Sweet Pork Mex Salad (Cafe Rio Style)

So I received a few requests to blog this recipe so here it is. Is it just like Cafe Rio's yummy salads..no, but pretty darn close. The other great thing about it is if you get pork butt roast(which is not literally butt ..had to research that as I wasn't sure I could go there) on sale you can feed a group for the cost of a salad a drink at the restaurant. Here Goes:

Sweet Pork Fresh Mex Salad

LAYER
Tortilla
Black Beans
Cilantro Lime Rice
Chopped Romaine Lettuce or Spinach
Sweet Pork
Guacamole
Pico De Gallo
Tortilla Strips
Lime Wedge
Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

SWEET SHREDDED PORK
5 lbs Butt Pork Roast (bone in)
1/4 c. ketchup
1/4c. soy sauce
1 1/3 c. brown sugar
2 fresh garlic bulbs minced
1/2 c. chicken broth

Cover bottom of crock pot with water. Place pork in crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Or place pork in a 9x13 pan and cover w/ aluminum foil. Bake @ 325 for 5-6hrs. Take pork out and shred. In a sauce pan combine the rest of the ingredients and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over pork and serve.

CILANTRO LIME RICE
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp. grated lime peel
1/8-1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 c. chicken broth
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Combine rice, garlic, lime peel, pepper and broth in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in cilantro.

TOMATILLO RANCH DRESSING
2 c. mayo
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves
2 Tbsp. white vinegar
1 jalapeno seeded
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 toamatillos (take off outside paper)

Blend all ingredients together in blender or food processor. Refrigerate for an hour or two.

GUACAMOLE
As you like it. I mash avocado's, add salt to taste, a little lime juice and some fine chopped cilantro. yum!


PICO DE GALLO

I do not like the canned tomatoe recipe this came with so here is mine:

1/2 red onion chopped
1/2 yellow onion chopped
1-2 jalapeno peppers, use serrano peppers if you like hot
4 sprigs of cilantro, chopped fine
2 green onions, chopped fine
1-2 cloves garlic minced
salt and pepper to taste
squeeze of fresh lime juice

Combine all the ingredients and refrigerate for a least 30 minutes. (This recipe makes alot..scale down if you are only feeding a few).
Enjoy!

And what's for dinner tonight? I am trying this recipe. I have a few spaghetti squash to use up and so we are giving this one a try. Serving it with steamed carrots and Fresh Limeade . Hope it's as good as it sounds!

P.S. Came across this dressing recipe that claims it tastes just like the Cafe Rio one..give it a try if you want and let me know!

House Dressing
1 dry buttermilk ranch packet (like Hidden Valley)
1 cup buttermilk (we substitute this with sour cream)
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tomatillos (husk removed & diced) .
½ bunch of cilantro
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 Jalapeno
Blend all ingredients in blender and refrigerate for 1-2 hours