Vegetarian Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Instant pot split pea soup is a delicious soup and a one-pot meal made with green split peas and a lot of vegetables. It requires only a few minutes of prep time to make this vegan and gluten-free soup. It is a comfort food in the cold weather.

This dump-and-go vegetarian instant pot split pea soup recipe is made with no oil and without soaking the split peas. It makes a perfect meal for busy weeknights and can be served with bread or a grilled cheese sandwich. It can be made ahead of time for meal planning and also freezes well.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Serving suggestions
• Equipment
• Storage
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients

This vegan and gluten-free split pea soup is made with very few ingredients and without oil. Vegetables like carrots, diced celery, onion, potatoes, and bell pepper are used along with a good amount of chopped garlic. Some chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice are added for enhancing flavor but they are optional.

You will need dry green split peas and this is a no soak recipe. If you do not have green ones then you can also use yellow split peas.

I have used homemade vegetable broth but store-bought low-sodium vegetable stock works well too.

Some minced garlic, a bay leaf, and dried thyme add flavor to the soup. If you like a smoky flavor then you can add a teaspoon of smoked paprika.

Instructions

Making a vegetarian split pea soup in the instant pot is very easy. Once you have all the vegetables cut and ready, it takes only a few minutes of your time.

Rinse the split peas thoroughly with water to get rid of any residue. Put all the ingredients including veggies, split peas, herbs, and vegetable stock.

Cook on high-pressure mode for 12 minutes with the pressure knob in the sealing position. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, and then release the remaining pressure manually by moving the pressure release knob to the venting position until the silver pin drops.

Add some chopped cilantro and lime juice while serving. Adjust the taste of salt and pepper as per your preference.

Substitutions

The best part of this minestrone soup is that it is very versatile and you can adapt it to your preference and the ingredients at hand.

• Veggies - A combination of fresh and frozen veggies can be used. You can include veggies of your choice or skip any of them.
• Split peas - either green or yellow split peas can be used to make this recipe.
• Herbs - fresh or dried thyme can be used. Italian seasoning can be added as well to add more flavor.

Variations

This vegan split pea soup is gluten-free, loaded with veggies, and made without oil.

• Spicy - add serrano pepper or red chili powder as per taste while cooking the soup.
• Smoky - if you prefer a smoky flavor, you can add a teaspoon of smoked paprika while cooking.

Serving suggestions

This hearty split pea soup can be served as a full meal as a side dish. While serving, add some lime juice and chopped cilantro to enhance its flavor.

It can be served with sliced or toasted French bread, white bread, garlic bread, sourdough bread, bread sticks, or garlic knots. You can also serve it with some toast, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, or veggie sides like roasted broccoli and air-fried mushrooms.

Equipment

I have made this green split pea soup in the 6 qt. instant pot. You can make it in other larger pots as well and make bigger batches too for storing or meal planning. To make a smaller batch, you can use the 3 qt. instant pot.

The split peas are well mashed and there is no need to blend them using an immersion blender. However, depending on the brand of split peas, if needed, you can blend them to the desired consistency.

Storage

Any leftover split pea soup can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. When you are ready to eat it, simply reheat it in the microwave, stovetop, or on saute mode in the instant pot.

You can always make this soup ahead of time for meal planning and refrigerate it in an airtight container. When you are ready to eat, simply reheat it before serving.

It tends to thicken as it cools, so when you are reheating it, you can add a little water to adjust the consistency.

Split pea soup can also be frozen. Allow the soup to cool down completely and then portion it and put it in the freezer. The best way to store or freeze it is to not add lime juice or cilantro.

When you are ready to eat, you can defrost it in the microwave or keep it in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it. While serving add the lime juice and optionally some chopped cilantro.

FAQ

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📖 Recipe