Description
Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad is a vibrant, protein-packed side dish that combines the bold, zesty flavors of classic cowboy caviar with tender rotini pasta. Tossed with a tangy homemade dressing, this salad is easy to make, perfect for potlucks, picnics, or meal prep, and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 10 ounces rotini pasta
- Water, for boiling
- Salt, for boiling
Cowboy Caviar Mix
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 avocado, diced (optional, add before serving)
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta and prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Cowboy Caviar: In a large mixing bowl, combine black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro. If using avocado, add just before serving to prevent browning.
- Make the Dressing: In a bullet blender cup or small mixing bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey or maple syrup, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Blend or whisk until fully emulsified and smooth.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Pour the prepared dressing over the cowboy caviar mixture. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Add and Toss Pasta: Add the cooled and drained rotini pasta to the bowl with the dressed cowboy caviar. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and distributed throughout the salad.
- Rest and Serve: Cover and let the salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the pasta to absorb the dressing for best taste.
Notes
- For best flavor, let the salad chill for up to 2 hours before serving.
- Add the avocado just before serving to keep it fresh and vibrant.
- You can substitute or add diced jalapeño for extra heat.
- Rotini can be replaced with any short pasta shape you prefer.
- This dish stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe
- Calories: 259
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: Varies, depending on canned goods and salt added
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
