Creamy Prawn Soup

Description
A fresh combination of prawns and real cream is made soothing and divine with tomato purée, flour, and cream, enriched with butter, and cooked to smooth perfection. Fish stock commonly replaces water and works for this recipe, too.

Ingredients

 * 250 grams unshelled prawns
 * 2 tbsp. butter
 * 1 onion, red or white only
 * 1 clove
 * 2 cloves garlic
 * ¼ tsp. basil
 * 1 chicken or fish cube
 * 2 tbsp. tomato pur ée or (4 tablespoons tomato sauce)
 * ⅓ cup flour
 * ½ cup cream
 * 5 ⅓ cups water
 * salt to taste

Directions

 * 1) Wash prawns thoroughly. Heat 5 cups of water in a medium saucepan and add prawns. Bring to a boil and lower heat.
 * 2) Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from flame.
 * 3) Strain liquid and reserve. Shell and devein prawns. Chop the onion finely.
 * 4) Peel and chop carrot roughly. Crush garlic and chop deveined prawns finely.
 * 5) In a large saucepan, heat butter. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and fry on medium flame for 3 minutes.
 * 6) Add prawn stock, basil, chicken or fish cube, salt, and tomato puree. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
 * 7) Remove from flame and blend in batches in a mix until smooth. Return to flame.
 * 8) In a bowl, mix flour and ⅓ cup water into a smooth paste. Add to soup, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and allow soup to thicken.
 * 9) Lower heat and stir in cream and half the prawns. Heat gently for 5 minutes without allowing the soup to boil. Serve hot and garnished with remaining prawns.