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Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is made with nutritious green spilt peas, fresh veggies, diced ham & simple seasonings. You can make this savory & filling soup effortlessly under 30 mins. This classic split pea soup with ham freezes beautifully and tastes just like it has been simmered for hours!
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Split Pea Soup with Ham
No leftover bone in ham? No worries! You can make this quick split pea soup recipe with store bought diced ham any day of the week. All you need is a few veggies, a bag of green split peas and pantry staple seasonings.
This healthy split pea soup is not only easy to make but it is also thick, creamy without addition of cream, budget friendly and extremely filling. The instant pot cuts the cook time in more that half without compromising on the classic taste.
And guess what, no one will believe that it's not made the traditional slow simmered way!
Split Pea Soup Ingredients & Substitutions
Find the Ingredients with actual measurements at the bottom of the post. The list below is just a reference.
- Split Pea: Picked and rinsed well. Dried green split peas are easy to find in any super market. They have a mild sweet taste and cooks fast.
- Diced ham: Store-bought. This is a great alternative to bone in ham. You can make this soup within minutes in the pressure cooker using diced ham. However, if you have leftover bone in ham from Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner than you can sub the diced ham with that. You can also make this split pea soup instant pot recipe with cooked bacon bits. Read the notes below at the bottom of the post.
- Aromatic: Yellow onion and garlic.
- Veggies: Carrots and celery. You can also add a few diced Yukon gold or russet potatoes to stretch the soup a bit further.
- Seasonings: Ground black pepper or crushed black pepper, thyme, salt according to your own personal taste preference. This pack of simple seasoning will help flavor up the soup. You can sub the thyme with oregano or even Italian seasoning. If you prefer a slight kick do add about 1 tsp red pepper flakes.
- Better than Bouillon chicken base: This will add so much flavor to the recipe. Stir it in normal water to make an instant homemade chicken stock.
- Liquid: Water.
- Garnish: Crushed black pepper, diced ham and fresh chopped parsley (optional).
Tips for Success
To make a delicious bowl of split green pea soup follow the below tips:
- Prep split peas: Spread the dried split peas on a large plate and remove any dirt or debris. Rinse the clean green split peas with water several times until clear water runs through.
- Soup consistency: Todays recipe will reward you with a thick and creamy soup without the addition of dairy cream! You can totally control the consistency of the soup. Add water or broth to thin it out as per your liking.
- Spicy soup option: Add 1-2 tsp red pepper flakes for a spicy version.
How to make split pea soup in instant pot?
Find the detailed step by step recipe along with measurements + Video at the bottom of the post.
Step #1 Sauté aromatics, veggies & diced ham
- Sauté onion: Set the instant pot on high heat. Add oil and sauté the onion for 30 seconds. Add the diced ham, sauté for 30 seconds. Add garlic, sauté for another 30 seconds.
- Sauté veggies: Throw in the carrot and celery and sauté for 30 seconds.
Step #2 Deglaze pot
- Deglaze pot: Add the seasonings sauté for 30 seconds. Now add the green split pea and the stock. Cancel the sauté mode. Deglaze the pot very well by scraping the sides and the bottom of the pot with the help of a spatula to remove any stuck food particles from the bottom of the pot. This will prevent the burn error. Throw in the bay leaves.
Step #3 Pressure cook & serve soup
- Pressure cook: Pressure cook the split pea soup on high pressure for 15 minutes followed by 15 minutes natural release. Discard the bay leaves. Give the cooked soup a good stir. Serve the homemade split pea soup garnished with diced ham and crushed black pepper.
Serving Ideas
Pair your instant pot split pea soup with these delicious accompaniments for a well-rounded and satisfying meal:
- Cornbread: Enjoy the soup with a slice of homemade cornbread, adding a hint of crumbly contrast.
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich: A classic grilled cheese sandwich makes for a perfect combination of textures and flavors when enjoyed alongside creamy split pea soup.
