cafe rio salad recipe

If you've ever been to Cafe Rio, you know that their salads are the stuff of legend. Whether you're a fan of the sweet pork salad or the grilled chicken salad, there's something about the combination of fresh ingredients, tangy dressing, and crispy tortilla strips that's just irresistible. But what if you could recreate that magic at home? Luckily, with this Cafe Rio salad recipe, you can.

Ingredients:For the Salad:For the Dressing:1 head of green leaf lettuce, chopped1 cup buttermilk1 can black beans, drained and rinsed1 cup mayonnaise1 can corn kernels, drained2 tomatillos, husked and rinsed1/2 red onion, chopped1 jalapeno pepper, chopped2 chopped tomatoes2 cloves garlic, minced1 cup shredded cheddar cheese1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped1 cup tortilla strips1 lime, juiced1 avocado, sliced1 teaspoon cumin1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro1 teaspoon chili powder1/2 lime, juiced1/2 teaspoon saltSalt and pepper to taste1/4 teaspoon black pepper

As you can see, this Cafe Rio salad recipe has quite a few ingredients. Don't let that intimidate you, though. Most of them are easy to find at your local grocery store, and the end result is totally worth it. Plus, if you make a big batch of the dressing, you can keep it in the fridge for up to a week and use it on all sorts of other salads and sandwiches.

Instructions:

Here's how to make the Cafe Rio salad:

1. Start by prepping your ingredients. Chop the lettuce, onion, tomatoes, and cilantro. Drain and rinse the black beans and corn. Shred the cheese. Slice the avocado. If you want to make your own tortilla strips, you can do that too (just cut thin strips from a few corn tortillas and fry them in hot oil until crispy).

2. In a blender or food processor, combine the buttermilk, mayonnaise, tomatillos, jalapeno, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.

3. Assemble your salad. Start with a bed of chopped lettuce, then add the black beans, corn, red onion, tomato, and shredded cheese. Drizzle with the dressing and squeeze some fresh lime juice over the top.

4. Top the salad with the tortilla strips and avocado slices. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.

That's it! With just a little bit of prep work, you can have a delicious Cafe Rio salad right in your own home.

Notes:

A few things to keep in mind when making this Cafe Rio salad recipe:

1. If you're not a fan of spice, you can leave out the jalapeno or use less of it.

2. Feel free to add more or less of any of the ingredients depending on your personal preference. For example, if you really love avocado, go ahead and add more!

3. If you don't want to make your own tortilla strips, you can usually find them pre-made at the grocery store. Just be sure to check the ingredients to make sure they're vegan if that's a concern for you.

4. You can use any type of lettuce you like for this salad, but we recommend something with a bit of crunch, like green leaf lettuce or romaine.

5. If you're making the dressing ahead of time, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It may thicken up a bit, but you can thin it out with a bit of extra buttermilk or water.

Conclusion:

There's no denying that Cafe Rio salads are some of the best around, but with this recipe, you can make them at home anytime you want. Whether you're looking for a healthy lunch option or a crowd-pleasing dinner party dish, this salad is sure to impress. So grab your ingredients and get cooking!

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