Texas Caviar
on Dec 12, 2023, Updated Mar 14, 2024
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Texas Caviar is one of the simplest, yet most unique dips you can make with ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry! This salsa-like salad is bursting with bright, tangy, and savory Mexican-inspired flavors.
I am not kidding when I say this Texas Caviar recipe is addicting! I love this because I’m almost always have all the ingredients on hand. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes o throw this simple salad together!
Making my Texas caviar is a great way to use up any leftover veggies you might have lying around. Simply chop up what you’ve got, toss it together with some beans and tomatoes in a tangy lime dressing. You’ve got an appetizer perfect for your next party or family gathering.
This traditional Texas Caviar is light and refreshing and includes so many flavors that work together perfectly. The bright, tangy, and savory notes in this dip will pair well with a wide variety of entrées and sides.
Table of Contents
What is Texas Caviar?
This is a fresh dip that comes together in minutes with pantry staple ingredients! It’s often thought of and referred to as a type of salsa. It features a naturally sweet and tangy flavor, which makes it a perfect snack to pair with tortilla chips or to toss on top of easy nachos. Most traditional Texas caviar recipes feature black eyed peas mixed with chopped veggies tossed in a tangy dressing. The dish is typically packed with Mexican flavors that pair well with traditional Texan cuisine.
Recipe Ingredients
- Black Beans—Canned, drained, and rinsed. You could also use kidney beans, pinto beans, or black eyed peas.
- Corn Kernels—Canned, drained, and rinsed. You can also use frozen corn if you allow it to thaw first.
- Avocado—Diced. This is optional, but it will add a creamy texture to the dip!
- Red Onion—Diced. Adds a sharp tang that cuts through the spices nicely.
- Roma Tomatoes—Diced. You could also use cherry tomatoes in a pinch.
- Lime Juice—Adds a bright and tangy flavor!
- Olive Oil—Keeps everything moist and adds a sense of richness.
- Spices—Ground cumin and garlic salt to add dimension.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Texas Caviar
Step #1. Add the black beans, corn, avocado, red onion, roma tomatoes, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, and garlic salt to a large bowl.
Step #2. Use a spoon or rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together until the beans and veggies are evenly coated in the spices, lime juice, and olive oil.
Recipe FAQs
Texas Caviar gets its name from the place that it first originated! This dish was created in Texas by a woman named Helen Corbit in the 1940s. Some suggest the name ‘caviar’ is a humorous comparison to true caviar, a fancy and popular dish made of fish eggs. Although Texas caviar is far easier to get your hands on then real caviar, the two dishes somewhat resemble one another in texture and appearance.
Yes! While Texas caviar is the more common name of this delicious dip, it is also sometimes referred to as cowboy caviar.
Salsa and Texas caviar are very similar dishes. You might even hear some people call Texas caviar a beefed up pico de gallo. The main difference between salsa and Texas caviar is that Texas caviar does typically include a variety of beans and avocado, setting it apart from most tomato-based salsas.
Expert Tips
- For a slightly brighter and sweeter Texas caviar, swap out the lime juice for lemon juice! You can also add the zest of one lemon or lime.
- You can add chopped cilantro or parsley, or even diced jalapeno to add even more flavor to this dip!
- Feel free to mess around with the seasonings! Sometimes I like to add a bit of chili powder or paprika to change the flavor profile and give the dip a bit of a kick.
- Make sure to pat dry your beans and corn so there is no excess water or moisture in your Texas caviar. This will help keep the dish from getting soggy!
What Should I Serve with Cowboy Caviar?
My favorite way to serve cowboy caviar is with tortilla chips—it makes for a tasty and filling dip! You can also make this Texas caviar and spoon it on top of tacos, tostadas or nachos to add a pop of color and some fresh flavor. I find that this salad-like dish makes for a great appetizer, side, or garnish to pair with all your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes like enchiladas with chicken.
How to Store Leftover Texas Caviar
You can store this delicious dip in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. I have found that the longer it sits in the fridge, the better the flavors settle in together, making it more delectable! I prefer the flavors and textures of this dish when it’s cold, but you could also serve it at room temperature.
More Appetizers To Consider
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Texas Caviar
Ingredients
- 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed, (1 can)
- 1 cup whole corn kernels, drained and rinsed
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ medium red onion, diced
- 3 small roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, use a spoon to fold the ingredients together until the veggies are evenly coated in the spices, lemon juice, and olive oil.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can store this delicious salsa in the mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Other ingredients you can add to this dip include red bell peppers, freshly chopped cilantro, and pinto beans. You can also add some red pepper flakes, chipotle chili powder, and onion powder to this dish.
- For a slightly sweeter texas caviar, exchange the lime juice for lemon juice. You can also add the zest of one lemon or lime. For the juice, you can use either freshly squeezed or bottled juice.
- This salsa is great served with chips and veggies. You can also spoon this salsa over nachos or tacos.
