Cilantro Rice/ Kothimeera Rice

Long time back when went to Vegas, we ate at a Mexican restaurant in Venetian. We ordered something( I don't remember what it was) and they served cilantro rice as a side dish. The side dish was so good that I don't remember the main entrée. Me and my husband loved that rice. It looked like a simple recipe and I could taste cilantro lime and ginger. I thought of trying that after I get back home, but never really made it again. I usually make the Indian version of the cilantro rice with ginger garlic, tomatoes and garam masala etc. but I just loved this simple rice with not much of the seasoning dominating the cilantro and ginger.
I had some left over rice from yesterday and an extra bunch of cilantro. So tried my hands at making the Vegas Cilantro rice.
Only thing I added in my version which was definitely not present in the original one was onions. But I liked the crunch of onions in the rice.
Except for the onions it tasted similar to the one I had in Vegas.

Ingredients:

• Cilantro: 1 bunch for paste
• Finely chopped cilantro( for garnishing): 2 tbsp
• Long Grain white rice or Basmati Rice( Cooked): 2 cups
• Oil: 3 tbsp
• Onion(medium sized): 1/2
• Mint Leaves: 5
• Ginger root: 1/2 inch piece
• Salt to taste
• Creole Seasoning: 2 tsp
• Green chillies: 4
• Lime juice: 1 tbsp
• Chopped green onions: 2 tbsp

Procedure:

1. Chop cilantro and make it into a paste in a blender along with the ginger root and green chillies and set this paste aside. Add little water for pureeing if needed.
2. Chop onions into small pieces.
3. Add oil to the pan and when the oil is heated, add the onions and 1/2 tsp of salt and cook them.
4. When the onions turn soft and brown, add the mint leaves and the cilantro paste and cook for few minutes.
5. Now add the cooked rice and mix well. add the creole seasoning and adjust the salt.
6. Add lemon juice and garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions.