Ingredients
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large leek, white and light green parts only, halved, washed well, and thinly sliced into half moons
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin rounds
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 c. dried green split peas (about 12 oz.)
4 oz. ham, diced (about 1 c.)
1 tbsp. fresh thyme, plus more for serving
4 c. low-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp. Juice of 1/2 lemon, plus wedges for serving
Preparation
Step 1Set Instant Pot to Sauté and add the oil, leek, onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes. Step 2Add split peas, ham, thyme, and broth, and stir to combine. Lock lid and set machine to cook at high pressure for 12 minutes. When finished, carefully turn the steam valve to the venting position to release the pressure.Step 3Stir in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Divide soup among bowls. Top with more fresh thyme leaves, pepper, and a drizzle of oil. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over.
What’s a split pea? A split pea is a dried pea that has its skin removed and is then “split.” They’re low-fat, super high in protein, and they have tons of fiber. Though most commonly thought of as being used in soup, they have a ton of applications that are more delicious than the next. What is split pea soup? It’s one of the oldest soups we eat, dating back to the Roman ages. At its most basic and more current form, it’s a soup made from dried spit peas, a liquid like stock or water, and ham. That ham can take many forms from ham steak to smokey ham hocks. What’s the difference between yellow and green split peas? Green split peas tend to be a little sweeter than more mild and earthy tasting yellow split peas. Can I use bacon instead of ham? Absolutely. (Our Loaded Bacon Split Pea Soup is one of our faves.) We definitely recommend you spring for thick sliced bacon so that you have nice pieces to bite into while you enjoy your soup. You can also skip both altogether, but the broth will benefit from some type of fatty element like ham or bacon. How can I make this vegan/vegetarian? Thought ham adds a delicious smoky flavor, it isn’t at all necessary. To mimic some of that hearty flavor you can add a bit of red miso for a bit of umami and body. As far as the chicken broth, it can simply be swapped with vegetable broth or water. Do I need to sauté the vegetables first? We like to! This is a step when making soup that helps develop flavor. If you don’t want to deal with a quick sauté, simply add all of your ingredients to the Instant Pot and follow the instructions in step 2. What’s a substitute for leeks? Prepping leeks can be annoying, but we love their flavor that we put up with it :) A white or yellow onion is a fine sub. How do I have leftovers? Leftovers keep best when stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Made this? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
