Give pease (pudding) a chance

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Posted at 12:02PM, 13 January 2009 by Janine Ratcliffe - Food editor, olive magazine

This year I spent Christmas in London, which meant I didn't do the usual hike up to see family in Gateshead. Brilliant for avoiding holiday travel stress, but it meant missing out on snaffling a few Geordie goodies, pease pudding being top of my hit list.

For the uninitiated, pease pudding is a kind of savoury pâté or hummus made by parcelling up soaked yellow split peas in a muslin bag. This is then dropped into a simmering stockpot alongside a ham hock. After a couple of hours it turns into a thick mush and takes on all the savoury hammy flavour of the cooking stock.

If you don't want to make your own , you can buy it in little tubs from pork butchers in the North-east (I have been known to eat it directly from said tub with spoon).

Those looking for instant gratification can also buy a hot bap or stottie from the butcher featuring pease pudding in a number of combinations. Novices can start with the relatively sane combo of ham and pease pudding but if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, why not try a saveloy dip?

I often wonder who invented the saveloy dip and whether Brown Ale was also involved

I often wonder who invented the saveloy dip and whether Brown Ale was also involved. Ask for one with "everything on" and you'll be served a bap spread with mustard, stuffing, pease pudding and stuffed with a hot saveloy . The bap is then half dipped in the saveloy cooking broth. Best eaten whilst having a bracing walk along the seafront; or after a few pints. Geet lush, as the Geordies would say.

Do you love pease pudding? Have you ever eaten a saveloy dip? What's the speciality round your way?

Comments

Kang at Londoneater

14 January 2009, 11:09AM
Kang at Londoneater

Ive never pease pudding before but I definitely will give it a try :)

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scrummy

14 January 2009, 11:21AM
scrummy

My fave regional dish was the black peas we used to have in Oldham on November 5th. cooked and with vinegar in a cardboard tube. then proper parkin, not light weasley southern stuff but stick to your ribs coal dark parkin. We used to go to Hardacres cafe in Oldham market every Saturday for parkin and horlicks. happy days! my kids memories will be a starbucks somewhere, anywhere!

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DavidHall

14 January 2009, 4:42PM
DavidHall

Janine - as a fellow Geordie, I can only salivate over your words. I've spent years trying to explain what pease pudding is to disgusted looking friends around the country. In fact, it it probably the 1st question I'm asked - 'What on earth it pease pudding?' You describe it so elegantly, and it really does take some beating a large stottie cake with good butter, English mustard, ham and pease pudding which is still a classic today. Brilliant. Cheers David

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stewpot

14 January 2009, 8:02PM
stewpot

Use to have this in East London as a child on a trip to the market in the winter. Pease pudding and saveloy. Yummy, also keeps your hands warm.

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janine_from_olive

14 January 2009, 11:44PM
janine_from_olive

David - I agree - a warm pease pud and ham stottie is hard to beat. My Grandma always makes sure I've got enough for the train journey back to London (that means at least a whole stottie cut into wedges - and they always get eaten!). Stewpot- which market???? I'm a North London girl but I'd go far East to get my hands on some - never seen it for sale down here . . .

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schubun

15 January 2009, 4:58PM
schubun

I'm not from the North East but I have had pease pudding and I found it to be delicious - the very thing you need on a cold night! Scrummy - at last somebody else who's heard of Black Peas. I'm an Oldham girl and in Cheshire now but nobody over here has ever heard of Black Peas - they've always said I've made them up - gorgeous on bonfire night - the good old days!

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Poss

21 January 2009, 9:08PM
Poss

About 20 yrs ago I worked for a catering and leisure chain who were setting up in the North East. The management team, who were all from the home counties,asked us 'locals' what sandwiches they should be serving, and naturally we all suggested ham and pease pudding. I remember they were all horrified at the concept, until they actually tasted it - of course it was one of our best sellers and the 'southerners' were totally smitten!

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LittleFoodies

28 January 2009, 9:08PM
LittleFoodies

My Grandma makes really good pease pudding and ham stotties too. We made pease pudding last year, must do it again, I like spooning it straight from the bowl.

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Violetvicky

26 August 2010, 5:11PM
Violetvicky

We used to get saveloy, fagots and pease pudding from Chrisp Street market in poplar, east london until a few years ago!!

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Sandra

22 March 2012, 11:09PM
Sandra

I love pease pudding and I live in the SW, just been on a visit to family up north and am eating directly from the carton that the butcher put in with a little black pepper.

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suanni

10 April 2012, 11:03PM
suanni

Hot home made peas pudding is delicious and very filling poured over home made chips. A very economical meal

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nigelthecook

28 May 2012, 10:33AM
nigelthecook

I only discovered pease pudding a year ago. Not being from the North East we have to source locally. The local Lidl in Gainsborough do a very nice one by Durham Foods from Gilesgate, Durham. It is so versatile. It is very low in fat and sugar. I use it to thicken soups and stews. A big dollop goes in the bought indian and chinese. I put in in lasagne , spagetti bolognese, hummous, salsa. Just about everything. My favourite is on hot buttered toast with marmite . It is a wonder food. Delicious

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Poldweia

2 June 2012, 6:00PM
Poldweia

I'm cooking pease pudding with a gammon joint as I type. Thanks to a brilliant recipe by 'The Hairy Bikers'. That recipe's a staple in our house now. Divine.

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Johsou

12 July 2012, 10:20AM
Johsou

You should try pease pudding with freshly cooked ham and warm fresh beetroot if you want to experience the nectar of the Geordie gods.!!!

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Angelofthenorth

20 July 2012, 12:41PM
Angelofthenorth

Now I've heard the ultimate southern foodista definition of a pease puddin'........................

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paddy68

13 March, 12:34PM
paddy68

only 1 word to explain pease pudding and the great saveloy dip lush its worth the 60 mile journey to sample these delights as i live in carlisle and well worth it .i spent some of my youth living in newcastle and would look foward to my weekly vist bowers

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