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drizzling dressing over salad
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Cafe Rio Salad

Cafe Rio Salad is a delicious full meal in a salad. Lettuce, sweet pork, cilantro lime rice, black beans and creamy tomatillo dressing all served over a tortilla.
Course dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings 12 servings (6 large salads)
Calories 641kcal
Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Ingredients

  • lettuce
  • 2 tomatoes chopped
  • 12 0z guacamole
  • 12 0z cotija cheese.
  • 3 limes quartered
  • 12 flour tortillas
  • 3.5 oz tortilla strips

Sweet Pork

  • 1.5 lb boneless pork carnitas or shoulder
  • 12 oz Coca Cola  1 can, not diet or zero sugar
  • 1 c brown sugar divided
  • 10 oz enchilada sauce 
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 oz diced green chilies

Cilantro Rice

  • 2 tsp fresh cilantro
  • 1 c white basmati rice
  • 2 c water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 lime juice

Black Beans

  • 30 oz black beans  2 cans, drained
  • 2 cloves garlic  minced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 3 tbs olive oil
  • 1 1/2 C tomato juice
  • 1/4 c cilantro chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

  • 1 Hidden Valley Ranch Mix Traditional
  • 1 c mayonnaise
  • 1 c buttermilk
  • 2 tomatillos
  • 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 lime juice
  • 1 jalapeño

Instructions

Sweet Pork

  • Marinade pork overnight in can of coke and 1/4 C brown sugar.
  • Pour pork and liquid into crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours.
  • Remove meat and shred.
  • Discard liquid, Return meat to crock pot and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies and brown sugar.
  • Cook on low for 30-60 more minutes.

Cilantro Rice

  • Bring water to boil, add rice and cover.
  • Cook until rice is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
  • Add lime juice, salt and cilantro. Stir to incorporate and fluff with fork.

Black Beans

  • In a pan, sauté garlic, cumin and olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it! About 1 minutes.
  • Add beans, tomato juice and seasoning and simmer until some of the liquid is absorbed and evaporated.
  • Stir in chopped cilantro when ready to serve.

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

  • Put all ingredients together in the blender and blend to desired consistency.

Salad

  • Place flour tortilla on your plate and add a layer of rice and black beans to the top.
  • Top with sweet pork.
  • Add shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, a scoop of guacamole, some tortilla chips, a sprinkle of cotjia cheese and some fresh cilantro.
  • Finish it off with creamy tomatillo dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 641kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 754mg | Potassium: 777mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 615IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 4mg