u003cstrongu003eDo I have to soak the peas before cooking them?u003c/strongu003e

You do not have to soak the green split peas before cooking them. You can also use yellow split peas in this soup.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, just leave out the ham and be sure to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You may need to add some extra salt to replace some of the flavor that would have come from the ham.

Can I use bacon instead of ham?

Yes, you can use bacon instead of ham in this recipe. You can either sauté the uncooked bacon with the veggies, or you can stir in cooked and chopped cooked bacon at the end.

Can I use ham hocks instead of a ham steak?

Yes but I prefer to use a chopped ham steak to make it easier to serve. You don't have to worry about a ham bone or shredding the ham. Look for ham steaks in the meat section of your local grocery store.

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup (Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound uncooked split green peas, rinsed and drained
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 8–ounce cooked ham steak, diced (be sure your ham is gluten-free if you are on a gluten-free diet)

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Instructions

Press the Sauté button on a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot. Pour in the oil and let it heat up for a few minutes.
Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the rinsed split peas, broth, thyme, and the bay leaf.
Lock on the lid and set the time to 15 minutes at high pressure.
When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes.
Then, use the quick-release to get rid of any remaining pressure.
Remove the lid and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the diced ham steak and let it heat up in the soup for a few minutes.
Serve the soup hot.

Notes

You do not have to soak green peas before cooking them.
If you prefer a thinner consistency, feel free to stir in an extra cup of warmed broth or water at the end of the cooking process.
To make this recipe vegetarian, just leave out the ham and add a teaspoon of salt to help replace some of the flavor.
You can use bacon instead of ham in this recipe. You can either sauté a pound of uncooked bacon with the veggies, or you can stir in cooked and chopped bacon at the end.

Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
Calories: 277
Sugar: 6.4 g
Sodium: 803.9 mg
Fat: 3.7 g
Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
Carbohydrates: 40.2 g
Fiber: 15.3 g
Protein: 21.9 g
Cholesterol: 12.8 mg