Wanna-Be Cafe Rio Salad

Cafe Rio Salad

My husband and I LOVE Cafe Rio. We probably visit this restaurant about two or three times a month when I don't feel like cooking (and sometimes I just make it at home). Their food is super yummy and affordable, plus you usually can make two meals of your order because they give you a ton of food. If you haven't gone to this restaurant, I totally recommend it if you are in town. If you live away from Utah...I have just the solution for you. Now remember, this is not the official recipe, I'm not that lucky to get it...but I came accross a pretty good knock-off recipe. I will call it...............

THE WANNA-BE CAFE RIO SALAD

Cafe Rio Dressing

1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet (follow the instructions on the packet)
2 tomatillos
½ bunch of cilantro
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeño

Use a food processor or blender to blend all the ingredients well. Refrigerate

*It will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Café Rio Sweet Pork

3-4 lbs pork roast
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups salsa

*Mix ingredients in a crock pot and let cook for 10 hours on low.

Cilantro-Lime Rice

1 cup uncooked rice
1 teaspoon butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 can (15 oz) chicken broth
1 1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
Salt to taste

In a saucepan combine rice, salt, butter, garlic, lime peel, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook 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.

Beans

Cook your beans like regular (beans, water, salt in a pressure cooker or pot). In a saucepan sautee chopped onions and minced garlic and then add cooked beans with a little bit of juice, then add chopped cilantro.

For the salad, you will also need:

romaine lettuce
large flour tortillas
guacamole
salsa
cheese
tortilla strips (cut yellow corn tortillas in thin strips and fry them).

To assemble your salad put a warm flour tortilla on your plate, then add rice, beans, meat, lettuce, guacamole, salsa, cheese, tortilla strips and finally the dressing!

The recipe will make a lot of food so make sure you invite people over. Let me know how you like it!