Instant Pot

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

March 3, 2019 by Thyme and JOY Leave a Comment

This instant pot split pea soup is a full hearty meal with lots of flavor coming from veggies and a smoky twist using ham. Perfect for cold nights or to batch cook for budget friendly meal prep.

How many of you have ever had split pea soup before?

And how many of you stayed away from it because it looks like baby food?

I gotta say I was the latter for a while. Growing up, split pea soup was a jersey diner favorite . . . well, for everyone else. However, once I tried it, I realized it was pretty damn good!

I honestly thought I was going to be eating a bland mushy flavorless mess but in reality, there are some great flavor profiles in split pea soup as well as some smoky tones coming from the addition of ham. In fact, this is a perfect way to use up leftover ham during Easter and Christmas because we all know there ALWAYS seems to be leftover ham.

My favorite thing about this instant pot split pea soup though is how little it COSTS. Seriously, an entire 1 pound bag of split peas costs less than a dollar, the veggies cost anywhere from $5-8 and the entire batch makes at least 6-8 servings.

Really can’t go wrong!

What are split peas?

Contrary to popular belief, split peas are NOT the same as lentils. Actually, they are much more simple than that. Split peas are peas that are dried then split into 2 pieces so that they are ready for cooking. Really, that’s it!

How to make Instant Pot Split Pea Soup:

Set your instant pot to the saute function and saute your carrots, celery onion and garlic in 2 tsp oil. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes until veggies begin to soften.
Add in your ham, split peas and your stock or broth and set your instant pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes.
Release pressure naturally or do a quick release and stir everything together.

Cooking Tips and Tricks:

You may notice that the soup still has a thin consistency. Over time, the split peas will expand and the soup will become thicker, ESPECIALLY after being refrigerated. You can use a bit more broth or stock to thin it out if it becomes too thick.

What broth is best for split pea soup? You can use chicken, turkey or vegetable stock to make this soup. For this recipe, I had turkey broth on hand from New Years so I used that and it added a nice richness to the soup. You can also make a quick broth using the bones from a rotisserie chicken.

What kind of ham should I use: Really you can use any ham you’d like as long as it’s not thin sliced like deli ham. A ham that has been smoked usually lends the best flavor to the soup.

Can I use yellow split peas? Of course! They tend to have a slightly lighter flavor but are still delicious and just as cost effective.

Check Out:

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Author: Valerie Skinner | Thyme and JOY
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 10 cups
Category: soup,
Method: instant pot
Cuisine: american

Print Recipe

Description

This split pea soup is a full hearty meal with lots of flavor coming from veggies and a smoky twist using ham. Perfect for cold nights or to batch cook for budget friendly meal prep.

Ingredients

1 lb Dried Split Peas
1 lb Cooked Ham, diced
1 cup Onion, diced
1 cup Carrot, diced
1 cup Celery, diced
2 tsp Garlic, minced
1 tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves, minced
2 Dried Bay Leaves
6 cups Chicken, Turkey or Vegetable Broth
2 tsp Avocado Oil
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Ground Black Pepper

Instructions

Set instant pot to saute mode and add avocado oil. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
Add in thyme, salt, pepper, ham, split peas, and stock and stir everything together.
Set your instant pot to manual HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
Once done cooking, use a quick release or natural release.
Remove bay leaves, and stir. Soup WILL thicken up over time!
Serve hot.
Will store in fridge for 7 days and freezer in an air tight container for up to 6 months.
If soup becomes too thick after being in fridge, thin out with more stock, broth or water.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 270

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African Beef Stew

January 8, 2019 by Thyme and JOY Leave a Comment

This African beef stew is a perfect meal to prep for the week. African beef stew is spicy, hearty and filled with nutrition and flavor from simple, easy to find African spices. Also compliant with Whole30 and paleo lifestyles.

One of the things I love doing most is trying out the different cuisines of other countries. Truthfully, I got completely spoiled when I lived in Hawaii because I was able to try so many different Thai, Asian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese food.

Living in the south, my options are WAY different so I am forced to make my own ethnic food which is something I enjoy!

One thing that unites a lot of ethnic food is curry.

Maybe you don’t know this but there are so MANY different types of curry besides Thai, Indian or Japanese including African curry.

I feel in love with African food on a trip to NYC after culinary school and have since sought out African restaurants. While they are sadly few and far between, my version of African beef stew is the perfect starter dish to get your taste buds wanting more African food.

What are African spices used in African cooking?

The beauty of cooking food from another country is learning that there are so many different types of dishes and spices used in different regions of the country. In general, these are popular African spices used in African cooking:

Cinnamon
Corriander
Fenugreek
Cumin
Mint
Fennel
Curry Powder
Basil
Ginger
Nutmeg
Paprika

How do you make African Beef Stew?

In this recipe for African Beef stew, I sauteed garlic, onion, ginger and bell pepper in a big pot and added chunks of beef stew meat.
I added in the spices which were curry powder, coriander, a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper along with salt.
Add in diced sweet potato, chopped cabbage, crushed tomato and coconut milk and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Turn down to a simmer and cook until potatoes and beef are cooked through.

Instant Pot African Beef Stew Instructions:

African beef stew can be made in the instant pot following these instructions:
Use the saute function to heat up 2 tsp of oil on the bottom of the instant pot.
Add in onion, ginger, garlic, bell pepper, beef, salt and spices and saute for about 5-7 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
Add in sweet potato, cabbage, crushed tomatoes, beef broth and coconut milk and stir until everything is combined.
Cook on manual HIGH pressure for 20 minutes and use a quick or natural release. Serve hot.

