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Instant Pot Ham and Green Split Pea Soup – Low-Calorie, Gluten-Free

Instant Pot ham and green split pea soup is perfect for a cool evening or anytime you’re craving a good soup. Made in the Instant Pot, but tastes like it’s been cooking all day.

The beautiful thing about cooking a whole ham is getting to use the hambone afterwards to make soup. This soup is a great example. In my family, we typically serve ham for Christmas, and then again for Easter. The Instant Pot is hands down one of my favorite kitchen appliances, and this was one of the first recipes I made using it. One of the best things about an Instant Pot is eating food that tastes like it cooked and simmered for hours when it took less than an hour to make.  There are so many fun things to cook in it and it amazes me how quickly is cooks.

What are split peas?

Split peas belong to the same family as beans and lentils, but they are grown with the intention of being dried. They are produced by harvesting the pea pods when they are fully mature and then drying them. Once they are dried and the skins removed, they split naturally. Green split peas are the most common variety in the United States.

What are the benefits of split peas?

Split peas offer significant levels of protein, fiber, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. They are also low in fat, and a good source of folate, iron, and potassium. They contain about 115 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup.

To make this soup, start by melting the butter in the pressure cooker pot over medium-high heat. Then, add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic and sprinkle with salt. Sauté until the onion softens, about five minutes. Next, add the hambone to the pot, the bay leaf, then the peas, and cover with the water. Lock the lid on the pressure cooker, bring the cooker to high pressure, and pressure cook for 20 minutes. 

When the cooking time is over, quick release the pressure. Remove the lid, tilting it away from you to avoid any hot steam. Take the hambone out of the pot and pull the ham from the hambone, discarding any pieces of fat or gristle. Shred and chop the ham, then stir the ham into the pot, and discard the hambone. Season with a little salt and pepper and it’s ready to serve!

Do I need to presoak beans made in the Instant Pot?

The high pressure of the Instant Pot eliminates the need for overnight soaking. However, you can cook both soaked and unsoaked beans in the Instant Pot.

How long can I store homemade split pea soup in the refrigerator?

Split pea soup that has been continuously refrigerated, in an air tight container, will last for about 3 to 4 days.

Can I freeze homemade split pea soup?

Yes! Allow the split pea soup to cool. Ladle the soup into a resealable freezer bag, leaving enough space at the top of the bag to allow for expansion during freezing. Squeeze as much air as possible out of the top of the bag and seal securely. Place the soup-filled freezer bag in the freezer laying flat.

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Ingredients for Instant Pot Ham and Green Split Pea Soup

• Butter
• Onion
• Celery
• Carrot 
• Garlic
• Salt
• Hambone with meat
• Green split peas
• Water
• Bay leaf
• Salt and pepper

Calories per serving (1 cup): 302

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5 from 5 votes

Instant Pot Ham and Green Split Pea Soup - Low-Calorie, Gluten-Free

Instant Pot ham and green split pea soup is the perfect for a cool evening or anytime you're craving a good soup. Made in the Instant Pot, but tastes like it's been cooking all day.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Instant Pot, Soup

Keyword: ham and pea soup, ham soup, instant pot, low calorie food option

Servings: 8

Calories: 302kcal

Author: simplylowcal

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 hambone with clinging meat
• 1 lb green split peas, sorted and rinsed
• 6 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Melt the butter in the pressure cooker pot over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic to the pressure cooker pot, and then sprinkle with the salt. Sauté until the onion softens, about five minutes.
• Add the hambone to the pot, the bay leaf, then the peas, and cover with the water.
• Lock the lid on the pressure cooker, bring the cooker to high pressure, and pressure cook for 20 minutes. When the cooking time is over, quick release the pressure. Remove the lid, tilting it away from you to avoid any hot steam.
• Take the hambone out of the pot and pull the ham from the hambone, discarding any pieces of fat or gristle. Shred and chop the ham, then stir the ham into the pot, and discard the hambone.
• Add a pinch of black pepper and salt. Stir and serve.

Notes

How to sort and rinse beans: Arrange dried beans on a sheet pan, or clean kitchen towel, and sort through them to pick out any shriveled or broken beans, stones or debris. Rinse the sorted beans well in cold, running water.

 

• Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 12g | Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 333mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 900IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1.1mg

If you like Instant Pot Ham and Green Split Pea Soup, then you might also like:

Loaded Potato Soup Instant Pot