I love split pea soup. I feel like I always have, but I really am not sure. Most kids don’t like peas, but I was always a big foodie! This vegetarian split pea soup gets it smokiness from liquid smoke instead of the traditional ham hock. It is a very easy throw it together dish!

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 small carrots chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
1 onion chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke (I used hickory)
1 pound dried split peas
6 cups water
Salt

1. Heat olive oil and butter in a pressure cooker. Add the carrots and celery and saute for a few minutes, then add the onions. Once the onions are browned, add the thyme, black pepper, chili flakes, onion powder, liquid smoke, split peas and water.
2. Cover the pressure cooker and cook over high heat until the first whistle. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 20 minutes. Put cooker under cold running water to let all the steam out, then open carefully and salt to taste.