Instant Pot Lentil Soup
This hearty Instant Pot Lentil Soup is a warming comfort food meal with Mexican flavor inspiration. Vegan and stove top options included.
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups brown lentils picked over and soaked or sprouted (use only 1 cup if skipping the soaking step)
- 100 g thick cut bacon diced (optional)
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth or water + 2 bouillon cubes; 7 cups for stove top option
- 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- chopped parsley, lime, avocado for topping
Instructions
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Turn on Sauté function of pressure cooker. When display shows HOT, add diced bacon and cook until crispy. Then remove bacon with tongs and reserve for topping.
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To bacon grease ( or 1 olive oil if skipping bacon) add diced onion and sauté until starting to turn translucent. Then add garlic and sauté 1 more minute.
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Then turn off sauté function. Add diced carrot + celery, lentils and broth or water + bouillon cubes.
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Pour in crushed tomatoes and add oregano, cumin, salt + pepper. Stir.
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Close the lid. Turn pressure valve to sealing position. Cook on High Pressure for 12 minutes. Timer will start counting down after about 8 minutes of pressurizing time.
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Let pressure release naturally (NPR) for 15 minutes. Then move pressure valve to venting to release remaining pressure.
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Taste and adjust salt + pepper. Stir in chopped parsley. Serve each bowl with avocado slices and squeeze of lime juice.
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You can safely double the recipe for 8-quart sized pressure cookers.
Stovetop Instructions:
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Heat a large pot and add the diced bacon. Cook the bacon until crispy, then remove with tongs.
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Add the diced onion and sauté until it turns translucent. Then stir in minced garlic, carrot, and celery, and sauté for a couple more minutes.
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Add lentils, broth (or water + bouillon cubes/paste), crushed tomato, and spices. Bring everything to a boil on medium-high heat.
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Then turn down to medium-low and simmer the soup partially covered with a lid until the lentils are fully softened. This takes 20-30 minutes, depending on whether you are using soaked or dry lentils.