We love Texas Caviar, also called Cowboy Caviar, in our family! It is the best summer appetizer eaten with chips or I just love a scoop of it as a side dish. My mom has the best recipe and has made it ever since I was younger. I had written it down, and lost it, so I just googled for a recipe and made one the other night when we were invited over for dinner at our friends the Bowen’s. It was good, but not as good as the recipe my mom makes. I was searching for a gluten-free Texas Caviar recipe, which my mom’s recipe is!

Texas Caviar or Cowboy Caviar recipe dates back to the 1940’s, invented by a woman in Texas. She wanted to come up with a way to add flavor to blackeye peas, and she did it! Everything is chopped really small, like caviar, hence the name Texas Caviar!

In Texas Caviar the key players are blackeye peas, black beans, corn, onion and tomatoes. My mom adds avocado, which I think makes it even better. There is also a dressing with olive oil and seasonings. The recipe I made the other day used Italian dressing, which was quick and easy, but not as good. Some people add jalapeño, which could be added to this recipe, but we don’t love it, and the cilantro is optional.

Trust me, this will be a hit at your next gathering! I plan to always have the ingredients this summer so I can easily make a batch when we feel like it for lunch and to always take as a side dish or appetizer.