Hearty Vegetable Stew

Description
.

Ingredients

 * 8 new potatoes (the little, sweet, tender ones, red- or yellow-skinned)
 * 3 large carrots
 * 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
 * 1 small onion, chopped
 * 1 stalk celery, chopped
 * 4 broccoli stalks (without florettes), peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces
 * 2 small zucchini, sliced
 * 1 cup frozen lima beans (optional)
 * 1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
 * 1/4 tsp celery seed
 * 1/4 tsp dried sage
 * 1/4 tsp dried marjoram
 * 1/2 tsp sea salt
 * 2 tbsp soy sauce
 * 2 cups water
 * 8 oz flavoured seitan, cut into chunks (optional)

Directions
Place the potatoes and carrots, whole, in your vegetable steamer, covered, over boiling water for 15 minutes. Cut carrots into 1/2 inch slices. Cut potatoes into 1" cubes (peeling is optional). Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. Add potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, broccoli, salt, soy sauce, water and seitan, if desired. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Add zucchini, peas and lima beans. Return to a boil, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broth is thick.