Sri Lankan Mulligatawny Soup

Ingredients

• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 red or yellow onion, chopped
• 1 scotch bonnet or other hot pepper, diced or minced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated or minced
• 1 stalk celery, diced (optional)
• 1 carrot, diced (optional)
• 1 apple, diced (optional)
• ½ T. Sri Lankan roasted curry powder
• 1 sprig curry leaves (optional)
• 8 oz. diced tomatoes
• about ½ lb. cooked diced chicken or turkey meat
• 4 c. chicken broth or stock
• 1 c. coconut milk
• 1 tsp. lime or lemon juice
• heaping ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes (or chili powder to taste)
• salt to taste