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Instant Pot Split Pea Soup Recipe Easy Cozy Ham Hock and Herb Soup

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A hearty and cozy split pea soup made quickly in the Instant Pot with smoky ham hock and fresh herbs, perfect for busy evenings and lazy weekends.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups green split peas (about 300g), rinsed thoroughly
  • 1 large ham hock (around 1 to 1.5 pounds or 450-680g)
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (1.4 liters)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the split peas under cold water until the water runs clear to remove dust and prevent foaming during cooking.
  2. Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode. Add olive oil, then sauté onion, celery, and carrots for 5-7 minutes until softened and onion is translucent.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Nestle in the ham hock, fresh thyme, and bay leaf.
  5. Add rinsed split peas and chicken broth, stirring gently to submerge peas.
  6. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set to ‘Pressure Cook’ or ‘Manual’ on high for 20 minutes. Allow 10-15 minutes for the pot to come to pressure before timing.
  7. Let the pressure release naturally for about 15 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure.
  8. Remove the ham hock and discard the bay leaf.
  9. Shred the ham meat off the bone with two forks and return the meat to the soup. Stir well.
  10. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  11. Stir in chopped fresh parsley.
  12. Ladle into bowls and serve warm.

Notes

For thicker soup, pulse a few times with an immersion blender but leave some pea texture. Season at the end to avoid over-salting due to ham hock salt content. Can substitute ham hock with smoked paprika and extra veggies for vegetarian version. Freeze leftovers up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot, split pea soup, ham hock, cozy soup, easy soup, pressure cooker soup, healthy soup, comfort food

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/instant-pot-split-pea-soup-recipe-easy-cozy-ham-hock-and-herb-soup/