Name: Jana's Pressure Cooker Lentil Ham Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds smoked ham shanks; 10 cups water; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 large yellow onion, chopped; 3 carrots, thinly sliced; 2 stalks celery, diced; 2 cloves garlic, pressed; 2 cups lentils; 1.25 teaspoons dried thyme; 1 bay leaf; 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes; ground black pepper to taste; 1 teaspoon vinegar, or more to taste

Jana's Pressure Cooker Lentil Ham Soup Recipe

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

This recipe yields 8 servings. Ingredient amounts are adjusted automatically, but cooking times and steps remain unchanged. Please note that not all recipes scale perfectly.

1 pounds smoked ham shanks
10 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 carrots, thinly sliced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 cups lentils
1 teaspoons dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
Ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon vinegar, or more to taste

Directions

Step 1: Place the ham shanks and water in a pressure cooker over medium heat. Cover and lock the lid. Bring the pressure to 15 pounds, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 20 minutes. Release the pressure immediately using the method recommended by the manufacturer.

Step 2: Carefully remove the cooked ham shanks with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a bowl to cool. Once cooled, separate the meat from the bones. Set the ham broth aside in a separate bowl for later use.

Step 3: Heat the olive oil in the pressure cooker over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, diced celery, and pressed garlic. Cook and stir until the vegetables are tender and reduced, about 20 minutes.

Step 4: Add the lentils, 8 cups of the ham broth, dried thyme, and bay leaf to the cooker. Cover and lock the lid. Bring the pressure up to 15 pounds and cook for 6 minutes. Immediately release the pressure once the cooking time is complete.

Step 5: Stir in the diced tomatoes, ham meat, black pepper, and vinegar. Simmer over low heat until everything is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	306	-
Total Fat	5g	6%
Saturated Fat	1g	6%
Cholesterol	46mg	15%
Sodium	658mg	29%
Total Carbohydrate	36g	13%
Dietary Fiber	16g	59%
Total Sugars	5g	-
Protein	31g	62%
Vitamin C	10mg	11%
Calcium	74mg	6%
Iron	5mg	26%
Potassium	690mg	15%

Note: Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Nutrient information is based on available data for the ingredients used. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or dietitian before preparing this recipe.

Comments

Debra Smith

10/04/2025 10:43:17 AM

I was really craving something like this dish! Since we're in lockdown and I didn't have ham shanks, I had to make a few substitutions. I found a pork chop in my freezer, so I chopped that up and used it along with some chopped bacon to give it the smoky flavor. Instead of using a pressure cooker, I opted for chicken stock. After browning the chop and bacon, I set the meat aside and sautéed the veggies. Then I added the meat back in, along with chicken stock and the rest of the ingredients. I pressure cooked it for 6 minutes initially, but it needed an additional 6 minutes to be fully cooked. After adding the tomatoes and vinegar (I used extra vinegar), I served it with crusty bread. It was perfect for a cold, rainy day spent indoors!

William Phillips

10/04/2025 06:27:52 PM

My partner was craving split pea soup while I was in the mood for lentil soup, so we decided to combine both in this recipe with equal parts. The result was absolutely fantastic! I have always been a fan of split pea and lentil soups separately, but this combination surpassed my expectations. I also opted for pearl onions instead of chopped ones, and they worked perfectly in the dish.

Joyce Green

10/05/2025 11:27:11 PM

First experience using my new pressure cooker. I was definitely feeling nervous, or maybe "intimidated" is a better word. I decided to start with ham hocks, but ended up needing an extra 3 minutes of cooking time. Next time, I'll try cooking them for 3 minutes longer. The lentils also needed an extra 3 minutes as they weren't fully cooked. Although my dish didn't turn out as visually appealing as the picture (mine was a bit mushier), it tasted fantastic! While my pressure cooker has a sauté setting, I think I'll sauté in a pan next time while the ham hocks are cooking. Since it was my first time and I had to adjust the cooking times, it took longer as it takes 10-15 minutes to build up pressure again. That was a bit disappointing. I guess things will go more smoothly once I get used to it. The flavor, however, was truly amazing!

Victoria Wright

10/07/2025 05:21:28 AM

I soaked my lentils, which helped them cook perfectly in just 6 minutes. Next time, I plan to prepare the broth in advance so that it can cool and I can skim off the fat. Other than that, the dish was absolutely delicious!

Jack Lopez

10/05/2025 10:00:51 PM

Absolutely delicious soup! The timing in the recipe was spot on, resulting in perfectly cooked vegetables and lentils - tender, but not mushy. I made a small modification by using chicken broth and water instead of ham shanks, as I had leftover ham to use up. However, I'm sure the original recipe with ham shanks and ham broth would be even more flavorful. Looking forward to trying that next time!