Cowboy Caviar Bean Dip (Print)
Colorful bean and veggie dip with zesty lime-cumin dressing, ready in minutes for any gathering.
# What You 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, combine 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. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
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 prepared dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly without mashing the beans.
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust the salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed to suit your preference.
05 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and develop.
06 - Transfer to a serving bowl and offer with tortilla chips as a dip, or serve as a salad topping, taco filling, or side dish.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It requires zero cooking, which means your kitchen stays cool and you stay sane during hot weather gatherings.
- The flavors actually improve after sitting, so you can make it hours ahead and forget about it until guests arrive.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting time, because raw cumin tastes dusty and harsh until the acid and oil have time to mellow it into something warm and inviting.
- If you are adding avocado, wait until the very last minute since lime juice alone will not save it from browning once it sits in a large batch.
03 -
- Dry the rinsed beans on a clean kitchen towel before adding them so the dressing coats the skins instead of sliding off on a layer of can liquid.
- A microplane grater turns the garlic into a paste that distributes evenly through the dressing instead of clumping into sharp little surprises.