to make this ahead of time so all the flavors have time to meld and blend together.
First, drain and rinse all the canned beans.
Next, chop the green onions and the red and yellow bell peppers.
Finally, toss everything together in a large bowl then cover and refrigerate it overnight. Couldn’t be any simpler and we aren’t complaining. 🙂
Serve with Frito’s, Tostitos scoops, tortilla chips, bread, or even crackers!
If you want to change this up bit, you can add different types of beans and corn, add in some red onion or jalapeno pepper. Even cherry tomatoes and some lime juice would work. It really is a versatile side dish that is SO good and a crowd favorite!
Texas Caviar Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 oz can black eyed peas
- 15 oz can black beans
- 15 oz can garbanzo beans
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 8 oz zesty Italian dressing
- 8 oz salsa
Dippers
- 15.5 oz pkg Fritos scoops
Instructions
- Drain and rinse all beans.
- In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients except chips. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Serve dip with Fritos scoops.
Notes
Nutrition
You can find this Texas Caviar recipe as well as over 70 other recipes in our Celebration Menu Plans too! These come with full grocery lists for each celebration and will make planning for special events a breeze.
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