I'm always looking for something different to serve as appetizers at casual dinner parties. Of course the main idea is to come up with delicious appetizers that I've never served before.It gets boring. Because it seems like everywhere I go, I'm served the same appetizers over and over, and over again.
I don't know, maybe it's the crowd I hang out with. One thing is certain, wherever I go - I'm never served this recipe for Cowboy Caviar.
My Cowboy Caviar appetizer recipe is one of the easy party appetizers to make. It only takes 8 to 10 minutes to make.
You'll want to allow the ingredients to meld together and "rest". It's one of those things that, made a day or two in advance, marinates flavors together to taste even better than when it's made the same day it's served.
Contrary to what most people might conjure up in their minds when they hear "Cowboy Caviar", there's no meat in it. And most vegetarians that I've served it to (that don't mind a little cream cheese) love it!
Cowboy Caviar is delicious served with sangria. The beer drinkers usually ask me for the recipe and tell me that it's "a fine compliment" to serve with beer. Let me know how well it goes over at your next party.
Cowboy Caviar
(Printable Recipe)
Serves 8
1 can (15 and 1/2 ounces) Progresso black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (2.25 ounces) sliced black olives, drained and chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 package (8 ounces) Philadelphia cream cheese, at room temperature
Garnish:
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped, optional
1 green onion, chopped, optional
Chopped cilantro, optional
Crackers and tortilla chips for dipping: Stone ground wheat crackers and cracked-pepper crackers, and plain and lime flavor Tostitos tortilla chips
1.) Mash black beans slightly and place in a medium-size bowl. Add black olives, onion, jalapeno, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Refrigerate, covered, for 2 hours to no more than two days.
2.) Spread cream cheese evenly over the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Spread bean mixture over the top. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with crackers.
Serving appetizers as finger food in this economy is an economical way to save money and bring a little luxury into your life (by spending the money to have a party). Cowboy Caviar is non-seasonal, which means that by serving simple appetizers like this - you've got the perfect remedy to serving delicious and not spending a lot of money. Cowboy Caviar is an inexpensive, easy and quick solution and one the best holiday appetizer recipes to make and serve.
My personal rule of thumb, avoid serving a myriad of fancy party appetizer recipes. It isn't necessary. And it's just not practical.
Christmas appetizer recipes that you can easily super-size are always the best choice for the large parties that I produce. And this is one of the best make ahead appetizers you'll find. Because Cowboy caviar is one of the easiest finger appetizer recipes, it's efficient and easy to make. It's the perfect recipe to add to your list of Thanksgiving appetizers.
Because of the color, Cowboy Caviar also makes a terrific Halloween party appetizer, too. It also leaves you lots of time to get made up and costume ready - because it's one of the best quick and easy appetizer ideas, ever!
I hope you and your guests enjoy this easy party recipe as much as we do. It's become a staple "easy party appetizer" in my cold appetizer recipe arsenal of delicious, quick easy appetizers to make.
If you're in search of great appetizer recipes for any season - Cowboy Caviar is definitely one of the best rated appetizer recipes around. It's one of my favorite summer appetizer recipes to make. Anytime... This is the one!
Cayenne pepper, Cook, Coriander, Cumin, Garlic, Home, Olive oil, Onion, Common bean, Food, Parties and nightlife, Blog, Weblog: Technorati Tags
