Split Pea & Ham Soup {Instant Pot}

Split Pea & Ham Soup was always a favourite canned soup option as a child. I enjoyed how hearty and filling it was. This year, with the COVID pandemic still in full swing, my mom did a doorstop drop-off with sliced honey ham. Because she’d baked a large ham roast for just her and my dad, there were lots of leftovers. This Split Pea & Ham Soup is a savoury and flavourful way to boost your fibre intake and use up leftover ham. Also, the ham could easily be omitted for a vegetarian soup.

Nutritionally speaking, Split Pea & Ham Soup is a tasty way to get more pulses in your diet. But do you know what’s the difference between a pulse and a legume? Firstly, it’s important to know that Canada is the number 1 exporter of pulses in the world.  The word “pulse” is derived from the Latin word “puls” meaning “thick soup.” Basically, pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the “legume” family.

Pulses vs. Legume:

Legume: The plants whose fruit is enclosed in a pod (i.e. peas, beans, lupins, soy and peanuts).

Pulse: Member of the legume family, but the term “pulse” only refers to the dried seed (i.e. dried peas, lentils and chickpeas).

Pulses are an excellent addition to your diet! Not only are they are a rich source of dietary fibre, but they help you feel full and lower cholesterol. They’re also economical! What’s more, pulses when growing emit nitrogen into the soil which reduces the need for fertilizers. Just ask the Saskatchewan farmers who happily grow the vast majority of our Canadian pulses.

How do you get pulses in your diet? Brainstorm ways to enjoy more often!

Split Pea & Ham Soup Recipe

• Serves: 6
• Prep time: 20 minutes
• Cook time: 25 minutes Pressure cook (soup setting)

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp butter or non-hydrogenated margarine
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 1 cup ham, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup split peas, rinsed
• Bay leaf
• 1 Litre vegetable or chicken broth, reduced sodium
• Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish: Lemon, Green onions/scallions, Italian Parsley

Split Pea & Ham Soup {Instant Pot} Directions:

1. Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot or heat large pot to medium-high heat. Add a little butter and when warmed slightly, add onion. Sauté until softened and translucent, about two minutes.
2. Next, add celery and carrots to the onion and stir to sauté. Add more butter or some water in if the pot becomes dry to prevent burning.
3. Add ham and garlic and stir to soften ingredients, which will soon smell fragrant.
4. Then, pour in split peas. Stir ingredients.
5. Pour broth and add bay leaf. Stir all soup ingredients to prevent sticking.
6. Importantly, switch to Soup mode on the Instant Pot or the Manual setting for (25 minutes). The pressure cooker will take about 15 minutes to come up to temperature. (If cooking stove-top, heat at medium heat for about 30 minutes to allow flavours to simmer.)
7. When timer has ended, switch the valve to venting to allow steam to exit. Be careful with this by using a long spoon to keep your distance.
8. Then, stir Split Pea Ham Soup in the Instant Pot. When cooled, taste to adjust seasoning for salt or pepper.
9. Finally, garnish Soup with your favourite toppings like fresh herbs and lemon wedge.

Split Pea & Ham Soup

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Savoury Split Pea & Ham Soup recipe! Sure to be a crowd-pleaser and ideal for leftovers.

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Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter or non-hydrogenated margarine
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 stocks celery, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 1 cup ham, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup split peas, rinsed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 Litre vegetable or chicken broth, reduced sodium
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot or heat large pot to medium-high heat. Add a little butter and when warmed slightly, add onion. Sauté until softened and translucent, about two minutes.
2. Next, add celery and carrots to the onion and stir to sauté. Add more butter or some water in if the pot becomes dry to prevent burning.
3. Add ham and garlic and stir to soften ingredients, which will soon smell fragrant.
4. Then, pour in split peas. Stir ingredients.
5. Pour broth and add bay leaf. Stir all soup ingredients to prevent sticking.
6. Importantly, switch to Soup mode on the Instant Pot or the Manual setting for (25 minutes). The pressure cooker will take about 15 minutes to come up to temperature. (If cooking stove-top, heat at medium heat for about 30 minutes to allow flavours to simmer.)
7. When timer has ended, switch the valve to venting to allow steam to exit. Be careful with this by using a long spoon to keep your distance.
8. Then, stir Split Pea Ham Soup in the Instant Pot. When cooled, taste to adjust seasoning for salt or pepper.
9. Finally, garnish Soup with your favourite toppings like fresh herbs and lemon wedge.