Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown or green lentils
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 3 cloves garlic
• 14½ oz diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 1 dried bay leaf
• ½ tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

Steps

1. Rinse the lentils thoroughly under cold water.
2. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic.
3. Set your pressure cooker to 'Sauté' mode. Add olive oil, then sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
4. Stir in the rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, dried thyme, bay leaf, cumin, salt, and pepper.
5. Secure the lid on the pressure cooker and set it to 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' on high for 10 minutes. Allow for a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
6. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in fresh parsley and lemon juice if using. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
7. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting lentil soup.