1-Preparation Steps: Begin by gathering all your ingredients and preparing your vegetables. Proper preparation is essential for even cooking. Wash all vegetables thoroughly, peel the potato and carrot, and chop everything into uniform pieces. This attention to detail in the beginning will pay off in the final texture of your soup.

2-Sautéing the Aromatics: Set your pressure cooker to the sauté setting. Add the olive oil and butter if using. Once hot, add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and celery. Sauté these aromatics for 1 minute until they become fragrant and the onions begin to turn translucent. This step builds a strong flavor foundation for your soup.

3-Adding the Vegetables: Next, add the cauliflower florets, chopped carrot, and cubed potato to the cooker. Sauté these for another minute to begin the cooking process and develop flavor. Then add the broccoli head and frozen peas. These are added last because they require less cooking time than the other vegetables.

4-Seasoning and Adding Liquid: Season the vegetables with Italian seasoning, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well to distribute the spices evenly. Pour in the vegetable or chicken stock and mix everything together. Ensure all ingredients are submerged in the liquid for even cooking.

5-Pressure Cooking: Secure the lid of your pressure cooker and set it to cook under high pressure for 5 minutes. The pressure cooker will take some time to reach full pressure before the 5-minute countdown begins. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before carefully releasing any remaining pressure manually.

6-Creating the Creamy Texture: Carefully open the lid once all pressure has been released. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until melted and well incorporated. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as you want to keep the vegetables firm rather than turning them into mush. The residual heat will melt the cheese perfectly.

7-Final Touches: Serve the soup hot with extra cheese sprinkled on top and crusty bread for dipping if desired. The bread is perfect for soaking up that delicious, creamy broth. Your Pressure Cooker Creamy Vegetable soup is now ready to enjoy!