Cowboy Caviar Bean Salad (Printable)

Zesty bean and vegetable salad with lime dressing—ideal for dips, sides, or toppings for grilled meats.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans & Legumes

01 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 (15 oz) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
04 - 1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh or frozen
05 - 1/2 red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
09 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
12 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine black beans, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, corn, red onion, bell peppers, jalapeño, and cilantro.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, red wine vinegar, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until well blended.
03 - Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Gently toss to combine, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
04 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and develop.
05 - Serve chilled or at room temperature with tortilla chips or as a side salad.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes better the longer it sits, so you can make it hours or even a day ahead and let the fridge do the work.
  • Every bite has texture and color, so it never gets boring on the plate or the tongue.
  • You can serve it a dozen different ways and it works every single time.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting time in the fridge, the flavors are sharp and separate when freshly mixed but become smooth and balanced after an hour.
  • If your tomatoes are too juicy, the salad can turn soupy, so dice them small and let excess liquid drain off before adding them in.
03 -
  • Toast the cumin in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding it to the dressing, it brings out a deeper, nuttier flavor.
  • If you're serving this at a party, set out a small bowl of extra lime wedges so guests can add a fresh squeeze right before eating.
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