Cafe Rio Style Salads

This post is based on salads from a local favorite restaurant named Cafe Rio.  These recipes came from the internet and friends.  Cafe Rio is one of our favorite places to eat.  My daughter has a friend that has a son named Lucas.  When Lucas was small he and his family would meet my daughter and son-in-law at Cafe Rio all the time and he called my daughter Aunt Cafe Rio.  Enjoy.

Sweet Pork

Ingredients

3-5 lbs or boneless pork loin or shoulder
1 c. Dr. Pepper
1 1/2 brown sugar
3 - 8oz. cans tomato sauce
3 - 8oz cans "El Pato" brand Mexican style tomato sauce


Directions

Put everything into the crock pot and simmer around 6 hours.
Shred pork, return to pot, and simmer 2 more hours.


Chicken

Ingredients

5 lbs of boneless chicken (approx.)
1 small zesty Italian dressing
1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
3 cloves garlic

Direcitons

Add all to crock pot. Cook on low 5-7 hours. Shred and let sit in
juices until serving.


Lime Rice


Ingredients

2 T butter
1 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
6 2/3 c. water
8 t chicken bouillon
1 bunch cilantro
2 t cumin
2 small cans diced chilies
1 T lime juice
1 t salt
3 c long grain rice

Directions

In a small saucepan, saute butter, onion, & garlic. In a large pan,
bring water to a boil. Add bouillon, cilantro, cumin, chilies, salt,
and lime juice. Add onion and garlic and rice. Reduce heat, simmer
for 30 min.

Pico de Gallo


Ingredients

4 tomatoes
1 white onion
1 bunch cilantro
2 cloves garlic
1 t lime juice
1 t salt
1 t pepper.

Directions

Finely chop tomatoes, onion, and cilantro. Add all other ingredients.
serve fresh.


Tomatillo Dressing


Directions

1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1 c. buttermilk
1 c mayonnaise
1-2 tomatillos
1 clove garlic
1/3 bunch cilantro
1 T lime juice


Directions
Mix all ingredients in blender. Store at room temperature until serving.


Salad Ingredient Ideas:

Romaine or Iceberg lettuce (shredded)
shredded cheese

heated black or pinto beans
sour cream
guacamole
limes
flour tortillas
corn tortillas (cut into thin strips and fried until crisp)
cotija cheese

Assembling Salads

Start with a tortilla that has been warmed and cheese has been melted on it.  Place tortilla in a bowl.  Put scoop of either black beans or pinto beans on the bottom of the tortilla.  Add a scoop of rice.  Add lettuce.   Meat next.  Top with pico, sour cream, guacamole, tortilla strips, cotija cheese and tomatillo dressing.  Add lime wedges.  You can also make them out of grilled steak and you can grill the chicken too.  Enjoy.