The Best Fresh Veggie Salsa – Cowboy Caviar

This fresh veggie salsa is a chip’s perfect companion! Perfect for summer bar-b-ques and cookouts!

This fresh veggie salsa is also called Texas Caviar or Cowboy Caviar. It is so delicious and perfect for any summer get together!

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Every summer my extended family gathers in Alabama for a family reunion. It is such a special time of togetherness.

If you’ve ever spent time in Alabama during the summer months, then you know it can basically be described with two words: Hot and Humid.

We’re often searching for a refreshing treat to help us cool off. Each year there is a variety of homemade ice cream. So many delicious flavors. It seems like the bowls are never quite big enough!

But if you don’t have a sweet tooth, or if you’re looking for a refreshing treat that is more on the savory side, then veggie salsa is what you need.

Veggies Straight From Your Garden

There are so many veggies in this salsa that we grow in our garden each year. We typically grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and green onions. There is something really satisfying about making this salsa using veggies straight from the garden.

I love making this salsa about mid summer when lots of these veggies are ready to be harvested from our own backyard garden.

If you aren’t making your own backyard garden this year, or if you’re like me and still waiting for the harvest, try checking out a local farmer’s market for that homegrown flavor. And if there’s no farmer’s market near by, these ingredients are easy to find at most grocery stores.

Ingredients For Fresh Veggie Salsa

• 1 can of whole kernel corn (rinsed and drained)
• 1 can of black eyed peas (rinsed and drained)
• 3 bell peppers of different colors
• 1 cucumber
• celery
• tomatoes
• green onions

Ingredients For Dressing

• 1 package of Italian dressing mix
• oil (vegetable or olive)
• Vinegar

Additional Ingredients

• tortilla chips

Directions For Fresh Veggie Salsa

Dice all the veggies approximately the same size as a kernel of corn. Having a great knife definitely makes this part much easier and quicker!

Combine all the veggies in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl with a tight fitting lid combine the package of Italian seasoning, vinegar, and water. Put the lid on and shake until combined.

In the same container add the oil. Put the lid on and shake until combined.

Pour Italian dressing mix over the veggies.

Mix well.

Serve with chips.

Tips For Fresh Veggie Salsa

You can use whatever vegetable you prefer in whatever amounts suit your taste.

Another thing you may want to consider is removing some or all of the cucumber seeds. I do this by cutting the cucumber in half length ways then using a spoon to remove the seeds from the middle. If you don’t mind the cucumber seeds you can skip this step.

I typically try to use equal amounts of everything, except less of the green onions.

Although you could use a bottle of Italian dressing, it is much better if you mix your own.

If you do have leftovers, or if you make the veggie salsa in advance be sure to give it a quick mix before serving just to make sure the dressing hasn’t settled all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

I think it tastes better the day after you make it. It gives the veggies time to soak up all the seasoning!

Tips For Chopping Veggies

Chopping veggies is both a science and an art. And sometimes it can be easier said than done to get uniform pieces! I love watching cooking shows and seeing how incredibly fast the chefs can chop those vegetables! It’s pretty amazing!

While I’m no expert chef when it comes to chopping veggies, I have learned a few tips and tricks over the years.

On one of my favorite cooking shows the host of the show is always reminding contestants to dice veggies by first cutting slices, then sticks, then dices. It’s great advice really.

Try cutting your vegetable into a manageable slice, then into sticks. Then line all the sticks up together and cut them again to dice up the vegetable.

Cutting tomatoes is so much easier with a great tomato knife! Tomatoes have a thin skin, but it can seem a little tough when you’re trying to cut it. Sometimes it’s hard not to squish the tomatoes when you’re cutting them. Using a serrated tomato knife helps with both issues.

When cutting green onions I use kitchen scissors. I just think it’s easier to use the scissors than a knife for that particular veggie.

Variations For Fresh Veggie Salsa

The variations for fresh veggie salsa are practically endless!

If you don’t care for one of the ingredients listed – omit it!

If there is another veggie that you really enjoy – add it!

You can change the ratios of the ingredients to have more of the stuff you like and less of the stuff you don’t.

Here’s a list of other items you may want to add:

• black beans
• chick peas
• hot peppers
• white onions
• red onions
• yellow tomatoes

You could also use balsamic vinegar for a different taste.

How Long Does Veggie Salsa Last?

If there happen to be any leftovers, you can store veggie salsa in the fridge for about a week.

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Tomato Knife

Mixing Bowl

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