Stephen Colbert Shovels In This Cowboy Caviar Recipe With a Spoon (High-Fiber, 10 Minutes) High Fiber Recipes High Protein Recipes Southern Recipes Appetizers Snacks Gluten-free Vegetarian Vegan

If you love cowboy caviar, then you're not alone. TV funnyman Stephen Colbert, who until recently was host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, is a huge fan of cowboy caviar – especially the version made by his wife, Evie McGee Colbert, with whom he wrote the great cookbook Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves. Evie got this recipe (or receipt, as she calls it), from her friend Katie Dancy, and Stephen loves it so much that he has, "on more than one occasion, simply leaned over the sink and happily shoveled in the cowboy caviar with a spoon."

I can see why – this high-fiber cowboy caviar recipe is crazy good! Evie explains that, while there are many recipes for cowboy caviar out there, "the avocado and balsamic vinegar make this one exceptional." Cowboy caviar, also known as Texas caviar, is an irresistible bean salsa that's typically accompanied by tortilla chips. The caviar is said to have been created in Texas around 1940 by Helen Corbitt, who went on to become director of food service at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas.

Corbitt first served the high-protein dish on New Year's Eve in Houston, then later in Austin, where it was given the name Texas Caviar. This recipe features black-eyed peas, which are said to represent good luck in the New Year. The Colberts' recipe also features shoepeg corn, a white sweetcorn that's popular in salads and corn recipes throughout the South (the Colberts hail from South Carolina). Check out the health benefits of black-eyed peas and the health benefits of corn.

In addition to the pantry ingredients, this addictive cowboy caviar recipe includes several fresh ingredients that add to its incredible flavor. I was able to pull the tomatoes, cilantro and green onions straight from my backyard garden (I love farm-to-table recipes). Check out the health benefits of tomatoes, the health benefits of green onions and the health benefits of cilantro. Plus, the simple recipe packs a protein punch and is high in fiber, too.

To make this gluten-free chunky salsa recipe, here are the wholesome ingredients you'll need to gather: black-eyed peas, shoepeg corn, plum tomatoes, fresh cilantro, green onions (scallions), garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sriracha (or other hot sauce) and avocado. First you combine the black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions and garlic. Then you combine the vinegar, olive oil and sriracha. Toss the vegetable mixture in the dressing, fold in the avocado and serve. So easy and delicious!

Serve this exceptional cowboy caviar with tortilla chips as a healthier appetizer or energizing snack at a weekend gathering – or anytime, just because you're craving it. It's so nutritious and delicious that the Colberts have been known to eat it as their entire meal. Evie says, "Stephen will deny this, but there has been more than one occasion when cowboy caviar and chips were our entire dinner." To which Stephen replies, "Why would I deny that? I would consider cowboy caviar one of our most balanced dinners..."

Couldn't agree more. We enjoyed it scooped onto tortilla chips and also served over rice and rolled into tortillas for lunch. Enjoy!

Cuisine: Tex-Mex / American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 15 ounces (1 can) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
• 15 ounces (1 can) shoepeg corn, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/2 cups Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced small
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh green onions (scallions), trimmed and sliced thin
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha (or other hot sauce)
• 1 - 2 avocados (depending on how much you'd like)
• salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste (optional, but I used about 1/2 teaspoon of each)
• tortilla chips (or other chips or crackers), for serving (optional)

Here's how to make it:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions and garlic. Stir to combine. (If you can't fine shoepeg corn, use whole kernel corn.)
2. In a small mixing bowl, add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and sriracha. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste, if desired. Whisk to combine.
3. Pour the dressing over the black-eyed pea mixture and toss to combine.
4. If serving right away, halve, pit and dice the avocado(s) and gently fold it into the caviar. If you're serving later, refrigerate the caviar until ready to serve and add the avocado then. (The Colberts bring the caviar to room temperature before adding in the avocado.)
5. Just before serving, season the caviar with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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