Pioneer Woman's Cowboy Caviar Recipe: Whip Up a Western Delight

What exactly is cowboy caviar? Also known as Texas caviar, it could be considered a salad, but still a weird one at that. Let’s call it bean salad. Admittedly, we had our reservations about this dish, but this Pioneer Woman's cowboy caviar recipe proved that it was all for naught.

There is no cooking involved, and it is the easiest instructions section we’ve ever had to write. Admittedly, the long list of ingredients might seem scary, but most of those are basic pantry staples. Let’s take a look.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variation
• Equipment
• Storage
• Tips
• Pioneer Woman's Cowboy Caviar Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

• Jalapeno pepper — 1 pc., chopped.
• Bell pepper — 1 pc., chopped.
• Onion — ½ cup, chopped.
• Cilantro — ¼ cup, chopped.
• Salt and pepper — to taste.
• Ground cumin — ½ tsp.
• Worcestershire sauce — 1 tbsp.
• Black beans — 1 can, drained and rinsed.
• Black-eyed peas — 1 can, drained and rinsed.
• Tomatoes — 1 ½ cups, diced.
• Red wine vinegar — 2 tbsp.
• Olive oil — 3 tbsp.

Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl.

2. Mix well until combined.

3. Serve with tortilla chips.

Substitutions

• Red wine vinegar — The original Pioneer Woman's cowboy caviar recipe calls for red wine vinegar. It provides a complex, tangy flavor and it is the best when it comes to making cowboy caviar. Still, apple cider vinegar and white wine vinegar both would do a fine job in replacing red wine vinegar, but they have a milder flavor.

• Worcestershire sauce — It should be noted that Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce are not the same things, though in most recipes they can be used interchangeably. If you use soy sauce, we’d recommend going with low-sodium or putting less salt in the recipe. Another acceptable substitute would be a mix of vinegar, molasses, and onion powder.

• Ground cumin — Ground cumin has a pungent and earthy taste, and other alternatives don’t come close. Ground coriander would be a good replacement with a similar flavor. Chili powder and paprika do well either, both individually and combined.

• Beans — In their Texas caviar recipe they use black beans, combined with black-eyed peas. The same black beans are also used in their taco soup recipe as well. If you have reservations for black beans, or just don’t have any at the moment, feel free to go with any other kind of beans, be it pinto, navy, or cannellini.

Variation

• Creamy — For a creamy texture, you might want to consider adding some avocado cream to the mixture, or guacamole for that matter. Melted cheese is another alternative.

• Meaty — Though the original Pioneer Woman cowboy caviar recipe does not include any type of fruit, that could be changed easily. Why not try some diced mango, pineapple, or peaches for a different flavor?

Equipment

• Measuring spoons and cups.

• Large mixing bowl.

Storage

• Store leftover cowboy caviar in an airtight container and store it in your fridge, where it will last for up to five days.

• Freezing the leftovers will keep them for up to three months.

Tips

• The vegetables — Be sure to chop the vegetables into pieces that are small enough to be easily scooped and eaten.

• The serving — Cowboy caviar makes a great main dish, but it is even better when served alongside chips, crackers, or even with burgers and sandwiches!