Slow cooker pea and ham soup recipe
 An old-fashioned classic brought up to date in a slow cooker. Perfect for a wintry day, this filling, budget-friendly soup is made with dried split green peas and smoky gammon. Freeze any leftovers in handy portions in sealed containers for reheating on another day. 1 tbsp sunflower oil1 onion, finely chopped1 celery stick, thinly sliced2 carrots (around 175g/6oz), peeled and diced400g/14oz dried split peas850ml/1½ pints just-boiled water from a kettle½ tsp dried mixed herbs600–750g/1lb 5oz–1lb 10oz smoked gammon joint, string and any netting removedsalt and freshly ground black pepperchopped fresh flatleaf parsley, to serve (optional) 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 celery stick, thinly sliced 2 carrots (around 175g/6oz), peeled and diced 400g/14oz dried split peas 850ml/1½ pints just-boiled water from a kettle ½ tsp dried mixed herbs 600–750g/1lb 5oz–1lb 10oz smoked gammon joint, string and any netting removed salt and freshly ground black pepper chopped fresh flatleaf parsley, to serve (optional) Method Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the onion, celery and carrots over a high heat for 4–5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Tip into a slow cooker. Put the split peas in a sieve and rinse under cold water. Tip into the slow cooker pot with the vegetables and add the water and mixed herbs. Season with lots of pepper and stir well. Place the gammon in the centre of the slow cooker pot and nestle into the other ingredients. Cover with a lid and cook on High for 5–6 hours. If the peas are looking a little dry after 3–4 hours, add an extra 100ml/3½fl oz or so just-boiled water and continue cooking. By the end of the cooking time, the peas should be completely softened and the gammon fall-apart tender.Carefully take the gammon out of the slow cooker using tongs and place on a board. Stir the soup well with a wooden spoon, crushing all the peas to make a thick purée. You can add some more just-boiled water at this point to reach the right consistency for a soup. (For an extra smooth soup, blitz with a stick blender.) Season with salt and pepper.Shred the gammon and stir a handful through the soup. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and serve the remaining gammon on top. Sprinkle with a little of the parsley and an extra grind of black pepper, if preferred. If making ahead, add extra water when reheating, as the soup will thicken as it cools. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the onion, celery and carrots over a high heat for 4–5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Tip into a slow cooker. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the onion, celery and carrots over a high heat for 4–5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Tip into a slow cooker. Put the split peas in a sieve and rinse under cold water. Tip into the slow cooker pot with the vegetables and add the water and mixed herbs. Season with lots of pepper and stir well. Put the split peas in a sieve and rinse under cold water. Tip into the slow cooker pot with the vegetables and add the water and mixed herbs. Season with lots of pepper and stir well. Place the gammon in the centre of the slow cooker pot and nestle into the other ingredients. Cover with a lid and cook on High for 5–6 hours. If the peas are looking a little dry after 3–4 hours, add an extra 100ml/3½fl oz or so just-boiled water and continue cooking. By the end of the cooking time, the peas should be completely softened and the gammon fall-apart tender. Place the gammon in the centre of the slow cooker pot and nestle into the other ingredients. Cover with a lid and cook on High for 5–6 hours. If the peas are looking a little dry after 3–4 hours, add an extra 100ml/3½fl oz or so just-boiled water and continue cooking. By the end of the cooking time, the peas should be completely softened and the gammon fall-apart tender. Carefully take the gammon out of the slow cooker using tongs and place on a board. Stir the soup well with a wooden spoon, crushing all the peas to make a thick purée. You can add some more just-boiled water at this point to reach the right consistency for a soup. (For an extra smooth soup, blitz with a stick blender.) Season with salt and pepper. Carefully take the gammon out of the slow cooker using tongs and place on a board. Stir the soup well with a wooden spoon, crushing all the peas to make a thick purée. You can add some more just-boiled water at this point to reach the right consistency for a soup. (For an extra smooth soup, blitz with a stick blender.) Season with salt and pepper. Shred the gammon and stir a handful through the soup. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and serve the remaining gammon on top. Sprinkle with a little of the parsley and an extra grind of black pepper, if preferred. If making ahead, add extra water when reheating, as the soup will thicken as it cools. Shred the gammon and stir a handful through the soup. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and serve the remaining gammon on top. Sprinkle with a little of the parsley and an extra grind of black pepper, if preferred. If making ahead, add extra water when reheating, as the soup will thicken as it cools. Recipe tips This soup is traditionally made with stock from a ham bone but this version uses a small gammon joint which is far easier to get hold of these days. As modern gammons vary so much in flavour, be bold with the seasoning to get the classic pea soup flavour. Freeze leftovers in portions in sealed containers and add a little extra hot water or stock when reheating. You will need a slow cooker that holds around 4 litres/7 pints for this recipe. If you cook a large gammon joint, you may not need all of it for the soup, but don’t worry as any remaining shredded meat can be used in sandwiches and salads.