Game Day, Guilt-Free: 10 Healthy Appetizers for your Game Day Spread

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Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy caviar is a party staple that doubles as both a dip and a side dish. Packed with black beans, black-eyed peas, crunchy bell peppers, and juicy tomatoes, it’s tossed in a tangy lime dressing that keeps every bite fresh and vibrant. Serve it with crisp cucumber slices for a light, low-carb option or tortilla chips for a classic game-day crunch. Try adding mango for sweetness or swap jalapeño for a milder kick!

Ingredients (for 6-8 servings):

For the Base:

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow, or green), diced
• ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
• ½ cup sweet corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 avocado, diced (optional, add before serving)

For the Dressing:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, red wine vinegar, honey, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the black beans, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, jalapeño, corn, and cilantro.
3. Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss well to combine. Let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 min. to allow the flavors to meld.
4. Just before serving, gently fold in the diced avocado if using. Enjoy with cucumber slices or tortilla chips!