Cafe Rio Salad (Copycat Vegan Recipe)

Make Cafe Rio salad at home, complete with a drizzle of the famous creamy tomatillo dressing, just like from the restaurant! This easy recipe is also vegan.

Craving the famous Cafe Rio salad with creamy cilantro dressing?

Put down the car keys because you can recreate it at home! Even better, this copycat recipe’s creamy dressing is completely vegan for everyone to enjoy.

Featuring cilantro lime quinoa, beans, lettuce, guac, salsa, tortilla chips, and cilantro on top of tortillas and drizzled with Cafe Rio-inspired dressing, this salad is guaranteed to leave you full and happy.

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Make vegan salads more enjoyable with plant-based takes on your favorite dressings! Try vegan ranch dressing and avocado cream sauce!

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Cafe Rio Salad Recipe

• You can satisfy your cravings for Cafe Rio salad with creamy tomatillo dressing anytime with this easy copycat recipe!
• This veggie salad with copycat Cafe Rio dressing is completely vegan!
• Bright, savory, creamy, and crunchy, this vegan salad is simply satisfying.

Ingredients And Substitutions 

Tortillas – This copycat Cafe Rio salad will, of course, feature a base of flour tortillas.

Cilantro lime quinoa – Instead of cilantro lime rice, we’ll use homemade cilantro lime quinoa as a low-carb alternative.

Black beans – Pinto beans also work.

Romaine lettuce – For that satisfying crunch.

Guacamole – You can also just use sliced avocados.

Salsa – Homemade or store-bought? It’s up to you! Our fire-roasted salsa gives this veggie salad extra oomph.

Tortilla chips – You can also opt for mini tortilla strips.

Cilantro – Feel free to be generous with fresh cilantro on your copycat Cafe Rio salad, just like the restaurant!

Copycat Cafe Rio Dressing:

Vegan mayo – Use your favorite plant-based mayonnaise, or make one from scratch for this tortilla salad recipe!

Almond milk and raw cashews – They make this vegan Cafe Rio salad dressing creamy without dairy!

Fresh lime juice – For that irresistible tang, use juice from actual fresh limes!

Garlic and scallion – Nothing beats fresh garlic cloves and green onion for a flavorful vegan creamy cilantro dressing.

Salt and black pepper – Seasonings to round out the dressing.

Cilantro – Jalapeno and dried dill are also amazing for this creamy salad dressing.

Tomatillos – There’s no substitute for tomatillos in this Cafe Rio-style dressing, but for convenience, you can use canned ones!

Tips For Making This Recipe

Keep Your Salad From Getting Soggy

Use a salad spinner on your lettuce to remove any excess moisture that can make the salad soggy. And, of course, only add the dressing right before serving the salad.

Make Cheesy Tortillas

Make your homemade Cafe Rio salad extra special by toasting the tortillas with shredded non dairy Mexican-style cheese!

Make the Black Beans Tastier

Add olive oil to a pan over medium heat and saute some garlic and cumin in it for 1 minute. Add your beans, tomato juice, plus any other seasonings you like, and simmer until some of the liquid has evaporated.

Veggie Salad with Cafe Rio Dressing Copycat Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Vegan Salad Recipes

• Jerusalem Salad
• Green Bean Salad
• Vegan Potato Salad
• Spiced Chickpea Kale Salad
• Vegan Street Corn Salad

I found this recipe for Creamy Vegan Pasta Salad that I HAVE to try!

Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Your comment and/or rating helps other readers!

Cafe Rio Salad

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Make Cafe Rio salad at home, complete with a drizzle of the famous creamy tomatillo dressing, just like from the restaurant! This easy recipe is also vegan.

Louisa

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Salad bowls
• Blender

Ingredients

• 4 large tortillas
• 2 cups cilantro lime quinoa
• 2 cups black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1/2 cup guacamole
• 3/4 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup tortilla chips, crumbled
• 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

Copycat Cafe Rio Dressing:

• 1 cup vegan mayo
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 scallion, chopped
• 1 handful cilantro, chopped
• 3 to tomatillos, diced
• 6 tbsp raw cashews

Instructions

• Divide the salad ingredients into 4 bowls and assemble them in the order listed so the tortillas are at the bottom and the other ingredients are on top. Set the salads aside.
• Add all the dressing ingredients to a blender and blend on high until smooth and well combined.
• Drizzle the vegan creamy cilantro dressing on the salads generously, and you’re done!

Notes

• Use a salad spinner on your lettuce to remove any excess moisture that can make the salad soggy. And, of course, only add the dressing right before serving the salad.
• Make your homemade Cafe Rio salad extra special by toasting the tortillas with shredded non dairy Mexican-style cheese!
• Add olive oil to a pan over medium heat and saute some garlic and cumin in it for 1 minute. Add your beans, tomato juice, plus any other seasonings you like, and simmer until some of the liquid has evaporated.

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