Gill Meller's Winter Root, Ham and Barley Soup - Stonegate Estate

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium leek, washed and thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 3 – 4 sprigs of thyme leaves stripped
• 200g leftover ham, roughly chopped
• 50g of pearl barley, rinsed
• 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• A large chunk of swede, peeled and finely
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and finely chopped
• 1.5 litre light vegetable, chicken or ham stock
• A small bunch of curly kale, leaves stripped and ribboned
• Salt and freshly ground white or black pepper