Texas caviar: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:51, 15 February 2025

A dish made from black-eyed peas and other ingredients

Texas caviar, also known as cowboy caviar, is a salad dish made from black-eyed peas lightly pickled in a vinaigrette-style dressing. It is a popular dish in the Southern United States, particularly in Texas, where it originated.

History[edit]

Texas caviar was created in the late 1940s by Helen Corbitt, a chef and culinary director at the Zodiac Room of Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas. She first served the dish on New Year's Eve at the Houston Country Club. The dish was named "Texas caviar" as a humorous comparison to true caviar, an expensive hors d'oeuvre of fish eggs.

Ingredients[edit]

The primary ingredient in Texas caviar is black-eyed peas, which are a staple in Southern cuisine. Other common ingredients include:

Preparation[edit]

To prepare Texas caviar, the black-eyed peas are first cooked until tender. The other vegetables are diced and mixed with the peas. The dressing, typically made from olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, salt, and pepper, is then added to the mixture. The salad is allowed to marinate for several hours or overnight to enhance the flavors.

Serving[edit]

Texas caviar is often served as a dip with tortilla chips, but it can also be used as a topping for grilled meats or as a side dish. It is a popular choice for barbecues, picnics, and potlucks due to its fresh flavors and ease of preparation.

Cultural significance[edit]

Texas caviar is a beloved dish in Texas and the Southern United States, often associated with New Year's Day celebrations. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is a tradition thought to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Texas caviar''' is a type of [[salad]] made from a mix of [[black-eyed peas]], [[vegetables]], and a [[vinaigrette]] dressing. It is also known as '''cowboy caviar''' and is a popular dish in the [[Southern United States|South]] and [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]].
+{{short description|A dish made from black-eyed peas and other ingredients}}
+{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
-== History ==
+[[File:Texas_caviar.jpg|thumb|right|A bowl of Texas caviar]]
-Texas caviar was first created in the 1940s by Helen Corbitt, a [[Texas]] native who was working as a food service director at [[Neiman Marcus]]. She was asked to create a dish using black-eyed peas to celebrate the new year, as eating black-eyed peas on [[New Year's Day]] is a Southern tradition thought to bring good luck. Corbitt decided to marinate the peas in a vinaigrette dressing, and the dish was a hit. It was dubbed "Texas caviar" as a humorous comparison to true [[caviar]], which is made from sturgeon roe.
-== Ingredients and Preparation ==
+'''Texas caviar''', also known as '''cowboy caviar''', is a [[salad]] dish made from [[black-eyed peas]] lightly pickled in a [[vinaigrette]]-style dressing. It is a popular dish in the [[Southern United States]], particularly in [[Texas]], where it originated.
-The primary ingredient in Texas caviar is black-eyed peas. These are combined with a variety of chopped vegetables, which can include [[bell peppers]], [[onions]], [[tomatoes]], and [[jalapeno peppers]]. The mixture is then dressed with a vinaigrette, typically made from [[vinegar]], [[oil]], and [[sugar]]. Some variations of the recipe may also include [[avocado]], [[corn]], or [[black beans]].
-To prepare Texas caviar, the black-eyed peas and vegetables are first rinsed and drained. They are then combined in a large bowl with the vinaigrette and allowed to marinate for at least a few hours, or overnight. The salad is typically served chilled, and can be eaten with [[tortilla chips]] or as a side dish.
+==History==
+Texas caviar was created in the late 1940s by [[Helen Corbitt]], a [[chef]] and [[culinary]] director at the [[Zodiac Room]] of [[Neiman Marcus]] in [[Dallas, Texas]]. She first served the dish on [[New Year's Eve]] at the [[Houston Country Club]]. The dish was named "Texas caviar" as a humorous comparison to true [[caviar]], an expensive hors d'oeuvre of [[fish eggs]].
-== Cultural Significance ==
+==Ingredients==
-Texas caviar is a staple at many Southern and Southwestern gatherings, particularly on New Year's Day due to the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for good luck. It is also commonly served at [[barbecue]]s, picnics, and potlucks.
+The primary ingredient in Texas caviar is [[black-eyed peas]], which are a staple in Southern cuisine. Other common ingredients include:
+* [[Bell peppers]]
+* [[Onions]]
+* [[Tomatoes]]
+* [[Jalapeños]]
+* [[Corn]]
+* [[Cilantro]]
+* [[Lime juice]]
+* [[Olive oil]]
+* [[Vinegar]]
+* [[Salt]] and [[pepper]]
+==Preparation==
+[[File:Texas_caviar.jpg|thumb|left|Close-up of Texas caviar]]
+To prepare Texas caviar, the black-eyed peas are first cooked until tender. The other vegetables are diced and mixed with the peas. The dressing, typically made from olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, salt, and pepper, is then added to the mixture. The salad is allowed to marinate for several hours or overnight to enhance the flavors.
+==Serving==
+Texas caviar is often served as a [[dip]] with [[tortilla chips]], but it can also be used as a topping for [[grilled meats]] or as a side dish. It is a popular choice for [[barbecues]], [[picnics]], and [[potlucks]] due to its fresh flavors and ease of preparation.
+==Cultural significance==
+Texas caviar is a beloved dish in Texas and the Southern United States, often associated with [[New Year's Day]] celebrations. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is a tradition thought to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Caviar]]
+* [[Southern United States cuisine]]
+* [[Black-eyed pea]]
+* [[Dip (food)]]
 [[Category:American cuisine]]
 [[Category:Salads]]
-[[Category:Texas culture]]
+[[Category:Texas cuisine]]
-{{American-cuisine-stub}}
-{{food-stub}}