Roasted Swede Soup with Thai Spices

It was while I was having lunch in a pub yesterday with my dear friend Jan, Lady Fincham, that I came up with the idea of this soup. I had ordered the roasted swede soup, I know you're asking yourself why would anyone order swede soup and had I known what a bland affair it was going to be I wouldn't have. Fortunately for me the condiment set on the table happened to include a bottle of tabasco, so after some adjustment, salt, pepper and a whole load of tabasco the soup was far nicer,
This morning I set out to make a soup which I hoped would not require any adjustment. With a swirl of tomato oil click here for the recipe, this soup is both warming and delicious.

A warm welcome to Kazakhstan, bringing the total to 137

For this recipe you will need;
300g of raw swede, diced
2 shallots, peeled
3 cloves of garlic, peeled
A large thumb sized piece of fresh ginger peeled and sliced into discs
1 or 2 red chillies
2 chopped up lemon grass stalks
2 kafir lime leaves or the zest of 1 lime
1 teaspoon of powdered turmeric
2 teaspoons of palm sugar
2 teaspoons of Thai fish sauce
1 teaspoon of tamarind
200ml of coconut milk
1 litre of vegetable stock
2 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Begin by tossing the diced swede in 1 tablespoon of oil and roast in a hot oven 200C for 5 to 10 minutes, until it has taken on a little colour.
Meanwhile make a paste by placing all remaining ingredients apart from the stock and coconut milk in a blender with 100 ml of water. Blend until you have a paste and fry it gently on a medium heat in 1 tablespoon of oil. Fry until most of the water has been driven off and the oil begins to show on the bottom of the pan. Add the swede, stock and coconut milk and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Blend in small batches (blending hot soup tends to expand and if you're not careful it will burst out of the blender) Adjust the seasoning if you feel it needs it with salt and pepper. Sieve the soup before serving with a swirl of the tomato oil.

Notes:
This is another soup which in my opinion is nicer served really smooth, be warned, sieving produces a great deal of pulp, but my chickens seem to enjoy it.