Cook black-eyed peas in 2 cups of water for 10 mins at high pressure and let them release pressure naturally. Drain excess water when done.
Meanwhile, diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños and cilantro into even shapes (I used this chopper)
Whisk together all the dressing ingredients.
Once the beans have cooled somewhat, add vegetables and pour in dressing, mix well and taste.
Adjust lemon juice, vinegar, and salt as needed for tangy taste. Resist the urge to over-salt at this juncture, as the salad will get saltier as it melds.
Allow salad to rest for 1 hour or so, before serving at room temperature.
Tips and Tricks for Making Cowboy Caviar
Tools. I use a Kuhn Rikon Pull String chopper to make this easy for me because of my rheumatoid arthritis, but also because it dices very evenly and I like how it makes the salad look.
Beans. The beans need to be cooked but not mushy, so make sure after you cook them for the 10 minutes that you drain the excess water off of them so they don't continue to cook.
Canned Beans. You can certainly also use canned, drained, and rinsed black eyes peas for this black-eyed pea salad recipe.
Corn. Some fire-roasted or steamed corn kernels provide a nice pop of color and sweetness to this recipe.
Black Beans. Cooked black beans can be added to this salad.
Pico De Gallo. Though I certainly prefer using fresh ingredients for my Cowboy Caviar, you could simply use store-bought pico de gallo to make the recipe go faster.
Fruit. You can also add small diced mango and pineapple to add a little sweetness to the dish.
Marinate. If you're in a hurry, you can get away with only letting it rest for 20 minutes. However, it's much better if you allow it to marinate for 1-2 hours.
Parsley. You can opt to use parsley instead of cilantro if cilantro isn't really your thing.
Storage. This Cowboy Caviar recipe keeps for up to a week in the fridge, so it makes a great make-ahead dish for when you have company coming over!
Picnics. This salad recipe uses no mayonnaise, which makes it safe to place on a picnic table for a few hours with no worries.