Vegan Cowboy Caviar Dip

Cowboy caviar is exactly what it sounds like. It's a bean dip or salsa for those who like the finer things. I'll be honest, the first time I heard of this, it sounded strange. But once I took a bite, my life was changed. Cowboy caviar takes all the best parts of a bean dip and a chunky salsa, and puts them together!

There are lots of different variations of Cowboy Caviar. My version adds avocados and uses agave in the dressing to make it truly vegan (since honey is technically not vegan). You can use fresh ingredients in this recipe or you can buy canned to make it easier! You can also customize this recipe very easily. If you like more heat, throw in some extra jalapenos. If you hate avocado, you can leave it out!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

1. No Cooking Required! This recipe is perfect for hot summer days when you don't want to stand in front of an oven or stove!
2. Easily Customizable. Don't like avocado? No problem! Want more spice? Add more! This recipe is so great because you can customize it to your liking (perfect for picky eaters)!
3. Perfect for Parties! This dip will be the star of the show and it will have everyone wanting you to share the recipe!

What You Need For This Recipe

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Tomatoes - I chose to buy a can of fire-roasted garlic tomatoes for this. However, fresh tomatoes or regular canned diced tomatoes will do!
• Black Beans - Canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• Black-Eyed Peas - Canned black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• Corn - Whole kernel corn, canned, drained, and rinsed. If you see charred corn, feel free to use that!
• Red Onion - Diced red onion.
• Cilantro - Finely chopped fresh cilantro
• Bell Pepper - I used a combination of red and green diced bell pepper, but use whichever color pepper you like best!
• Avocado - I love adding diced avocado. If you want, add extra! If you don't like avocado, you can omit this.
• Lime Juice - Fresh squeezed is best!
• Jalapeno - Remove the seeds and stems for less spice.
• Olive Oil - Just a small amount for the dressing.
• Agave Nectar - This is used in place of honey for the dressing. If you can't find agave nectar, honey will work!
• Spices - Cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt!

Tools:

• Citrus Juicer
• Can Opener
• Knife
• Large Bowl

How To Make This Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

I used canned beans, tomatoes, and corn. Open and drain each can. Rinse the black-eyed peas, black beans, and corn, but do not rinse the fire-roasted tomatoes.

Dice the red onion and the bell pepper.

Slice the jalapeño and remove the seeds and stems.

Finely chop the cilantro and dice the avocado.

Juice the limes.

Step 2: Make the Dressing

In a small bowl, mix together lime juice, olive oil, agave nectar, and all of the spices.

Whisk these together ensuring no clumps remain.

Step 3: Finishing Touches

Add all of the prepared ingredients to a large bowl and mix thoroughly.

Add the dressing and mix again.

Taste and adjust levels of chili powder and salt.

Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping on protein!

Expert Tips:

• If you like a lot of spice, add more jalapeño and more chili powder! If you hate spice, feel free to omit the jalapeño. I don't recommend omitting the chili powder, but try decreasing the amount used.
• Use this dip as a topping for salads or on top of proteins!
• Customize this by adding more veggies! Chickpeas, pinto beans, and different peppers would all go well in this!

Recipe FAQs:

How long will cowboy caviar keep?Regular cowboy caviar can last up to 5 days in the fridge. Since this recipe uses avocado, it won't last quite as long. This recipe will last up to 3 days in the fridge, although the avocados may brown sooner than that.

What is Cowboy Caviar made of?Cowboy Caviar dip is made of black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, onion, cilantro, avocado, and a tangy agave dressing.

Is Cowboy Caviar vegan?Many variations of cowboy caviar use honey, which is not vegan. This recipe does not use honey. Most recipes are meatless and dairy-free, though.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also like:

Easy and Creamy Vegan Beet Hummus

Vegan Garlic Scape Basil Pesto

Miso Glazed Green Beans