PUMPKIN LEAF SOUP WITH DRIED SHRIMPS

Ingredients

  • 4 cups tender pumpkin leaves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt and stalks
  • 1/2 cup powdered dried shrimps
  • 1 small onion
  • 1/3 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • A few sprigs pinsein (Indian Basil)
  • 5 cups water

How to cook

Prepare leaves by breaking off 2 or 3 long sprigs of tender parts only. Use knife to pare off most of hairy sheaths on stems. Wash. Slice onion and crush garlic cloves. slightly. after peeling. Put onion. garlic. water. and salt into pot. Bring to boil. Throw in powdered dried shrimps. Let boil 1 to 2 minutes. Add leaves and cook another 1 to 2 minutes till they are tender.
Add pepper and then basil. simmer. and serve at once. Basil loses fragrance with cooking. Alternative greens for this recipe: watercress. sweet pea leaf. split-pea leaf. drumstick leaf. chayote leaf. etc.. without the basil.