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Cowgirl Caviar Recipe

4.5 from 64 reviews

Cowgirl Caviar is a vibrant and flavorful bean salad packed with black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, and fresh vegetables, tossed in a zesty lemon and herb dressing. This nutrient-rich, Mediterranean-inspired dish is perfect as a refreshing side or served with pita chips for a light meal or appetizer.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 (15 oz) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large cucumber, diced
  • ½ cup kalamata olives, roughly chopped
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the drained black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, diced red bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped kalamata olives, diced red onion, chopped fresh mint, chopped parsley, and crumbled feta cheese. Gently toss all the ingredients together until well mixed.
  2. Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, oregano, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously for about 1 minute to fully combine and emulsify the dressing.
  3. Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly so every ingredient is evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
  4. Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
  5. Serve: Serve Cowgirl Caviar chilled either as a side dish or paired with pita chips as a tasty appetizer or light meal.

Notes

  • For best flavor, allow the salad to chill for a few hours or overnight.
  • You can substitute feta with a vegan cheese alternative to make it vegan-friendly.
  • Adjust the honey in the dressing to your desired sweetness or use a sugar substitute for a lower sugar option.
  • Add avocado chunks for extra creaminess if desired.
  • Serve with tortilla chips instead of pita chips for a different texture and flavor.

Keywords: Cowgirl Caviar, bean salad, black-eyed peas salad, Mediterranean salad, no-cook recipe, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, feta salad