Check Out:

African Beef Stew

Author: Valerie Skinner | Thyme and JOY
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 12 cups
Category: stew, soup, entree, lunch, dinner
Method: stovetop, instant pot
Cuisine: African

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

2 pounds Beef Stew Meat
1 large Yellow Onion, diced
1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
2 cups Green Cabbage, chopped
2 cups Sweet Potato, diced
2 tbsp Fresh Ginger, grated
4 cloves Garlic, minced
1 28oz can Crushed Tomatoes
1 cup Coconut Milk
1 cups Beef Broth or Stock
2 tsp Avocado Oil

Spices & Seasonings

2 tbsp Curry Powder
1/2 tbsp Paprika
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1 tbsp Coriander
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
2 tbsp Salt

Instructions

In large pot, heat up 2 tsp of Avocado oil over medium high heat.
Add in onion, garlic, ginger, bell pepper, beef and spices and saute for 5-7 minutes or until the meat becomes opaque and vegetables begin to soften.
Stir in sweet potatoes and cabbage.
To the pot, add in crushed tomatoes, coconut milk and beef broth and stir to combine.
Bring stew to a boil for 5 minutes and turn back down to a simmer for 30-40 minutes or until sweet potatoes and beef are cooked through.
Adjust seasonings as necessary and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 cups
Calories: 348

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Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.

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Ninja Foodi Review | Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer All In One

December 12, 2018 by Thyme and JOY 2 Comments

This is the review of the Ninja Foodi, a kitchen appliance that is a pressure cooker and air fryer all in one. Find out what is great about the Ninja Foodi and what the cons are to buying a Ninja Foodi.

Two things that have changed my cooking game in the last 2 years is my purchase of an instant pot or electric pressure cooker and the air fryer. I knew that the pressure cooker was going to be a game changer in terms of cooking things fast.

Using the pressure cooker allowed me to make many simple foods fast for myself at home and for clients. I love how versatile it is and I use it multiple times a week.

What I didn’t expect was to actually fall in love with the air fryer too! I really didn’t want to love it, but it also made cooking so much faster and made all of my food get a tender crisp texture that we enjoy.

When I found out that the Ninja Foodi was a pressure cooker and air fryer all in one, I kind of freaked out a bit. One because I had no idea HOW a kitchen appliance worked in double capacity, and two because I felt like I couldn’t justify buying ANOTHER appliance to take up counter space.

Well, my curiosity won and I ended up buying a Ninja Foodi on black Friday and there is no turning back!

Check Out My Ultimate Air Fryer Guide

What is a Ninja Foodi?

The Ninja Foodi is a pressure cooker that crisps. The appliance has a 6.5qt pressure cooker along with a 4qt Cook & crisp basket for the Tender Crisp (air fryer option).

How does the Ninja Foodi work as an air fryer and pressure cooker?

The machine itself comes with an air fryer lid that permanently stays on but opens up to the side when pressure cooking. When you are using the electric pressure cooker function, you pop on the pressure cooker lid that has a venting and sealing capability.

The Ninja Foodi also comes with a wire trivet for which the handles reverse so you can pressure cook multiple things at once. I found this handy to cook meat and vegetables at the same time.

To use this as an air fryer, you would put in the air fryer basket it comes with and close the permanent lid. The permanent lid allows for air flow or convection while the food is cooking.

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What is the benefit of buying a Ninja Foodi?

It will replace the counter space for 2 kitchen appliances (air fryer and instant pot)
You can pressure cook something and then immediately crisp it up. This works well for something like a whole chicken that you can pressure cook so its tender and then tender crisp it so that the skin gets crispy. For this reason, there is no need to bring the chicken to the broiler and everything can stay neat.
The user interface is easy to use with a clean design and easy to understand buttons.
I am able to cook 2 things at once which is really helpful when I get home and have little time to make a healthy meal. It has such a large cooking capacity!
All of the pieces it comes with are easy to clean.
There are accessories to buy that make cooking and even baking in the Ninja Foodie easy.
There are plenty of easy to follow instructions including a Ninja Foodi Cookbook with involved recipes and basic easy recipes.

What are the cons of buying a Ninja Foodi?

Right now it is expensive, especially as a new kitchen launch (fall 2018). A Ninja Foodi retails for about $200-$250 which is a little more expensive than buying an air fryer or pressure cooker together. You can definitely find this on sale!
It is a large appliance. Even though it does the double the work, it still takes up a good amount of counter space.
The instant pot lid and trivet need extra storage. One thing I don’t enjoy is the fact that I have to store the instant pot lid and the adjustable wire rack somewhere else. I could keep the pressure cooker lid on, but then I would have to leave the air fryer lid all the way open. It’s not a huge deal for me to store it somewhere else, but something to think about before purchasing
The Tender Crisp Air Fryer takes slightly longer to cook food. Because this is also a pressure cooker, this appliance doesn’t have the capability to have air circulating all around the food on the sides and bottom. It only comes from the top. This doesn’t cause too much of an issue but it’s something that I noticed. The extra time it takes (just a few minutes) is well worth the fact that it can be a pressure cooker too.

Where can I buy a Ninja Foodi?

The Ninja Foodi is available:

Ninja Kitchen Website
Kohls
Amazon *affiliate link
Sam’s Club

Should I buy a Ninja Foodi?

For me, the answer to this question was a YES! Before purchasing the Ninja Foodi, I had both an instant pot and an air fryer on my counter. I often used both of them each night to cook dinner and then had to clean each appliance.

The Ninja Foodi makes the experience of cooking healthy food fast really enjoyable and I haven’t even tapped the surface of what it can do.

If you need to slash your kitchen time and have the $200 to spend, I say go for it!