- Salad: A light and refreshing side salad, such as a garden salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a tangy vinaigrette, can provide a healthy contrast to the soup.
- A simple coleslaw would be a good accompaniment.
- Side Grains: Consider serving the soup alongside a scoop of cooked rice, quinoa, or couscous for extra sustenance.
- Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream: A dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream on top of the soup can add a creamy and tangy element to balance the flavors.
- Air Fryer garlic bread.
- Air fryer frozen corn on the cob.
- Air fryer smashed brussel sprouts.
- Air fryer roasted beets.
- Air fryer carrots and potatoes.
- Butternut squash fries air fryer.
- Instant pot Moroccan couscous.
Leftovers & storage
Fridge: You can store cooked split pea soup in the fridge for up to 4 days. Use air tight containers to store the soup.
Freezer: You can freeze this simple split pea soup for up to 3 months in freezer safe bags or containers. Thaw the soup overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to reheat
This creamy split pea soup tends to become thick as it is allowed to rest on the countertop or in the fridge. You have to add a few splashes of water or stock before reheating the soup to get back the right consistency.
Microwave oven: Reheat the soup in the microwave oven until hot or warm.
Stove top: Reheat on the stovetop in a heavy bottomed saucepan or pot over medium high heat stirring often.
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Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
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Ingredients
- 1 pound split peas (**green split peas picked, rinse and drained well.)
- 1.5 cups diced ham (**store bought.)
- 1 cup onion (**yellow onion roughly chopped.)
- 1.5 tbsp garlic
- 1 cup carrots (**diced into ½ inch cubes.)
- 1 cup celery (**roughly chopped.)
- 2 Bay leaf
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (**extra light or light olive oil.)
- Salt (to taste) (**add according to your own personal taste preference. )
Seasonings
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (**increase the amount if you prefer spicy soup.)
Liquid
- 6 cups water
- 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon (**chicken base.)
Equipment Used
Instructions
Prep green split peas
- Pick the split green peas to remove any dirt and debris. Set them aside.
Sauté aromatics, ham, veggies
- Set the instant pot on Sauté mode set on High heat settings. Add oil, when the oil becomes hot gently release the onion & sauté for 1 min. Add the store bought diced ham and sauté for another minute. Next, add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Finally add the carrots and celery and sauté for 30 seconds. Add all the seasonings mentioned above in the "Seasonings" section in the ingredient list along with salt. Sauté for 30 seconds.
Deglaze pot
- Rinse the picked green peas under running tap water until the water runs clear, drain them well in a colander. Transfer the rinsed split peas in the instant pot. Add stock and deglaze the pot very well by scraping the sides and the bottom of the pot with the help of a spatula. This will help loosen any stuck food particles and prevent the burn error. Cancel the sauté mode.
Pressure cook
- Secure the lid of the instant pot, seal the valve and pressure cook on high for 15 mins. Once the cooking cycle is over the instant pot will begin to beep, wait for 15 mins natural pressure release and than release the rest of the pressure manually by moving the valve from the sealing to the venting position. Open the lid carefully and turn off the instant pot.
Serve split pea soup
- Fish out the bay leaves and discard them. Give the soup a good mix. At this stage the soup the green split peas will be tender and mushy and the soup consistency will be thick, that's how we love it. However, you can add more stock or water to make it brothy. Garnish the split pea soup with diced ham, crushed black pepper and enjoy! Scroll up for substitutions, tips, step by step photos and more!
Notes
- Prep split peas: Spread the dried split peas on a large plate and remove any dirt or debris. Rinse the clean green split peas with water several times until clear water runs through.
- Soup consistency: Today's recipe will reward you with a thick and creamy soup without the addition of dairy cream! You can totally control the consistency of the soup. Add water or broth to thin it out as per your liking.
- Spicy soup option: Add 1-2 tsp red pepper flakes for a spicy version.
Do let us know if you created this recipe