Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Salad

Dec 31, 2020 · Modified: Jul 30, 2022 by Melinda O'Malley Keckler · This post may contain affiliate links · this blog generates income via ads.

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Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Salad is super easy and full of fresh flavor. The black-eyed peas are coated with a vinaigrette-style dressing that's full of garlic and fresh cilantro. This is a classic Cowboy Caviar but served with salad greens for a crunchy and refreshing twist.

Black-eyed pea salad in a bowl with lettuce greens. — Bright and flavorful, this salad is a refreshing option to a traditional green salad.

If you are a fan of refreshing side salads, here are a few more I think you'll enjoy. Old Fashioned Pea Salad is a family favorite, and so is Sweet Corn Pasta Salad and Chicken Curry Salad with Grapes which adds the savory flavor of chic

Ingredients to have on hand

b lack-eyed peas
red wine vinegar
hot sauce
fresh cilantro
green pepper
red onion

Diced onion, green pepper and cilantro on a cutting board. — Chop the ingredients into very small pieces.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use dry black-eyed peas instead of canned ones?

I have done it that way, but the extra step of soaking the beans adds considerable time to the process.

One other difference my family and I noticed when I used the dried black-eyed peas is the beans had a sturdier texture than those from the can.

That's not bad, but I prefer the softer canned variety of black-eyed peas for this recipe.

Are black-eyed peas really peas?

It's a little confusing, isn't it? Like a chickpea, it's a bean that's got pea in the name, but black-eyed peas are in fact a bean, or a legume. And like all legumes, these little "peas" are very nutritious.

Salad ingredients in a bowl, not mixed together. — This sure looks like clean eating.

Use Olive Oil

Some versions of Cowboy Caviar call for adding vegetable oil. But the olive oil used here will give your salad (or dip for those tortilla chips) a much lighter texture to the dressing and you'll notice the subtle taste of the olive oil too.

Vinaigrette ingredients in a bowl with a whisk. — There's plenty of fresh cilantro in this vinaigrette.

Lucky Black-Eyed Peas

I love the history behind the idea that eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day offers good luck for the entire year! Southern Living magazine has a great article about the origins of this long-held tradition.

While it's one rooted in the southeast part of the country, according to the article, there is also some evidence that folks ate black-eyed peas for luck as early as 500 A.D.

Serve with Salad Greens or Chips

While salad looms large in the name of this recipe, it's essentially Cowboy Caviar or Texas Caviar tossed with leafy greens.

Pro Tip: Ditch the lettuce greens and serve this with your favorite chips as an appetizer or snack. This recipe is a crowd-pleaser every time.

Salad served as a dip with tortilla chips. — No need for salsa when you serve this salad as an appetizer with tortilla chips.

Hot and Spicy

Call it a salad or Cowboy Caviar, but this recipe has some spicy kick to it.

The good news is you can control the heat factor by using whichever brand of hot sauce your family or guests prefer. I like this one (plus the name is familiar!), plus the canned Rotel tomatoes have some green chilis and also add some heat to the end result.

One can of tomatoes and a jar of hot sauce on a counter. — You control the heat, based on the tomatoes and type of hot sauce.

Cowboy Caviar Resting Time

It's oh-so-tempting to mix this together and dig in right away, but it's important to let the flavors have a chance to "mingle."

A little time in the refrigerator also gives the black-eyed peas time to soak up some of that delicious vinaigrette.

I recommend at least two hours of refrigerator time before serving but overnight is ideal for bringing out the best flavor.

Black-eyed pea salad in a bowl, from the side. — Fresh and delicious every time!

More Veggie-Packed Recipes

This recipe is full of fresh veggies and of course, the black-eyed peas are full of fiber and protein so there are lots of great reasons why this is a good choice for your menu. Here are a few more sides that I think you'll love!

If you tried Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below.