Cook the onion, garlic, cumin powder and chilli in 4 tablespoons of water for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft. Don't let them catch on, add a little more water if this is likely.
Add all the other ingredients to thepot. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Use a countertop blender or a stick blender to puree the soup. Serve with some crunchy wholemeal bread and a refreshing green salad.