Caribbean Callaloo And Crab - cooking recipe

Ingredients

18 taro leaves
12 pods okra, finely chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 sprigs fresh thyme
6 cloves garlic, crushed
4 ounces salted pig's tail (optional)
1/2 cup peeled, cubed pumpkin
1 cup water
1 habanero pepper
3 cups coconut milk
4 blue crabs, cleaned and chopped
salt to taste
4 green onions, chopped

Preparation

Clean the taro leaves by removing the skin from the stalks, and removing the tip from the center rib. Rinse, and cut into bite size pieces.
Place the taro leaves, okra, onion, thyme, garlic, salted pig's tail, pumpkin, water, habanero pepper (whole), and coconut milk into a large pot. Cover, and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
Add the crab to the pot. Be careful not to puncture the habanero pepper. Cover, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the habanero, and season with salt to taste. Puree the soup using an immersion blender until smooth. You could also puree in small batches using a blender. Serve over rice.