RECIPE — What On Earth Is This Sad Excuse For Cowboy Caviar, Making It At Home With Trader Joe’s Ingredients?

Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken. — Jonathan Swift

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Oh, please spare me the agony of reading this recipe for Trader Joe’s Homemade Cowboy Caviar. If you’re in the mood for this bland excuse for cowboy caviar, then by all means follow this lackluster recipe. But if you’re serious about making a truly outstanding cowboy caviar, then let me guide you through the process.

First off, let’s ditch the canned beans and frozen corn. We’re going to start from scratch with dried black beans and fresh corn on the cob. None of this pre-packaged nonsense. We want real flavor, not the sad excuse for flavor you find in a can.

Next, let’s talk about that dressing. Fresh lime juice? That’s a start, but let’s kick it up a notch with some freshly minced garlic, a pinch of cumin, and a generous handful of chopped fresh cilantro. We want a dressing that’s bursting with flavor, not this feeble attempt with a measly sprinkle of seasoning blend.

And don’t even get me started on using pre-packaged corn chips for dipping. If you want to elevate this dish, you need to make your own tortilla chips. It’s not that difficult, and the difference in flavor and texture is absolutely worth the effort.

So, here’s what you’ll need for a truly exceptional cowboy caviar:

Ingredients

For the dressing:

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the salad:

• 1 cup dried black beans, soaked overnight and cooked until tender
• 1 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight and cooked until tender
• 2 ears of fresh corn, kernels cut off the cob
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 5 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped
• 1 cup corn nuts, for texture
• Homemade tortilla chips, for serving

Method

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, and olive oil. Stir in the chopped cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. In a separate large bowl, combine the cooked black beans, kidney beans, fresh corn, bell peppers, scallions, cherry tomatoes, and pickled jalapeños. Toss with the prepared dressing until well-coated.
3. Top the salad with corn nuts for texture and serve with homemade tortilla chips.

Now that’s what I call cowboy caviar! A dish bursting with vibrant flavors and made with ingredients that actually have some personality. Don’t even think about serving this with anything other than a bold, robust red wine. I’d recommend a bottle of the 2018 Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Sirah from Napa Valley. Its dark fruit flavors and peppery notes will complement the richness of this cowboy caviar perfectly.

Wine Pairing: 2018 Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Sirah (Napa Valley)

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Bon Appétit

If you’ve managed to whip up a batch of Trader Joe’s Homemade Cowboy Caviar that’s packed with flavor and has you reaching for more, then kudos to you. If you’re hungry for more tantalizing recipes that elevate your culinary skills, hit that subscribe button for a journey through the realm of cowboy-inspired culinary creations. And if you’ve cracked the code to making cowboy caviar that’s truly outstanding, I suppose you could share your cowboy caviar wisdom in the comments. Or, perhaps it’s best to enjoy your homemade creation in silence, relishing the knowledge that you’ve nailed this classic dish.