Maylee at Beyond Gumbo 
If you never liked, “Split Pea Soup,” then try this recipe. I am not sure how “Split Pea Soup” got a bad rap, but my recipe is delicious. When smoked ham is used for seasoning, this soup is wonderful. Perhaps our food preferences change over time; I have learned to enjoy “Split Pea Soup” over the past several years. A friend gave me a country-smoked ham bone which was leftover from her holiday dinner. It still had lots of meat attached. I immediately started thinking of things to cook. Everyone chimed in, “Make Split Pea Soup.” And so I did, of course. And I used my favorite and well-used kitchen appliance, the Instant Pot. The recipe has only four ingredients — so simple — and took only 15 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot. Like other lentils, split peas are very nutritious and high in protein, fiber and an assortment of vitamins and minerals. So, let’s cook soup and continue the New Year on a healthy recipe note.
Recipe and “Secret” Ingredient
The recipe has only four ingredients — dried split green peas and the smoked ham bone with meat. Plus, I added onion and diced carrots. The smoked ham bone is the “secret ingredient” in this recipe. Not just any ham bone — but smoked ham. This one was a spiral smoked ham that had been cooked further in the oven. It made a tasty broth and added so much flavor that I didn’t need to use chicken broth or add extra salt in the soup. Now, if you don’t have a ham bone, substitute smoked ham from a deli. Smoked ham makes all the difference in this recipe.
Instant Pot recipe
Over the past two years, I have learned to enjoy cooking with my Instant Pot kitchen appliance. Some recipes work better than others in a pressure cooker and and dried beans really excel when cooked in an Instant Pot. There’s no fuss or bother when cooking with the Instant Pot. Just let the appliance monitor the temperature and do all the work. But, woah. Dried split green peas cook totally different from other dried beans. They cooked so quickly, that my peas turned to cream after only 15 minutes in the Instant Pot. So, I have “Cream of Split Pea Soup.”
Making the recipe
To make the soup, saute the onion and carrot in some oil in the Instant Pot. Use the “Saute” setting of the Instant Pot for this task. When the onion is translucent and cooked through, add the dried split green peas, smoked ham bone plus meat and 8 cups of water. Let this cook on the “Pressure” setting of the Instant Pot for 15 minutes, then let the steam and pressure release naturally for another 15 minutes.
The soup is cooked! Remove the bone; and add back chunks of ham.
This makes a large recipe. It freezes well. A total of 8 cups of water made a “thinner” soup. If you prefer a creamier, thicker soup, then reduce the water to 6 cups when you make the soup.
I am enjoying this soup when it is served with crusty French bread, crackers or perhaps a po-boy sandwich on the side.
When I was growing up, this soup was one of our Saturday lunch soup rotations. Although I never cared for “Split Pea Soup” at that time, I love it now! Comfort food.
I hope you enjoy this very simple and healthy soup recipe! Let’s start out the New Year with some nutritious recipes. Lentils certainly fit right in to the “power” food category.
Split Pea Soup with Smoked Ham in the Instant Pot
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 lb dry split green peas
- 8 cup water*
- 1 large ham bone with meat from smoked ham or substitute 8 oz boneless smoked ham.
- Crackers or French bread for serving, optional
Method and Steps:
- Turn Instant Pot to “Saute,” low temperature, and the time to 10 minutes. Add oil to inner lining of Instant Pot.
- When the oil begins to heat, add the chopped onion and diced carrots. Stir and saute for 10 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent and loses the raw flavor. Cancel any remaining time on the Instant Pot.
- Sort the dry split green peas to remove any debris. Add the peas to the Instant Pot and stir to combine.
- Add 8 cups water and ham bone including small pieces of attached meat.*
- Place lid on Instant Pot and lock in place. Make sure pressure vent setting is closed. Set on “Pressure” and time for 15 minutes. Press “Start.”
- When the timer rings, the Instant Pot will continue on “Warm” setting. Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. Then manually release remaining pressure and steam. Carefully remove lid of Instant Pot. The split peas will appear mashed.
- Remove ham bone and any fragments. Pull small pieces of remaing meat off ham bone and add back to pot.
- Ladle into soup bowls.
- Serve with crackers or French bread, if desired.
- Refrigerate or freeze leftovers.
*NOTE: For a thicker, creamier soup, reduce water to 6 cups.
Looks like my childhood, only mom used her trusty slow cooker.
Yes, those trusty “slow cookers” or Crock Pots are still a staple in my kitchen. I love cooking with it, especially soups, and this would be a good recipe for the slow cooker. I am enjoying my healthy lentil soup — can’t get enough of it!