The alternative cowboy supper

 

Like an orchestra made only of woodwind instruments tuning up in exultation, the morning chorus was ripping along at full tilt, each individual blowing notes into the sky like it was their first (or last) day on Earth. “Sing like there’s no tomorrow,” I thought. And it was beautiful.

 

And yet it shouldn’t work, this morning chorus.

 

Each of the birds seemed to be playing a different song and in fact, in a different genre of music. The magpies were on syncopated percussion, a robin  was doing a looping, staccato guitar solo and the wren, despite its diminutive stature, was in full blown aria mode. Somebody else was pretending they had a lazar, shooting short blasts in all directions, a dove cooed in a muted undercurrent of calm and then a crow started up a heckling racket as if shouting for everyone else to shut up.

 

It was a mixture maxture of musicality with individuals seemingly battling with one another and as a whole, it should have sounded like a raucous mess. And yet somehow it didn’t (and doesn’t). Despite conflicting notes from different instruments all playing out of time with one another, this wall of sound which makes up the morning chorus is somehow greater than the sum of its parts. And so it is with cowboy caviar. Also known as Texas caviar, this is a mixture maxture of a different sort but one which, surprisingly again, works a treat.

 

You know if you’ve been buying something online or you’ve had the temerity to hover over a pair of shoes with your cursor and then you end up seeing that product or those shoes everywhere you go on the WWW? That’s what happened to me last month with cowboy caviar. I might have been looking for salient advice on a sourdough pizza or the best combination of spices for a home-made Ras al Hanout but all I encountered was this bean-y salad.

 

“Enough!” I announced to an empty kitchen (although I’m certain Alexa and my phone were listening). “I’ll make the damned caviar! Just stop with the ad tracking!”

 

As is usually the case with me and a new recipe, I ended up looking at different variations and then scurrying up to the cupboard to see what, if any, ingredients were available. It turns out this is the first good thing about cowboy caviar: It’s endlessly adaptable. Don’t have avocado? Leave it out. Don’t have black-eye beans? Use haricot. Your apple cider vinegar looks fusty and smells of nail varnish remover? Fire it in the bin and use white wine vinegar instead.
Of all the recipes I previously looked at for cowboy caviar, they all have one vital thing in common: They’re all different. And so is mine. Works well either as a dip or a side, you may find yourself eating it out of the bowl with a spoon or better still, tortilla chips.

 

One thing I have also noticed is that cowboy caviar tends to include quite a bit of sugar. Now, while my latent health conscious side will be raising a red flag at this realisation, the rest of me is fine about it. Everything in moderation and so if I’m having this super salad but it includes sugar, I’ll resist the habitual biscuit or two with my afternoon tea. Give and take. Although in the case of my stomach, it’s mostly take.

 

COWBOY CAVIAR INGREDIENTS
80ml good olive oil
55ml of apple cider vinegar
1 tsp of fine sea salt
scant tsp of chilli powder
2 tbsps of sugar
1 tin of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tin of black eye beans, drained and rinsed
1 avocado, diced
1 punnet of tomatoes, deseeded (if you can be bothered) and diced
250g of sweetcorn
1 small red onion, diced
1 or 2 bell peppers, diced
chopped coriander (optional)

 

THE PLAN
This recipes makes A LOT although if you don’t want as much just half the quantities.
Start by adding the oil, sugar, vinegar, chilli powder and salt to a large bowl and whisk vigorously. Taste the dressing and add more sugar or salt if needed and taste again.
Keep going until you’re happy that it’s balanced perfectly.
Add in everything else and stir to coat in the dressing. Couldn’t be simpler.
Super addictive and infinitely useable, consider it five of your five a day in one sitting.
Wearing a stetson while eating is optional but recommended.