Coconut Lemongrass Vegetable Ecstasy Soup

1. Heat coconut oil over medium heat—do not let it smoke—and add carrots, bell pepper, celery and onion. Saute until crisp-tender.2. Add all ingredients, down to and including tamarind paste: broth, broccoli, lemongrass, potatoes, shitakes, chick peas, ginger, fish sauce, curry paste, soy sauce, tamarind paste. 3. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.4. Reduce heat to simmer: add remaining ingredients and simmer until potatoes are soft. Do taste tests from time to time. If the flavor is lacking, add more tamarind, or soy sauce, or fish sauce, or more curry paste if you like it HOT! You are unlikely to need to salt this soup with all those delicious seasonings. If you don’t like the veggie-to-broth ration, add more broth.5. Remove lemongrass and serve (but put it back in with any leftovers in the fridge; this soup gets better every day). Put some Sriracha on the table for the hot-sauce lovers.
Source of recipe: You are, more than likely, going to need to go to an Asian market for the lemongrass, veggie fish sauce, curry and tamarind pastes. If you’ve never been, just take your time getting acquainted with the store, and ask for help if you can’t find these things. While you’re there, you might as well get the basil (Asian-style is different & more potent than Italian-style), coconut milk, soy sauce, ginger and dry shitakes: you’ll have more choices and likely better prices than your standard grocer. And get some Sriracha hot sauce too. (Plastic bottle, bright orange sauce, green top.)