Instant Pot Yellow Split Pea Soup

February 5, 2018 By Melissa Huggins / 88 Comments

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Hearty and comforting, this classic Yellow Split Pea Soup will be your new favorite. Just add the wholesome ingredients to your Instant Pot, and relax while the magic happens.

I finally joined the Instant Pot club and this Yellow Split Pea Soup was the very first meal I cooked in it. Well, I have to say, I'm quite impressed with this kitchen appliance.

I avoided buying it for so long because I thought it would become a dust collector. Plus, I don't have a lot of counter space for things I won't use often.

I'm so glad I went for it though. I've been using it almost every night to make quick, flavorful, and nutritious meals for my family.

When I first opened the box, I was a little overwhelmed with all the buttons, but I felt better after reading the manual. Also, I had lots of support from the Instant Pot Facebook Community Group that has over 1 million members. Everyone is so helpful!

WHICH INSTANT POT MODEL IS THE BEST?

There are a bunch of models to choose from, but after doing my research, I decided to go with the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart 9-in-1 Function. Yep, it really is a 9-in-1 appliance! It's a Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Tofu Egg Cooker, Sterilizer, Steamer, Warmer, and it Sautés.

All that in one little pot! Aaamazing!

Now the name "Instant" Pot could be slightly misleading because it doesn't really cook food in an instant. However, most meals are cooked in under 15 minutes and it's completely hands-free. Also, the pot takes about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure so you'll need to consider that time too.

Bottom line, it's worth it and so darn easy to use!

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP:

(full ingredient amounts in recipe card below)

Cooking oil (or vegan butter)
Onion
Garlic
Celery
Carrots
Dried Thyme, Oregano, Smoked Paprika, Crushed Red Pepper and Bay Leaves
Vegetable Broth
Yellow Split Peas
Liquid Smoke,
Salt and Pepper

* For an even heartier soup, add 2 medium red-skinned potatoes along with the carrots and celery. No need to peel them, just cut into 1 ½ " cubes

HOW TO MAKE YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP IN THE INSTANT POT

Dice the onions, slice the celery and chop the carrots into 1-inch chunks. Cutting the carrots into larger pieces will prevent them from turning into mush.
After prepping your veggies, turn on the sauté feature of your Instant Pot. When heated, add the oil and butter. Once melted, add the onions and sauté until slightly translucent, about 2-3 minutes.

Now add the garlic, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper. Now sauté for about a minute to release the aromatics.

* Feel free to omit the crushed red pepper if you don't want the added heat. I love the smokiness from the smoked paprika, but you can use regular paprika if desired.

Now add the carrots and celery to the pot. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes. Your kitchen should be smelling heavenly right about now!

HOW TO SEAL THE INSTANT POT

Cancel the sauté function and add the broth, lentils, liquid smoke, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Close and secure the lid. Turn the steam release handle to the Sealing position. Push the Pressure Cooker (Manual Setting) button to high pressure and set the time to 15 minutes by using the + or - button.
The screen will then display ON while the preheating is in progress (this could take 10-12 minutes). When the Instant Pot has come to pressure, you'll see the 15 minutes displayed on the screen again.
The cooker will beep when the time is up. Don't touch anything, just let the pressure naturally release for another 15 minutes. Now carefully turn the steam release handle to the Venting position (It will loudly spurt out lots of steam and some water). Once the Float Valve goes down you can carefully open the lid.

Remove the bay leaves and taste for seasoning and add more if needed. Let the soup sit a minute before serving to give it time to thicken up. If it's too thick for your taste, you can add a small amount of water or vegetable broth.

TOPPING IDEAS FOR VEGAN SPLIT PEA SOUP

Browned and crumbled vegan sausage
Vegan sour cream
Vegan cheese shreds
A sprinkle of smoked paprika or crushed red pepper
Fresh-cut chives, green onion, or your favorite fresh herbs
A squeeze of lemon

MORE INSTANT POT MEALS FOR YOU TO ENJOY:

NOT READY TO TAKE THE INSTANT POT PLUNGE? HERE ARE SOME OTHER RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Vegan Corn Chowder
Vegan Baked Potato Soup
Or this amazingly delicious Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe by Stacey Homemaker. It's one of my faves!

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you make this recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.