Cowboy Caviar (Texas Caviar)

May 26

Written By Logan's Inner Chef

I like to let this marinate in the refrigerator overnight. This will get those flavors really going! I add the avocado before serving.

Ingredients:

1/4 c white distilled vinegar

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp cayenne

1 shallot

1 lime zested and juiced

2 heirloom tomatoes

15 oz canned black beans

15 oz pinto beans or black eyed peas

1 ear corn worth of kernels (great roasted with garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper)

6 mini sweet peppers

4 serrano peppers

1 bunch cilantro

1 avocado

Salt and pepper to taste

Tools needed:

Cutting board

Sharp knife

Large mixing bowl

Glass dish with lid for storage

Measuring cups and spoons

Microplane zester

How to make it:

Wash and dry tomatoes and peppers.

Let’s start making the vinaigrette:

Dice the shallot and add to mixing bowl with the vinegar and pinch salt. Mix thoroughly and let marinate while the other ingredients get cut.
Start with rough chopping the tomatoes, seed removal is optional. Add to the bowl with the shallots and gently mix. The salt help pulls the natural water content from the tomato adding more body and flavor to the vinaigrette. Optionally you can add 2 tbsp avocado oil to the bowl as well. I like this to be nice and acidic, therefor I leave the oil out. Zest and juice the lime into the bowl.

Cut the ends off the peppers, remove the seeds and rough chop. Add to the mixing bowl.

Cut the ends of the corn cob and remove the husk. Stand corn upright and slice kernels from the cob. Save the cob for making stocks or toss in your compost if you have one. Add the kernels to the mixing bowl.

Rinse the beans if you are using canned and drain completely before adding to the bowl.

Add the spices to the ingredients in the bowl and gently stir in. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. The flavors will develop more as this all marinates together. For best results, marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to serve, cut the avocado into small pieces and add to the rest of the ingredients.