Authentic Medieval English Pease Pudding

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A hearty, historically accurate dish made with dried peas, herbs, and slow-simmered in a traditional cloth bag, evoking 15th-century English kitchens. This English-inspired soup recipe, ready in about 150 minutes, pairs dried yellow peas, water, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried yellow peas
• 4 cups water
• 1 medium, finely diced onion
• 1 medium, grated carrot
• 2 stalks, finely chopped celery
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 (for steaming) cloth bag

The stock pot we’d simmer this in → Best Stock Pots for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dried yellow peas thoroughly, then cover with 4 cups water in a pot. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat and cook uncovered for 45 minutes until peas are tender but not mushy, skimming off any foam.
2. Step 2: Add 1 finely diced medium onion, 1 grated medium carrot, 2 finely chopped celery stalks, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 tsp salt to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 20 more minutes until vegetables are soft and flavors meld.
3. Step 3: Remove 2 cups of the pea mixture with a slotted spoon, reserving the liquid. Mash the remaining peas and vegetables with a potato masher until mostly smooth but still textured.
4. Step 4: Stir 1/4 cup flour into the reserved liquid until dissolved, then add back to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens to a porridge-like consistency that holds its shape when spooned.
5. Step 5: Transfer the mixture to a clean cloth bag, pressing it into a compact ball. Tie the bag securely with kitchen twine.
6. Step 6: Place the bag in a pot of simmering water, cover, and steam for 30 minutes. Remove, let cool slightly, then cut open to serve with a spoon.