Originally featured on Wicked Cool Women.
A delicious, satisfying side dish your guests will be asking for more.
Several years ago, a friend brought her side dish to an outside summer picnic at my house. After my first taste, I thought about sneaking the dish into my kitchen where I could secretly package up the contents and hide it in the back of my fridge for me to enjoy (alone!) later. It was so good.
As the hostess as I am, I chose to keep the dish on the table and anyone who took a spoonful was greeted with a dash of my evil side eye. The funny thing is whenever I have party leftovers I usually send them home with my guests. This time there were no leftovers; and I didn’t hide any—honest!
This seven-ingredient side dish called, Cowboy Caviar, is delicious, satisfying, and a crowd pleaser. With the warm weather kicking in, I recently made this recipe for a gathering accompanied by an assortment of wings and potato salad.
Let’s get started!
Ingredients
1 can of black beans
1 package (~2c) of sweet corn (fresh or frozen)
1 package of grape tomatoes
1 red onion
2 limes
1 bunch of fresh cilantro (~1/2c or to taste)
1 avocado
Salt and pepper to taste
Kitchen Tools
Cutting board
Knife
- Bowl; maybe something festive or plain white
Directions
Add corn to your bowl. If using frozen, let thaw in the bag, then add to the bowl. If using fresh, blanch the corn before use (see “How to blanch vegetables” below).
For each step below, simply follow the instructions and add to bowl:
Drained and rinsed the black beans
Half or quarter the tomatoes
Dice the red onion
Squeeze juice from limes
Chop cilantro
Slice or thickly chop avocado
Season with salt and pepper
Combine all of the ingredients, cover and place in refrigerator for 15-30 minutes to get the juices flowing together. If you plan to serve later, hold the avocado until ready to serve to keep it from turning brown.
How to blanch vegetables
Blanching a cooking technique with vegetables where you briefly boil (for about two minutes), drain, and immediately plunge into ice water. This method is a sure way to maintain the bright color, flavor, and texture of the vegetable.
Chef’s Tip
Keep a small side dish for when everyone is gone!
Whip up this recipe in no time, serve to your favorite guests, and listen for the “mmmmms” you’re sure to hear.
After you’ve made this recipe, share your feedback in the comments below.