Calico Bean Cowboy Caviar ~ Who says black beans get all the fun? Mix up the beans in your cowboy caviar

Who says black eyed peas get to have all the fun? Mix it up by using calico beans (a mix of beans) to make a fabulous cowboy caviar.

What is cowboy caviar?

If you’ve never heard of Cowboy Caviar, it’s a spicy Tex-Mex dish made with black eyed peas, black beans and corn that is often served as a salad or salsa. You can eat it by the spoonful or spoon it over meat or chicken or burgers, add it to tacos, enchiladas, or burritos or just scoop it up with crunchy corn chips. I like to make mine extra spicy with lots of cilantro because cilantro makes me happy.

Who invented cowboy caviar?

According to Culinary Hill, you can tip your cowboy hat to Helen Corbitt, a non-Texan. In the 1940s, she was working as a chef at Neiman Marcus and was asked to create a Texas themed menu that used black-eyed peas, but she didn’t really care for them. She ended up pickling the beans in a sweet, vinegar-based dressing. It was a hit!

What are calico beans?

“Calico” can be used to refer to a mix of beans, so that’s what I mean when I say “Calico Beans” here. Some (ok, most) people are referring to a specific baked bean recipe involving a mix of beans, bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, ground beef, etc. That’s NOT what I’m referring to here! (Although, I suppose that baked bean recipe might actually be kind of good mixed with corn, onions, hot peppers, cilantro and tomatoes–maybe I’ll have to try that sometime!)

All I did for THIS recipe, though, was swap in mixed beans that I cooked up in my Instant Pot for the black beans you typically use in cowboy caviar, which gave me the flexibility to make a smaller amount than your typical cowboy caviar recipe. I kind of wanted to add some chopped avocado, but I decided to just mix some in at serving time if I wanted them, so the avocado wouldn’t turn brown in the fridge.

Is it healthy?

Not only is this cowboy caviar tasty, but it’s also super healthy! High in fiber and protein and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants yet low in calories and carbs, this yummy dish is also naturally gluten free and vegan.

What, no dressing? Can I add a dressing?

Some (probably most) cowboy caviar recipes call for a sweet vinegar dressing. I skipped the dressing which saves on calories and lets the flavor of the onions, peppers, corn, cilantro and beans shine all on their own. Just a bit of salt and some cumin are all this little “salad” needs in my opinion, but hey, if the dressing on cowboy caviar makes you happy or if you just gotta have black eyed peas in your cowboy caviar, then by all means, go ahead and do it! Some people use Italian dressing, others use a mix of vinegar, olive oil, sugar, chili powder and salt. A squeeze of lime or a bit of tequila would also be a nice addition. Feel free to customize this recipe to your liking and make it yours.

Happy Cinco de Mayo, dear foodie friends! I hope you have some good Mexican food. Serve some of this calico bean cowboy caviar while you’re at it. It is full of colors, textures and flavors you’re going to LOVE!