Cafe Rio Salads

Anyone who has never had a Cafe Rio salad I am sorry but they are the best and I was able to get some of the recipes to recreate this amazing dish.  Following are the dressing recipe, rice and of course the sweet pork.  I am not a huge fan of pork but one taste of this and you will be hooked.  I made it the other day for my family and forgot to take pictures.  My family loved it.  Thanks to Shawna for the sweet pork recipe, Aria for the dressing recipe and I found the rice part on line.  

So here we go.  

Sweet Pork

2 1/2 lbs of pork roast (not butt or shoulder)

2/3 c. water

1/8 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1  14 oz. can green enchilada sauce 

1 c. brown sugar 

Mix water and seasonings together and pour into crock pot.  Sprinkle roast with some salt and pepper and sear in hot frying pan on all sides.  Place in crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours or low 8-10 hours.  Shred pork and stir in enchilada sauce and brown sugar.  Cook for 30-60 mins more or until sugar is dissolved.  

Tomatillo Dressing

2 packages Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dressing

2 c. buttermilk

2 c. mayo

2-4 tomatillos

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1 bunch of cilantro

1 tsp. lime juice

1-2 small jalapenos, seeds removed

Blend ingredients together in a blender.  Add additional mayo if dressing is to thin. I added a little more but it does thicken up a little bit once you refrigerate it.    Keep refrigerated.  

Lime Cilantro Rice

2 Tbsp. oil

4 c. long grain rice

6 c. water

1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

juice of 2 limes

2 tsp. crushed garlic

Heat oil in a large skillet.  Add rice, cilantro and garlic.  Saute for 3-5 mins. stirring frequently.  Add water and lime juice.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until all liquid is absorbed by rice (about 20 mins.)

To assemble salads I buy the uncooked tortillas and cook them up.  You can also buy flour tortilla shells.  Warm up some canned pinto beans and put the sweet pork, beans and rice on the bottom.  Top with salad.  Add guacamole and sour cream if desired and top with the tomatillo dressing.  Enjoy and let me know what you think.