Chicken And Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 sprigs coriander
• 1.5 tsp peppercorns, crushed
• 1 tblsp vegetable oil
• 4.5 cups chicken stock
• 5 Chinese dried black mushrooms, soaked for about 1 hr. and coarsely chopped
• 1.25 tblsp fish sauce
• 4 oz chicken (or a bit more), cut into strips
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Coriander to garnish

Directions
Using a pestle and mortar or sm.  food processor, pound or mix garlic, coriander sprigs and peppercorns to a paste.  In wok, heat vegetable oil, add paste and cook for 1 min., stirring.  Stir in stock, mushrooms & fish sauce.  Simmer 10 mins. Add chicken, reduce heat & cook gently for 5 mins.  Scatter green onions and coriander over surface to garnish.