Cafe Rio Salad - Putting it All Together

To get the total Cafe Rio experience you'll need:

6 large tortillas (the uncooked ones from Costco are best, but any will work)
Shredded Cheese (melt this on the tortillas before piling on your salad)
Cafe Rio Rice (click HERE)
Cafe Rio Black Beans (click HERE)
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork (click HERE)
Lettuce (not iceberg, use leafy green or Romaine)
Diced tomato, onion and cilantro (Pico de gallo)
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Parmesan Cheese (for sprinkling on top)
Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch (click HERE)
or
Cafe Rio Cilantro lime Vinaigrette (click HERE)
Tortilla Strips (cut corn tortillas into strips, toss in olive oil and salt, and bake at 350 for about 10-20 minutes keeping an eye on them because they'll go from uncooked to burned in minutes)

Cafe Rio Cilantro Dressings

(via Favorite Family Recipes)

Cilantro Ranch


1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1/2 jalepeno (remove the seeds)

Mix all ingredients together in the blender. That's it!


Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette


2 tamatillos
1/2 bunch cilantro
2 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. diced jalepeno (canned) --you can use less if you don't like it spicy at all. I like a little kick.
Juice of 2 limes
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 c. balsamic vinaigrette

In a food processor or blender, combine tamatillos, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, lime juice, and sugar. After it is all blended up well combine with balsamic vinaigrette in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best).

Cafe Rio Black Beans

(via Favorite Family Recipes)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/3 c. tomato juice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in the cilantro.

Cafe Rio's Cilantro-Lime Rice

(via Favorite Family Recipes)
1 c. uncooked rice (long-grain, white rice)
1 tsp. butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 can (15 oz) chicken broth
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tsp. sugar
3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

In a saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. lime, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat. In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro. Pour over hot cooked rice and mix in as you fluff the rice.

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad

Living in Provo, Cafe Rio was one of our favorite places to eat.

Their sweet pork salad is to die for and I've had countless episodes of craving
their delicious salads since we've moved away.

There are quite a few 'copycat' recipes out there,
so Sunday night we got together with our friends, the Hulmes,
for Cafe Rio Salad night.


Here's the sweet pork recipe, I'll post all the delicious fixings in the next few days!

SWEET PORK:
(via Favorite Family Recipes)
2 pounds pork (we like to use boneless pork ribs)
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can sliced green chilies
3/4 can RED enchilada sauce(10oz can) (I used Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness)
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry). Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.

Put shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!