Description
This comforting Slow Cooker Pea & Ham Soup combines tender ham with sweet peas and aromatic vegetables, slow-cooked to perfection for a hearty and flavorful meal. Using a slow cooker makes it effortless to prepare, resulting in a smooth, creamy soup that’s perfect as a warming lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 onion, chopped
- 250g leeks, sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 750g fresh or frozen peas (defrosted if frozen)
Meat
- 450g cooked ham (preferably as a joint)
Liquids
- 1½ l hot low-salt vegetable stock (or water)
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Chop the onion and slice the leeks. Gather the bay leaves and ham joint.
- Set up slow cooker: Place the chopped onion, sliced leeks, bay leaves, and ham into the slow cooker. Pour over the hot vegetable stock ensuring ingredients are well covered.
- Slow cook base: Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 6 hours until vegetables are tender and flavors meld. If using an uncooked gammon joint, extend cooking by 45 minutes on high or 2 hours on low to ensure thorough cooking.
- Add peas and finish cooking: Remove the ham from the slow cooker and set aside. Add the peas into the slow cooker and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes until peas are tender.
- Shred ham: While peas cook, shred the reserved ham by hand or with forks, depending on temperature.
- Blend soup: Remove and discard bay leaves. Transfer the soup to a blender and blitz until smooth and creamy.
- Freeze or reheat: Once completely cooled, you may freeze the soup without ham for up to three months. To serve later, defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in a pan until piping hot.
- Serve: Season the soup to taste. Divide between bowls and scatter shredded ham over each serving before enjoying.
Notes
- Using a ham joint gives the best flavor and texture; pre-cooked ham speeds up preparation.
- If using uncooked gammon, increase cooking time to ensure it’s fully cooked inside.
- You can substitute vegetable stock with water, but stock enriches the flavor.
- Blending the soup creates a smooth texture but you can reserve some peas before blending for added texture.
- Soup can be frozen without ham; add freshly shredded ham when reheating.
- Adjust seasoning after cooking as stock and ham provide saltiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (on high) or 6 hours 30 minutes (on low)
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: slow cooker soup, pea soup, ham soup, easy slow cooker recipes, British soup, healthy pea soup, comfort food
