African Bean Soup

1/2 cup water
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 onion, chopped
2 small sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and diced
1 large carrot, sliced thinly
1 celery stalk, sliced thinly
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 15-oz. can crushed tomatoes
3-4 cups vegetable stock
1 15-oz. can garbanzo beans
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
3 tbsp. peanut butter
1/3 cup water
1 tsp. curry powder

Heat 1/2 cup water and soy sauce in a large pot.  Add onion and sweet potatoes.  Cook over high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add carrot, celery and bell pepper.  Cover and cook 3 minutes stirring occasionally.  Stir in tomatoes, stock, garbanzo beans and cilantro.  Blend peanut butter with 1/2 cup water, add to soup with curry powder.  Stir.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Can be served over rice if desired.