How to Make Soup for the Poor – The Victorian Way

As it is Winter, and very cold, Lady Braybrooke has asked Mrs Crocombe to make a simple soup for distributing to the poor of the parish. It needs to be tasty as well as filling - after all, "just because one is poor, there is no reason that food should be bad"...

English Heritage is a charity, working to preserve the story of England and bring it to life.

The Victorian Way is filmed on location at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex, UK.

INGREDIENTS
Bacon - 3 rashers, streaky
Butter - 1 tbsp
Onion - x1, large
Carrots – x2
Celery - x2 sticks
Yellow split peas - 300g / 11oz / 1.5 cups
Mint - 2 sprigs
Stock – 2 litres / 4pts, vegetable or meat stock
Salt and pepper, to season

METHOD
Soak the peas overnight in plenty of cold water, then drain. Peel and chop the vegetables, and dice the bacon.

Fry the bacon in butter, and add the vegetables to the pan. Cook for a few minutes and then add the peas and stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 45 minutes until the peas have ‘split’. Add chopped mint and seasoning to taste, and cook for a further 5 minutes before serving hot.

[EnglishHeritage]

As always, thanks for watching! We’re glad to see so many of you have enjoyed this episode and intend on trying the recipe at home.


WHAT STOCK SHOULD I USE?
Any stock would work well. For a veggie soup, use vegetable stock (and substitute the bacon for something else rich in umami, such as mushrooms). The Victorian kitchen would have had several different grades of stock on hand, from fine white (veal) stock to a general stock made of offcuts of vegetables and spare bones.

WHY WOULD YOU USE MINT IN A SAVOURY DISH?
Mint is a popular accompaniment to peas. It is often put in pea soup, or in peas pudding. You can use other herbs but it gives the soup a very pleasant bite - we suggest you give it a try and let us know what you think.

THAT’S NOT A LOT OF SOUP! SURELY THERE SHOULD BE MORE?
Well spotted. We hate to break the magic but this video was filmed in and around 2020. This soup is a scaled down version, as we didn’t want to make an enormous batch that might be wasted. Besides, in 1881, the number of those in need varied widely. Audley End is surrounded by several small villages and one small town. As such, there was no need to feed everyone.

THE ROYALS WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS, WOULD THEY?
They most certainly did. It was an accepted part of how royal food worked, to the point that when Edward VII's coronation was postponed, all the goodies went out to the poor of the parish, who feasted on truffles and foie gras for a few days. You can find out more about this in Dr Annie Gray’s book ‘The Greedy Queen’.

COULD THE POOR AFFORD BACON?
This soup is for the poor, not for the poor to cook i.e. it is being cooked for them. Bacon was one of the cheapest meats around, often the only meat a poor household would see with any regularity. It punched above its weight, adding salt, flavour and fat. If you can't obtain decent bacon for your kitchen we suggest using some gammon ham.

[AdiAdi-dvpx]

Mom what are we having for dinner?

"Soup for the poor, dear"

[dia]

let’s not lie to ourselves, this is aimed at us

[marrko]

Title: How to make soup for the poor
Me: is this for me?

[ReuD-hpui]

I love how “soup for the poor” is the only recipe where I can actually get all of the ingredients 😭 She’s calling me out

[snapmyneck]

Ms. Crocombe: “How to make soup for the poor.”
College students: *furiously scribbling down notes*

[ChadSlampiece]

She's not even reading us anymore, she's just straight up calling us poor.

[lilplant]

Mrs. Crocombe has finally decided to stop throwing shade at our low income and feed us

[igcometa]

"Just because one is poor.. (pauses and stares at you) doesn't mean food should be bad."

Nervously eats a cup of ramen noodles.

[cikotan]

"How to make soup for my viewers"

[jennizu]

“Just because one is poor, doesn’t mean that food should be bad.”

🍴*FOOD QUOTE OF THE DAY*🍴

[carlschultz]

Mrs Crocombe: [takes a bite of celery]
My wife: THAT'S FOR THE POOR, LADY!

[justrosy]

"Just because one is poor, doesn't mean food should be bad." Bless you, Mrs. Crocombe. I was homeless many years ago and got lucky enough to find work, but have lived in poverty ever since. I learned that beggars should be choosers too, not only the very lucky. Money is not what should determine if one lives or dies, because wealth is entirely based on luck. You can't earn your way into financial stability anymore. At least not here in the United States, where I'm from. It's a financial disaster over here. Anyway, thank you for setting the right example for the world!

[gpeddino]

"We must always remember that there are no guarantees in life. I have my savings but, one day, I too will grow old and... will be grateful for soup like that."
That honestly made me kinda emotional.

[nikkirivera]

Anyone else kinda tear up *cry like a baby* when she said "I'll get old soon, and be thankful for soup like that"

[taulani]

*me:* :(
*mrs crocombe:* oh! good morning!
*me:* :)

[londonmason]

I like to imagine I’m a milkmaid who brings milk to the kitchen every day and i she’s let’s me stay an watch her cook

[waltz]

Me: why is this on my recommended? *sees title >> ah, because i’m the target audience

[Rasmia_Oxford]

Every time Mrs. Crocombe has something to say about “poor people”, “not very good”, she looks right into your eyes.

[StealthyPig]

Title - "How to Make Soup for the Poor"
Thumbnail - Mrs Crocombe glaring directly at me