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Favorite Family Recipes

Easy family recipes for dinner, dessert, and more!

April 29, 2010

Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe

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All of you Cafe Rio and Costa Vida lovers, get excited! You will be so surprised how perfect this Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe is.

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

This Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe is so fresh and tasty! You will want to put it on every salad you eat! You just can’t go wrong with the combination of cilantro and lime. It tastes JUST like the one at Cafe Rio, and it’s little healthier than the traditional Cafe Rio ranch dressing.

 

Yesterday was a big day for me. After YEARS of trying to figure out the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette recipe, I have FINALLY figured it out. I spent all day in the kitchen yesterday trying to get this just right and I finally did it! All of you Cafe Rio and Costa Vida lovers, get excited! You will be so surprised how right, smack on this is.

 

Try to get really fresh ingredients when you make this dressing – it will make a big difference in taste. I can usually find good tomatillos in most grocery stores, but if you’re feeling adventurous this summer maybe try to find some from a farmer’s market! Same goes for the cilantro and limes. If you love tomatillos (I know I do!) try our Homemade Tomatillo Salsa Verde next time you make Mexican food! Also, when you blend this make sure that you blend it REALLY well – you don’t want any chunks. This dressing is best served smooooooooth 😉

 

MY LATEST RECIPES
For our complete Cafe Rio/Costa Vida salad recipe click HERE!

 

Update: Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback on this recipe! I have made it so many times since I have first posted and I still love it! I usually make a big batch of it and use it on ALL of my salads! It is such a great, fresh recipe. I still can’t get enough of it!

 

If you haven’t seen all of our other Cafe Rio recipes, click HERE to view them ALL in one convenient place!

 

5 from 1 vote
Cafe Rios Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Recipe
Print
Our Version of Cafe Rio’s Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette
Ingredients (with Amazon Links)
  • 2 tamatillos
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. diced jalapeno canned --you can use less if you don't like it spicy at all. I like a little kick.
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 c. balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing NOT balsamic VINEGAR... there is a difference. We used Kraft brand vinaigrette
Instructions
  1. In a food processor or blender, combine tamatillos, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, lime juice, and sugar. After it is all blended up well combine with balsamic vinaigrette in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best).

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More from Favorite Family Recipes:

  • The Complete Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad RecipeThe Complete Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Recipe
  • Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing Copycat RecipeCafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing Copycat Recipe
  • Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito Copycat RecipeCafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito Copycat Recipe
  • Homemade Flour TortillasHomemade Flour Tortillas
All of you Cafe Rio and Costa Vida lovers, get excited! You will be so surprised how perfect this Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe is.
Share
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Shares 986

Filed Under: Copycat Recipes, Dressing, Mexican, Other, Salad

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melody says

    April 12, 2010 at 2:45 am

    I've heard so much about this dressing and I LOVE cilantro. I better just whip up a batch!

    Reply
  2. Gourmified says

    April 12, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Oh YUM! This is my favorite dressing at Cafe Rio! Can't wait to try it!!!! Thank you Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Candace says

    April 12, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    Awesome! I'll be trying this one out soon.

    http://www.thecooknextdoor.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. Allison says

    April 13, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Screech! YAY! I can't wait.

    Reply
  5. the mama monster says

    April 20, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    yay yay yay. really and truly? i have made the creamy dressing befor but never seen the vinegarette. thanks!

    Reply
  6. Amy says

    May 4, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    Erica, your Cafe Rio recipes are the closest and best I've ever tried. in fact our whole Memorial Day party last year was centered around all of your Cafe Rio recipes. My huge extended family (lives in CA and don't have a Cafe Rio) now all use YOUR recipe to recreate! Thank you for perfection!

    Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    June 11, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    Thank you! I've been looking for this recipe for years. I'm so glad I found your site. I made the dressing Sunday and it was perfect.

    Reply
  8. Camille says

    October 18, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Thank you!!!! I have been looking for this recipe for years also!!!! Your recipes are definitely the closest. Thanks for your hard work. I really appreciate it. I LOOOOOOVE Cafe Rio.

    Reply
  9. Carly says

    November 18, 2010 at 4:31 am

    I was so excited to find this recipe, so I made it tonight. Mine looks NOTHING like yours, however, and I feel like there's way too much vinegar in it. Is it really supposed to be a full cup of balsamic vinegar? It doesn't taste quite right. HELP! I think I screwed it up! Leave it to me to do it wrong…..

    Reply
    • Jolene Tanner says

      March 31, 2014 at 9:50 am

      1 pkg of ranch dressing mix
      1 cup mayo
      1 cup buttermilk, (You can use 1 TBLS of vinegar and add enough milk to make 1 cup.)
      2 Tomatillos
      1 bunch of fresh cilantro
      1 clove of garlic
      juice of one lime
      1 jalapeño.
      Blend all in blender and use. Refrigerate left overs.
      My sons friend works at Cafe Rio, he said this is the best copy cat recipe he has ever tried. He said they use “a crap load of mayo.”

