Cowboy Caviar Bean Salad (Printable)

Vibrant bean and veggie mix with zesty lime dressing—ideal for dipping, sides, or topping 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 thawed
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 mixing 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 together.
05 - Serve chilled or at room temperature with tortilla chips or as a side salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It gets better as it sits, so you can make it hours or even a day ahead and actually enjoy your own party.
  • Every bite has crunch, creaminess, and a little zing all at once without any cooking required.
02 -
  • If you skip rinsing the canned beans, the dressing turns murky and slimy, and no amount of lime juice will fix that.
  • Dicing the vegetables to similar sizes means every forkful has a little bit of everything instead of random huge chunks.
03 -
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it over everything, then adjust the lime or salt so it is exactly how you like it.
  • Use a slotted spoon to serve if you are putting it on top of something, so you do not end up with a puddle of dressing on the plate.
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