Split Pea & Bacon Soup

I love me some split pea soup and it’s honestly been on my bucket list to learn to make.

The Instant Pot made it SO easy.

I like mine peppery so often use 1 tsp black pepper – feel free to adjust to your taste.

Definitely staying in our rotation!

The kid claims he’s never had split pea soup – not sure how this can be real as stopping to eat at Pea Soup Anderson’s in Buellton was one of my favorites (now “temporarily” closed)!!! . But he liked it.

YUM, YUM, YUM!!!

TIPS: For a creamy version, hit w/ an immersion blender after Step 9. Or sub 1/2 cup diced, cooked ham for the bacon (adding it all in Step 5 instead of leaving any aside).

And for a meatless version, just leave out the meat!

Split Pea & Bacon Soup

Ingredients

• 12 oz bacon
• 150 g diced yellow onion (about 1 medium after trimming)
• 130 g diced carrots (about 2 medium after trimming)
• 40 g diced celery (about 1 medium stalk after trimming)
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 32 oz low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 16 oz dried split peas, rinsed and sorted
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

1. Follow Bacon Bits recipe Instant Pot directions then set bacon bits aside, leaving bacon drippings in bottom of inner pot.
2. Select SAUTÉ – NORMAL on Instant Pot (IP).
3. Add 150 g diced yellow onion, 130 g diced carrots, and 40 g diced celery sauté 5 mins, until vegetables are softened. Deglaze pot (fancy phrase for scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot – I find that a wooden flat spatula works best for this) as you sauté.
4. Add 1 tsp minced garlic and 1/2 tsp dried thyme and sauté for 1 min.
5. Add 32 oz low-sodium chicken broth and 2 cups water, then select CANCEL.
6. Add drained and rinsed 16 oz split peas, 1/2 of bacon bits, 3/4 tsp sea salt, and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper and mix well.
7. Secure lid and set to SEAL.
8. Select PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL) for 8 mins.
9. When cooking cycle is complete, allow a natural release (NR) [fancy way of saying *do nothing*] for 10 mins, then do a quick release (QR).
10. Once pressure pin drops, remove lid (facing away from you), then select CANCEL.
11. Give soup a quick few stirs, then allow to set for 15 mins to thicken.
12. Serve in individual bowls and garnish equally with remaining 1/2 of bacon bits.

NUTRITION FACTS
Servings	6
Amount Per Serving	1.5 cups (367.5 g)
Calories	220
		%Daily Value*
Total Fat	10g	13%
Saturated Fat	3g	15%
Cholesterol	20mg	7%
Sodium	550mg	24%
Total Carbohydrate	23g	8%
Dietary Fiber	8g	29%
Total Sugars	7g
Added Sugars	0g
Protein	12g
Vitamin D	0mcg	0%
Calcium	35mg	3%
Iron	2.5mg	14%
Potassium	500mg	11%
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

#LowFat #InstantPot