Winter signifies the season of comfort food, and nothing quite hits the spot like a steaming bowl of soup - it's the perfect thing to warm the soul.

It is the go-to easy dish that allows for cooking creatively, letting you toss together various ingredients for a nutritious delight; a great way to repurpose leftovers, therefore reducing waste dramatically.

Nate Anthony, the creative force behind Bored of Lunch, took to TikTok to demonstrate just how easy it is to whip up a tasty vegetable soup in a slow cooker.

His video not only showcases the simplicity of the recipe but concludes with pairing the soup with a heavenly cheese toastie, creating the "ultimate comfort food" combo.

Previously highlighted by Mob, the versatility and practicality of slow cookers during the bleak months can be extremely useful.

They enable cooks to maximize their food budget, utilising more affordable meat cuts without compromising on taste.

Additionally, slow cookers offer the bonus of energy efficiency, an even more crucial point given today's environmental considerations.

As Mob points out: "Slow cookers use less energy than traditional ovens and stovetops, making them an eco-friendly option for cooking. Considering the current state of the melting ice caps – that's a very good thing."

Nate's soup recipe has already attracted over 27,000 views. He's no stranger to experimenting with kitchen gadgets, having previously embarked on crafting an entire soup using an air fryer, reports DailyRecord.

This red pepper soup, paired once again with a luscious cheese toasty, takes a mere 20 minutes to prepare, and the recipe can be found here.

However, for those drawn to the slower cooking styles, here’s a straightforward method to put together a scrumptious veg soup in your slow cooker. .

Slow cooker vegetable soup

Ingredients

• 2-3 potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 2 leeks, sliced
• 3 celery sticks, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2-3 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp garlic
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1.2L vegetable broth
• 200ml milk
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh chives, to garnish

Method

Chop all your vegetables and toss them into the slow cooker with vegetable broth, butter, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook on high for three hours or low for five hours.

Once cooked, add in some milk to get your desired creaminess, then blend everything together with an immersion blender. Top with some fresh chives.

Pair it with a cheesy toastie made in the air fryer for the ultimate comfort meal.