Pumpkin soup

Serves 4. 13 steps

1 tablespoon oil		heat	mix, simmer 5 minutes
1 clove garlic	crushed	cook, stirring, until onion is soft
4 spring onions	chopped
2 small fresh red chillies	chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon grass	chopped
2 small chicken stock cubes	crumbled	bring to boil
2 cups water	boiled
500g pumpkin flesh	chopped	add; simmer, covered, 10 minutes or until soft
100ml coconut milk

Serve with chopped basil, if desired. The lemon grass can either be chopped finely to be eaten, or it can be left in large pieces so that it can be easily removed.

If preparing in advance, do not add the coconut milk until just before serving

Chopping pumpkin is tedious. But you can do it several days in advance; and once the pumpkin's chopped, the rest of the recipe's very fast.