Texas Caviar Bean Salad
Equipment
- Bowl, large
- Bowl, small
- chopping board,
- Knife
Ingredients
- 2 avocados ripe and firm, diced
- 425 g black beans canned, drained and rinsed
- 425 g black-eyed peas canned, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon black pepper coarsely ground
- 1 bunch cilantro fresh and chopped
- 425 g corn canned, drained and rinsed
- 1 bulb garlic minced
- 1 small red onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Tabasco sauce
- 2 medium tomatoes diced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Cut the avocados into approximately 1 cm cubes.
- Combine the vegetable oil, Tabasco sauce, red wine vinegar, black pepper and minced garlic in a small bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the avocado and gently toss until coated.
- Combine the corn, black-eyed peas, black beans, cilantro, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.
- Add the dressed avocado and gently toss everything together.
- Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Advice
Serve this colourful Salad as a fresh side with barbecue dishes or offer it with tortilla chips as an Appetizer. It also makes a filling meat-free lunch thanks to the combination of beans, black-eyed peas, corn and avocado.Recipe Notes
Use ripe but still firm avocados so the cubes keep their shape when mixed with the beans. Rinse and drain the canned beans and corn thoroughly before assembling the salad. Add the avocado gently at the end to prevent it from becoming mashed.Adjusting the Heat
Three tablespoons of Tabasco give the dressing a noticeable kick. For a milder salad, reduce the amount of hot sauce. If you enjoy extra heat, serve additional Tabasco separately so everyone can adjust their own portion.Storage Advice
The salad is best served fresh because the avocado gradually softens and discolours after cutting. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and use as soon as possible. If preparing ahead, combine the beans and vegetables first and add the avocado shortly before serving.Wine Advice
A chilled Rosé is an excellent partner for the spicy dressing, creamy avocado and fresh tomatoes. Choose a fresh, fruity style with good acidity rather than a heavy wine, as this provides a refreshing contrast to the Tabasco heat.Nutrition values
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About Texas Caviar Bean Salad
Texas Caviar Bean Salad is a colourful mixture of black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, avocado and fresh cilantro tossed with a spicy vinegar dressing. Despite its name, there is no actual caviar involved. Instead, the beans and vegetables create a substantial Salad that can be served as a side dish, appetizer or light meal.
Black-Eyed Peas and Black Beans
Black-eyed peas provide a mild earthy flavour and slightly firm texture, while black beans are softer and richer. Combining the two gives the salad more variety than using a single type of bean.
Both are convenient to use from cans. Drain and rinse them thoroughly before adding them to the salad to remove the packing liquid and excess sodium.
Adding Corn and Tomatoes
Sweet corn provides both colour and natural sweetness, which helps balance the heat of the Tabasco dressing. Fresh tomatoes add juiciness and acidity while making the salad even more colourful.
Dice the tomatoes into pieces that are reasonably similar in size to the other ingredients. This makes the finished mixture easier to scoop and ensures that each serving contains a good combination of Vegetables.
Creamy Avocado
Avocado provides a creamy contrast to the beans and crisp vegetables. Choose fruit that is ripe enough to eat but still firm enough to dice cleanly.
The avocado is coated separately with the dressing before being added to the remaining ingredients. Fold it through gently so the pieces retain their shape rather than turning into a mash.
A Spicy Dressing
The dressing is deliberately simple. Vegetable oil is combined with red wine vinegar, Tabasco sauce, black pepper and fresh garlic. The vinegar provides acidity while the hot sauce supplies both heat and tanginess.
Three tablespoons of Tabasco produce a distinctly spicy result. The amount can be reduced if you prefer a gentler salad, especially when serving it to a group with different preferences for spicy food.
Fresh Cilantro and Red Onion
Fresh cilantro adds the distinctive herbal character commonly associated with Tex-Mex dishes. Red onion provides crunch and a sharper flavour that cuts through the creamy avocado.
If raw onion is too strong for your taste, soak the chopped onion briefly in cold water and drain it thoroughly before adding it to the salad.
Serving with Barbecue
The combination of beans, corn, tomatoes and spicy dressing makes this salad particularly suitable for a Barbecue. Its acidity and fresh vegetables provide a useful contrast to richer grilled foods.
It can accompany beef, chicken or other barbecue dishes, or be served as one of several vegetarian sides at a larger gathering.
Serve It as a Dip
Texas caviar is also commonly eaten with tortilla chips. When serving it this way, chop the vegetables and avocado into relatively small pieces so the mixture is easy to scoop.
Place the salad in a large serving bowl with tortilla chips alongside it and it becomes an easy party Appetizer without requiring any additional cooking.
A Plant-Based Salad
The ingredients are entirely plant-based, making the recipe suitable for both Vegetarian and Vegan diets. It also contains no dairy products or eggs.
The combination of beans and black-eyed peas contributes plant protein and fibre, while avocado provides fat and the vegetables contribute additional texture and flavour.
Preparing Ahead
Most of the salad can be prepared in advance. Combine the drained beans, black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, cilantro and onion and keep the mixture covered in the refrigerator.
For the freshest appearance and texture, prepare the avocado and combine it with the dressing shortly before serving. This reduces the time the cut avocado is exposed to air.
A Versatile Texas-Style Dish
Texas Caviar Bean Salad works equally well spooned onto a plate as a Side Dish or scooped onto tortilla chips as a snack. Its mixture of creamy, crisp, spicy and tangy ingredients gives every serving plenty of flavour and texture.
With no cooking required and only about 20 minutes of preparation, it is particularly convenient for barbecues, parties, lunches and relaxed family meals.