Instant Pot Split Pea Soup (or Pressure Cooker) 30 mins

Name: Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Split peas (green ); 2 tbsp Olive oil; 2 Bay leaves; ½ inch Ginger (1 tsp grated); 1 clove Garlic (1 med minced ); 1/2 cup Celery (chopped finely); 1/2 cup Onions (chopped finely); 1 tsp Salt; ½ tsp Pepper; ¼ cup Parsley (finely chopped); 5 cups Broth (or stock); 1 cup Milk; 1 tsp Cornstarch; ½ cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Recipe Video Print Pin Recipe

This rich and creamy instant pot split pea soup takes less than 30 minutes to make. Made with dried split peas and a few pantry staples this is comfort food in winter. Serve it with salad and bread for a scrumptious meal.

Soup bowl with soup. — Soup made with Split Peas in Instant Pot

There is nothing more comforting in winter or on a rainy day than a bowl of thick warm soup, especially it is nutritious, wholesome, and healthy. My father-in-law makes a wonderful split pea soup our kids enjoy very much. So, while they do not otherwise like lentils, beans, or legumes they do enjoy this soup.

Why make this soup?

It is pure comfort food in winter.
The recipe does not take long to make. In fact, if you make it in the instant pot or pressure cooker it needs only 25 minutes to pressure cook.
Soaking the split peas while recommended is not absolutely required which means you don't have to plan this much ahead of time.
The recipe is very simple and easy whith most of the ingredients being pantry staples.
We are using a dab of butter and milk instead of cream so it is much healiter than most other soups.

Split pea soup in an Instant pot. — Soup made with Split Peas in Instant Pot

Ingredients and substitutes

Split Peas - What are split peas? The green split pea is the same as the green peas but processed differently. To make split pea, the green pea is peeled and dried. You can also get yellow split peas and they would work just as well for this recipe.
Onion - I love red onions because they are sweeter and work great for soups. And yet, they also add a bit of color. Today I have used white onions.
Garlic - A little goes a long way. And if you prefer, you can also add 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
Parmesan- Adds a nice nutty and sharp flavor to the soup. I highly recommend not omitting it. You can replace it with another mature cheese to make it vegetarian.
Bay leaves - I think bay leaves add a nice flavor to the soup. You can add oregano instead.
Thyme - Dried herbs go great when cooking in the slow cooker. I usually use dried thyme, and yet feel free to also add fresh.
Stock - Vegetable (chicken or beef) stock is perfectly fine. You can also add a cube of chicken stock with water.

Ingredients collage for split pea soup. — Soup made with Split Peas in Instant Pot

Step by step instructions

Split peas - Sort and wash the split peas. Drain and set aside.
Pro tip - time permitting soak the split peas in warm water for 30 minutes to an hour. This softens the grains and makes a wonderfully creamy soup.
Instant Pot - Turn the instant pot on saute.
Pressure cooker - place the pressure cooker on medium heat.

Progress pictures collage making the soup with split peas. — Soup made with Split Peas in Instant Pot

Add the olive oil and saute the garlic, ginger, and bay leaves for 30 seconds. Then add the celery and onions and saute until the onions are translucent.
Season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped parsley and drained split peas followed by 5 cups of broth or stock - stir well.

Pressure cook

Instant Pot - Turn the saute off. Close and lock the instant pot lid. Close the seal and set the instant pot on high for 25 minutes
Stovetop pressure cooker - close the pressure cooker, add the whistle, and pressure cook for 25 to 30 mins.

Natual release - When done turn off and let natural release for 10 minutes. Open the instant pot or pressure cooker.
Pro tip - it is best to use natural release otherwise the spray of the soup in the quick release can clog the instant pot valve which is difficult to clean.
Remove and discard the bay leaves. Using a hand blender, blend the soup to a smooth consistency.
Pro tip - don't forget to remove the bay leaves before blending because it does not blend well into the soup. And, the flavor of these is very strong.

Progress pictures collage making the instant pot soup. — Soup made with Split Peas in Instant Pot

Add cornstarch to the milk and combine well before adding it to the soup. Let come to an almost boil.
Pro tip - The cornstarch will help thicken the soup but it will also prevent the milk from curdling in the soup.
Finally, add the Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve garnished with more parmesan cheese.
Pro tip - if you don't like parmesan you can add another of your favorite cheese.

Two soup bowls with split pea soup. — Soup made with Split Peas in Instant Pot

More soup recipes

Frequently asked questions

How long will this split pea soup keep?

This soup can stay in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. You can also freeze it in the freezer for up to a month.

Can I make this on a stovetop?

You can cook spit peas on a stovetop and it will take about 60 to 90 minutes. I think the best way to cook it quickly is in the instant pot (25 mins) or slowly in a slow cooker (6 to 8 hours).

Is this a vegetarian or non-vegetarian pea soup

This is vegetarian but to make this with ham, just add a ham bone along with the split peas and continue to pressure cook.

How to get rid of gas from split pea soup?

If you've ever had issues with stomach pain when eating dried beans, or lentils, then soaking them before you cook may prove very helpful. Dried beans and lentils including split peas contain complex sugars that our human body finds hard to digest. The gas produced when absorbing them can cause bloating and flatulence. Soaking helps release some of these sugars into the water, which is why soaking, re-washing, and draining do help very much.

What side dish do you serve along with this soup?

For our family, a side salad or sauteed veggies with some homemade fresh bread on the side makes a complete meal. Try
garlic sesame asparagus, parmesan asparagus, or sesame green beans. Some cheesy baked eggplant slices, lemon rosemary potatoes, or roasted dill potatoes