“Texas caviar is a unique one that we have on our menu. It’s an old family recipe. It’s a chilled black eyed pea salad with a million kinds of peppers and pimentos and it’s just delicious. My family would eat it with chips and watch the football game.” – Jack Timmons, owner of Jack’s BBQ.
Forget about any jarred version of this Texan side that you’ve found at the store. The fresh garlic, oregano and parsley bring a bright flavor that pairs perfectly with oily, salty tortilla chips. Fritos are the ideal style to serve this with.
The black-eyed peas used in this recipe have a special place on the plates of the American South. In Texas the little legumes even symbolize good luck when eaten on New Year’s Eve — a tradition that dates back to the 1800s.
This vegan recipe makes a lot of food, so plan to make Texas Caviar for a family barbecue, Superbowl party, or potluck. If you’re serving less than eight people, cut the recipe in half.
A big thanks goes to Jack Timmons, owner of Jack’s BBQ, who shared his family recipe. Learn more about Central Texas cuisine from Jack in A Taste of Central Texas.
PrintJack’s Texas Caviar
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
- Category: Sides
- Cuisine: Texas
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh oregano
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Salad
- 3 (16-oz) cans black-eyed peas, rinsed
- 2 (16-oz) cans corn, rinsed
- 1 (4-oz) jar pimentos, chopped (including liquid)
- 1 bunch scallions, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- ½ bunch fresh Italian parsley, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped jalapeno peppers
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 avocado, pitted and chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Fritos or thick tortilla chips, to serve
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Combine all salad ingredients expect avocado and tortilla chips in a large bowl and mix well. Add dressing, adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with avocado if desired, and serve with Fritos or thick, restaurant-style tortilla chips.
Notes
It’s best made 6 hours to a day in advance for the salad to soak up the dressing.
Keywords: Texas Caviar, Sides, Vegan, Barbecue, Dips
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