Gluten Free Dairy Free Black Eyed Pea Salsa Dip

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WHY WE LOVE THIS DIP SO MUCH!

You know food is going to be good if Connie is bringing it. She has been a long time food model for me, and she knows her flavors. She brought this dip to a Super Bowl party and I looked good–yet simple. I started to really inspect it, and I thought hmm…I can see all of the ingredients, and they all look safe for my food allergic son, I wonder if it truly could be gluten, dairy, egg and nut free. The only hang up: it used a store-bought sauce. So, we looked it up, and to our astonishment, it was safe! Ever since then–my son requests this at any gathering–New Year’s, Super Bowl, 4th of July…any place a chip and dip combo may be appreciated he wants it there and he is the first to dig in. If you don’t believe how much he loves it…watch the video! (Plus, if you make it for New Year’s Day–they say eating black eyed peas will bring your good luck…I mean, twist my arm!)

You too will love this dip. It may sound like a turn off that it’s free of so many things–but that’s because it has all of the RIGHT things. The texture, the flavors–it’s all there. Nothing is missing. And, it just requires some stirring and cutting. Your family will love this black eyed pea salsa recipe (also known as cowboy caviar or Texas caviar). 

This is also a wonderful appetizer at outdoor events because you don’t have to worry about the mayo or meat sitting out–just veggies and blackeye peas.

WHAT INGREDIENTS DOES THIS BLACK EYED PEA SALSA DIP NEED?

You only need a handful of ingredients for this delicious salad:

DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

• 1 can black-eyed peas
• 1 can sweet corn
• red bell pepper
• red onion
• sugar
• white vinegar
• olive oil
• Tiger sauce
• a bunch of fresh cilantro
• avocado
• Tortilla chips of choice for shoveling the dip into your mouth

WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU MADE TO THE TYPICAL RECIPE?

Some recipes, and the one I got from Connie–had a jar of pimento. But, I opted for fresh red peppers for more crunch. Sometimes, you’ll see green onions. You’re welcome to add these when you add the cilantro, but for me, the red onion gives plenty of onion-y flavor. Some people will also use red wine vinegar. I think regular white is fine, but I don’t think the type of vinegar will make much of a difference, and most home cooks have regular white vinegar on hand more readily. Some people will also add black beans as well. For me, one type of bean is enough, but the marinade does make quite a bit, so if you want double the beans you can add a can of drained black beans as well (or even swap out the black eyed peas for the black beans. I like using black-eyed peas because they’re not a bean you eat often and they are extra special at New Year’s because of the time of year. Gotta get that variety in!)

Another important change is that many types of black-eyed pea dips use Italian Dressing Mix packets for the seasoning, and many have wheat in them, especially the popular brand: Good Seasons. So, if you felt like you couldn’t eat this black-eyed pea dip anymore, rejoice! We’ve found a way around that. In fact, you’ll be so happy to have this back, why wait for game days and make it today just because it’s such a delicious appetizer?

WHAT IS TIGER SAUCE?

Tiger sauce is an excellent was to boost the vibrant flavor and amplify the slight kick this dip has. It’s a sweet heat, a little like a hot sauce. It’s an easy way to cut down on having so many ingredients. At first I was turned off, because I hate having to have a single recipe need for a condiment, and having to track down a precise ingredient, but I easily found this at my Albertson’s, and Amazon, and it’s a small bottle, so it’s not hard to keep it around for the next time I bust this black eyed pea salsa out. (Not sponsored!) 

WHAT TOOLS DO YOU NEED FOR THIS BLACK EYED PEA SALAD?

This delicious dip doesn’t dirty many dishes, you only need:

• Cutting board and knife
• Colander or strainer
• Large mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Plastic wrap

HOW IS THIS BLACKEYED PEA SALAD GLUTEN FREE AND DAIRY FREE?

The nice thing about making something so fresh, is that you know exactly what’s in the dish. Everything is a single ingredient, and fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. The only label you’ll need to read is the Tiger Sauce, which ingredients are listed as:

Vinegar, sugar. aged red peppers. Worcestershire sauce (Water, vinegar, corn syrup, syrup, hydrolyzed corn protein, salt, caramel color, anchovy, spices, tamarind, natural flavorings), salt, water contains 2% or less of spices, vegetable gum, and .1% sodium benzoate as a preservative

I did email the company to ensure that it is indeed gluten and dairy free and that I didn’t miss anything on the label, and they emailed me back on 6/6/2023 and said that yes, it is gluten free and dairy free.

The way I read this recipe, it should be top-6-free, and suitable for those who are avoiding: gluten, dairy, egg, peanut and tree nut allergies. This would not be suitable for those with fish allergies (due to the anchovy) or corn allergies.

Most tortilla chips are just made out of corn and salt and sometimes a preservative. Though, if you have a specialty diet, you should always check just to make sure that nothing has snuck in there. Use whatever favorite tortilla chips you like. We’ve been fine with store brand chips, as well as Santitas, Tostitos, Calidad, and Juanitas and others you can find at your local grocery store.

CAN I ADD OTHER VEGETABLES?

Some people will feel frustrated that there are no tomatoes in this, since this black-eyed pea salsa recipe has the word “salsa” in it. I love fresh tomatoes, and feel like they wouldn’t be amiss here, so if you want to up the amount of vegetables, feel free to dice some and throw it in. Personally, I’m not picky, so if you want tomato recommendations, I would use whatever tomato is on sale–whether that be slicing medium tomatoes, roma tomatoes or otherwise. Use whatever kind looks the most ripe. And, diced green onions wouldn’t hurt either. I love it the way it is, but if you want to beef it out and make it more filling, you do you! Lastly, if you don’t have any red bell peppers, orange or yellow bell peppers would be a non-noticeable switch as well. I feel this has enough tang from the vinegar and heat from the Tiger Sauce (I’m a baby) that if you wanted more heat, you could always finely dice some jalapeño peppers as well.  

HOW DO I STORE THE DIP?

Place the dip in a sealable bowl, or another type of airtight container. Keep it in the fridge. It should stay good for 1-2 days. The avocados usually don’t brown because of the acidity of the dip, but if they do turn bad before the rest of the dip you can always fish them out. If you know you’ll be making this ahead of time, I would wait to cut and add the avocado until right before serving this bean salad.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER GLUTEN FREE DAIRY FREE APPETIZERS?

I sure do! Everyone deserves a perfect appetizer no matter their dietary restrictions. Check out these other favorite appetizers of ours that are gluten-free dairy-free too:

• 3 Ingredient Dairy Free Ranch Dip
• Dairy Free Sausage Queso Dip
• Gluten and Dairy Free Turkey Bacon Ranch Wraps
• Cranberry Salsa Dip
• Joanna Gaines’ French Onion Dip Made Dairy Free
• Gluten Free Herbed Breadsticks (Vegan option too!)
• The Best Vegan Queso
• Asian Quinoa Meatballs

If you can have dairy, try this Healthier Dill Dip Eat at Our Table.

WHAT WOULD GO WITH THIS EASY BLACK-EYED PEA SALSA?

Really, this goes well with anything at your next barbecue, party or get together. Some of our favorites include:

• Italian Grilled Chicken
• Lemon Grilled Chicken
• Slow Cooker Pork Tacos
• Italian Sliders
• BBQ Sliders

DO I HAVE A VIDEO THAT SHOWS HOW TO MAKE THIS GLUTEN FREE DIP?

I do! I love seeing how to make something start to finish. and I thought you would too. The video should automatically pop up, but if it doesn’t the video should be at the bottom of the recipe card. And, if that doesn’t work, you can always view it on my Allergy Awesomeness YouTube Channel.