The Freshman Cook: Cafe Rio Barbacoa Pork

 It’s time for another Holiday Recipe Club, and for Memorial Day we could choose between 3 ingredients to use. Our choices are watermelon, pork, or beer. You can also choose two or all of the ingredients, if you would like. I chose pork because I love it. I love to cook with it at home, and I do so very often. I also love to get it when we go out to eat. When it comes to my favorite place to eat out, I guess I go in cycles, just like anyone else. Sometimes, it’s a slice of pizza and a great salad bar. Other times it’s an all you can eat sushi place. Right now it is a Mexican, stand in line and order kinda of place called Cafe Rio. I just love it! I went searching for a copy cat recipe mostly because my husband is sick and tired of Cafe Rio being the only place I want to go eat.Oh, he likes it too, but he is not obsessed anxious to have it all the time.  He doesn’t say anything, but sometimes you just know. Ya know? Anyway I found one, and it is delicious. You will love it! For the true Cafe Rio experience you need to make the pork and the enchilada sauce.

Cafe Rio Barbacoa Pork

(adapted from barbarabakes.com)

2 pounds boneless Pork Ribs

12 ounce can Coke (not diet)

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

dash Garlic Powder

1/4 cup Water 

Place the pork and the brown sugar  in a plastic bag.

Pour in the coke. Marinate for a few hours

or even overnight.

Pour the meat and the marinade into the crock pot.

Add the garlic powder and the water.

Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

When done, drain the liquid and shred the pork.

Now make the enchilada sauce:

Barbacoa Enchilada Sauce

1 cup Coke (not diet)
1 small can diced green Chilies
1 cup red Enchilada Sauce
1/2 cup brown Sugar

Put all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend.

 Put shredded pork and enchilada sauce in to 
crock pot and cook on high for 2 hours.
Then it is ready to serve.
I put my pork on top of white rice on a flour tortilla.
I also added sauteed onions and peppers.
At Cafe Rio their burrito is served with Cilantro Lime Rice
and Black or Pinto Beans. I have some recipes
for those that I will be posting in the near future.
I topped my burrito with the enchilada sauce
and some shredded cheddar.
So delicious! 

Thanks for joining me today! 

Stop and see what everyone else made: