Smoky Instant Pot Lentil Soup
This is a smoky, bacon-heavy lentil soup that gets done fast in the Instant Pot. The smoked paprika and fire-roasted tomatoes build on the bacon fat to give you deeper flavor than most lentil soups.
Ingredients
Ingredients (~9 servings)
- 9 slices thick-cut bacon, roughly chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
- 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 3/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 6 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 14.5 oz
- 3 cups dried lentils, ~1 lb 3 oz, sorted and rinsed
Instructions
- Press Saute on Instant Pot and heat for 1 minute.
- Add chopped bacon and cook 6-8 minutes until crispy, stirring occasionally.
- Remove bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Discard all but 1 Tbsp bacon fat from pot.
- Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to remaining fat.
- Cook 3-4 minutes until onion softens.
- Add minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, coriander, and chili powder to vegetables.
- Stir to coat, then add tomato paste.
- Cook tomato paste 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in 1/2 cup beef broth and scrape up browned bits from pot bottom.
- Add remaining beef broth, water, diced tomatoes, lentils, and half the cooked bacon.
- Stir everything together.
- Press Keep Warm/Cancel to turn off Saute.
- Close and lock lid with pressure valve set to sealing.
- Press Pressure Cook and set time to 15 minutes.
- Wait 10-15 minutes for pot to pressurize.
- After 15 minutes cooking, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
- Switch valve to venting to release remaining pressure.
- Serve in bowls topped with reserved crispy bacon.
Notes
Do not skip deglazing step or pot may not pressurize properly.
This recipe used an 8 quart instant pot.
If using a 6-quart Instant Pot, reduce the water from 3 cups to 2 cups and check that everything sits below the MAX fill line before sealing.
The time does not include the time it takes to pressurize - which can vary (usually 10-15 minutes).