      Reply
  10. Erica says

    November 18, 2010 at 5:01 am

    @ Carly— I hope you didn't use balsamic vinegar! It's a cup of Balsamic Vinaigrette, the salad dressing. You can use Newman's Own or we just use Kraft vinaigrette. One cup of balsamic vinegar WOULD be too much vinegar.. sorry!!! I hope this helped!

    Reply
  11. Carly says

    November 18, 2010 at 5:12 am

    HA! Of course I would read it incorrectly. I'm lame. Thanks for the fix!

    Reply
  12. Erin says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    I'm so excited to find this recipe! Now I can enjoy the wonderful taste of Cafe Rio from Washington D.C.!!!

    Reply
  13. dee says

    April 18, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    CAFE RIO ROCKS!!! I AM SO EXCITED TO FIND THIS RECIPE BECAUSE I MISS THAT PLACE SOOOOO MUCH. NOW MY FAMILY AND I CAN ENJOY IT FROM SEATTLE!!! THANK YOU

    Reply
  14. andreacarruth says

    June 6, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    Well that was disappointing… I made the same mistake as someone above and read the balsamic vinaigrette as balsamic vinegar. OOPS! Yuck. Had to throw it out.

    Reply
  15. Erica says

    June 7, 2011 at 1:07 am

    Yes, DO NOT use balsamic vinegar!! I put an extra reminder on the recipe just in case. Sorry!

    Reply
  16. Brooks and Heather Lively says

    June 13, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    I seriously LOVE your cafe rio copy-cat recipes! Cafe Rio might be what I miss most about Utah. I tried this dressing recipe for the first time yesterday and couldn't believe how good it was. AMAZING!!!

    Reply
  17. mandy says

    October 30, 2011 at 4:18 am

    I just tried it my husband and I both love it!! We can't wait to eat it again. Thanks!

    Reply
  18. Melinda says

    May 15, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    I’m just going to write on this post, but I used ALL of your recipes (except for the tortillas, I’ll explain later) for the cafe rio sweet pulled pork with only a few tiny improvisations (like subbing cream soda for coke because that’s what I had on hand) and adding some onion to the cooking pork (discarding it with the liquids). We made the pulled pork salad paired with some enchiladas and mexican rice my brother in law and his wife made for our mother’s day dinner for my mother in law who is in love with cafe rio. OH. MY. GOSH. This whole thing is SO good. The guacamole is psychotically amazing, the pork insane, I made the tortilla strips fried in coconut oil and they were the best, and this dressing totally brings everything together. My husband and I love it so much that I’m making it again tomorrow just for us. Thank you so much for sharing your talent to know what flavors are being used to re-create these awesome dishes!!

    Reply
    • Erica says

      May 15, 2013 at 7:35 pm

      @Melinda- Wow! THANK YOU! What a nice comment!!! You are so sweet and you totally made my day. I am so glad that you liked all of the recipes that you tried! I know it can be a little time consuming but as you found out, it is SO worth it! Thanks again for the kind words! Please come back often for more recipes!

      Reply
  19. Jenny S says

    June 17, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    I’m really excited to try all of these recipes! I need to feed 39 people for a family reunion and I’m wondering if it is a safe bet to times all recipes by 6 or should I do less for some, like the dressing?

    Reply
    • Erica says

      June 18, 2014 at 9:46 am

      Yeah you might be able to get away with doing less dressing– maybe 4x the amount?

      Reply
  20. Kai says

    September 7, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Erica, I really like your recipe. One thing I did add though was 2 tsp. of honey. If you like it sweeter (like me) it works really well.

    Reply
  21. Steph says

    January 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    This looks great! But I’m just curious, I’m on a sugar free diet and I wonder if I can use substitute the sugar with honey, agave, or splenda? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erica says

      January 6, 2015 at 8:50 pm

      You could probably use something like Truvia… that is the closest to sugar that I have found.

      Reply
  22. Colby says

    March 16, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    We have tried SO many different recipes for a cilantro lime vinaigrette and I have never been able to stomach them. This dressing is AMAZING!!! Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Echo says

      March 18, 2015 at 6:51 pm

      I’m so glad you like it! We worked really hard on this one to get the taste just right. It really is a favorite!

      Reply
  23. Emma says

    May 26, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    Had this for dinner last night and it’s dead on! We made a salad with the dressing, but I also marinated some boneless, skinless chicken breasts in some of the dressing overnight and then browned it in a pan. The result was incredible. It’s just like Cafe Rio, but without sitting in traffic! I have a feeling this will be a new staple for our family.

    Reply
    • Echo says

      May 27, 2015 at 8:57 am

      Thanks Emma! I’m so glad you like it. It has definitely become a staple in our family!

      Reply
  24. Katie says

    December 28, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Thank you so much!! We made the beans, rice, and dressing for a large party and everyone loved it!! The dressing is delicious!

    Reply
  25. ry says

    June 17, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    As a cook for Arizona’s Cafe Rio, your recipes for our food are close but are wrong

    Reply
    • Favorite Family Recipes says

      June 18, 2017 at 10:36 am

      Feel free to post the actual recipe here 🙂 We would love to make adjustments to make it exact!

      Reply
    • TERI M CLIFTON says

      April 7, 2018 at 6:20 pm

      Can you post the recipe?

      Reply

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