Close
Photo:
John Mitzewich
With the Super Bowl upon us and watch parties gearing up, the inevitable question comes to mind: What are we going to eat?
Luckily, there are more options than not—the hard part might be deciding on a recipe. To help make that decision easier for you, there is one dip recipe that Allrecipes community members are giving a perfect five-star rating: Chef John’s Ultimate Cowboy Caviar.
“I’m not sure which snack at your party is going to be the last one to go, but it will not be this one,” says recipe creator John Mitzewich (aka Chef John). “This will probably be the first.”
What Is Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy caviar, also called Texas caviar, is a vinaigrette-dressed bean salad that’s often eaten as a dip. Chef John’s recipe, like many others, offers a medley of flavors without requiring too much effort, and your guests will sing your praises once they try it.
This cowboy caviar is the “ultimate” version because Chef John uses three types of peppers—fresh bell peppers, roasted red peppers, and pickled jalapeño peppers—and he makes his own dressing from scratch. While the dish is usually made with bottled Italian dressing, nothing beats a homemade version. Chef John’s dressing features rice vinegar, lime, garlic, and other bold ingredients, resulting in a bright, mouthwatering complement to the beans and veggies that takes the recipe to the next level.
AllRecipes / Qi Ai
How to Make the Ultimate Cowboy Caviar
Start by mixing all the ingredients for your dressing into a large bowl. Dice your peppers and vegetables, then add them to the dressing along with black beans, black-eyed peas, and corn. To make sure your dip does not come out too wet, rinse your diced onions and drain your beans and peas before adding them to the bowl.
Once all of the ingredients are combined, cover and store your cowboy caviar in the refrigerator for two to 12 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Before you serve the dip, stir in freshly chopped cilantro and season to taste with salt. Chef John recommends playing around with the amounts to come up with your own "ultimate" formula.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
See what reviewers think of this dip—and their inventive variations.
- “Made this for a party of 50 people and everyone raved about it and have had many requests for the recipe,” says reviewer Als recioes. “I tripled the recipe for this party and made it the night before. This is an easy recipe to make.”
- “Once again I am thrilled with a Chef John recipe,” says one Allrecipes member. “This was easy to make and oh so delicious. You can use it on other food too, instead of just tortilla chips. I put it as a topping on a quesadilla and wow, was that delicious!”
- “This is an outstanding recipe that is easy to execute,” says one reviewer. “Perfect mid-summer BBQ app! I grilled fresh corn and roasted my own red peppers; going the extra mile was worth the effort on flavor and the fresh pop in every bite. The dressing totally makes this dish sing as well. Put on some music and start dicing up your veggies!”
Get the recipe: Ultimate Cowboy Caviar
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!
Other
Submit
