Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup

Serves 6 in about 58 minutes. The pressure cooker brings stalks celery and leftover ham together.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 stalks of celery, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ tsp thyme leaves, dried
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth low sodium (use only 5 cups for a thick soup, 7 cups for a thinner soup)
• 1 lb green split peas, rinsed and sorted (unsoaked)
• 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional) for vegetarian version
• ½ tsp kosher salt (add last, after cooking, if needed) (1/4 tsp table salt)
• 6 slices bacon (optional) chopped
• 2 small ham hocks (optional) not very meaty, but add a nice smoky flavor and richness.
• 1 leftover ham bone (optional) i like to use this with the diced ham
• 2 - 3 cups diced leftover ham (optional)

Method

1. Turn the pressure cooker on to the Sauté function. Leave it to it warm up and add the olive oil and butter.
2. Stir in the onion, celery, bay leaves, and thyme. Cook, while stirring now and then, until onion starts to turn translucent.
3. Tip in the carrots, garlic, bacon or ham, if using, and pepper. Simmer for a instant.
4. Tip in the broth and ham bone or ham hocks, if using (Add liquid smoke, if using, for vegetarian method). Leave it to come to a simmer.
5. Mix in the split peas.
6. Set the lid on the pot and lock it in place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
7. Cancel the sauté function and Choose Pressure Cook/Manual, and use the + or - or dial to choose 18 minutes. High pressure. It will take a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
8. When the cooking time has finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for 15 minutes to naturally release some of the pressure. Then turn the steam release knob to Venting to quick release the remaining pressure.
9. When the pin in the lid drops down, carefully open the lid, facing away from you. Lift out the bay leaves and the bone or ham hocks, if you used them.
10. Taste and add the salt as desired.
11. Plate hot. The soup will thicken quite a bit when it cools, that is normal.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.