Thai Shrimp Soup (mild)

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked rice (thai recipes usually use white rice, but brown works fine too)
2 TBSP butter
1 lb small raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (or substitute chopped/shredded chicken)
salt and black pepper
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced or cut in strips
1 TBSP fresh ginger, grated (freeze prior then use a microplane grater for ease)
2-3 TBSP red curry paste
2 cans (13.5 oz) unsweetened coconut milk (substitute 1 can light milk for less fat)
4 cups vegetable broth
2 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced
Sautéed mushrooms (optional)

Directions
Cook rice according to package directions. Melt butter in large pot. Add shrimp and pepper and salt. Cook until done, 2-3 minutes. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside in a large bowl. Add onion, garlic, and red bell pepper to pot. Salt and lightly pepper then cook, stirring occasionally, until tender (4-5 minutes). Add curry paste and ginger and mix in well. Slowly whisk in coconut milk and vegetable broth until well combined. Bring pot to boil then reduce heat to med/low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cooked rice (keep in mind it'll expand significantly if not eaten right away), shrimp, cilantro and lime juice. Enjoy!