What Salad Goes With Split Pea Soup? 12 Best Salads

This article is all about what salad goes with split pea soup.

And trust me, there are a lot of delicious options out there.

So, whether you’re looking for something light and refreshing or something a little heartier, I’ve got you covered.

So go ahead and give one (or all) of these a try!

See Also: 10 Best Sandwiches To Serve With Split Pea Soup

What Salad Goes With Split Pea Soup? 12 Best Salads

A salad isn’t just a healthy way to start your meal, it can also be a great way to add some extra flavor to your soup.

The right salad can brighten up the flavors of the soup and help to bring out the natural sweetness of the peas.

On the other hand, a bad salad can easily overwhelm the delicate flavor of the soup and leave you with a bland and unappetizing dish.

Fortunately, there are a number of great salads that pair well with split pea soup.

Here are 12 of the best side dishes for split pea soup:

Salad Caprese

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

It’s a great salad to pair with soup because it is light and refreshing, but still has a lot of flavor.

Pro Tip: If you are using balsamic vinegar, make sure to use a good quality one.

It will make a big difference in the flavor of the salad.

Substitutions:

• If you don’t have fresh mozzarella, you could use feta cheese.
• If you don’t have basil, you could use oregano or thyme.
• If you don’t have balsamic vinegar, you could use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Nicoise Salad

This salad usually consists primarily of olives, tomatoes, anchovies, tuna, and beans (usually green beans, chickpeas, or cannellini beans).

It’s a hearty salad that can easily be a meal on its own, especially if you add some protein.

I love pairing it with soup because the contrast in temperatures is really refreshing.

Pro Tip:

• If you’re not a fan of anchovies, you can leave them out or substitute with capers.
• You could also swap out the tuna for chicken or salmon.
• And finally, feel free to use any type of green bean you have on hand.

Cobb Salad

This protein-packed salad is the perfect side to a hearty soup.

The hard-boiled eggs provide a creamy element, while the bacon and blue cheese give the salad a nice salty crunch.

The avocado rounds it all out with some healthy fats, making it a well-rounded and satisfying dish.

Pro Tips:

• If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, you could substitute feta or goat cheese.
• For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon and add roasted chickpeas.
• You could also swap out the romaine for spinach or arugula.

Caeser Salad

With a rich and creamy dressing, crunchy croutons, and salty Parmesan cheese, Caeser salad is the perfect complement to a bowl of soup.

The acidity in the dressing cuts through the heaviness of the soup, and the croutons add a nice crunch.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought croutons.

Just look for ones that are made with real bread and have a minimal amount of ingredients.

Substitutions:

• For the dressing: swap out the mayo for Greek yogurt, swap out the anchovies for capers, or omit both altogether.
• For the salad: swap out the Romaine lettuce for kale or spinach, swap out the Parmesan cheese for vegan cheese or Nutritional Yeast, or omit both altogether.

Waldorf Salad

This salad was originally a simple apple-celery-mayo combo (yes, mayo is a salad ingredient), but over the years has evolved into the dish we know and love today.

The key players in this salad are still the apples and celery, but now we’ve added grapes, walnuts, and yogurt (or mayo) to the mix.

The result is a creamy, crunchy, slightly sweet salad that goes perfectly with soup.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can use pre-cut celery and grapes.

Just be sure to give them a quick rinse before adding to the salad.

Substitutions:

• Apples: pears, mandarin oranges, raisins
• Celery: fennel, cucumber, green bell pepper
• Grapes: cranberries, cherries, diced pineapple

Thai Chicken Larb Salad

This salad is a boldly flavored and healthy way to enjoy the classic Thai dish, larb gai.

It’s perfect for a light lunch or as a side salad with soup or rice.

The salad is made with ground chicken, red onions, scallions, chili pepper, fish sauce, lime juice, and cilantro.

The flavors are fresh and bright, and the salad has a nice balance of heat and acidity.

Pro Tip: If you can’t find ground chicken, you can substitute ground turkey or ground pork.

Substitutions:

• Ground turkey or ground pork for ground chicken
• Red cabbage for red onion
• Mint for cilantro
• Lime juice for lemon juice

Tabbouleh Salad

This salad goes well with split pea soup for several reasons.

1. First, the bright colors of the salad add a beautiful contrast to the soup.
2. Second, the acidity of the lemon juice in the salad helps to balance out the richness of the soup.
3. Finally, the parsley and mint in the salad provide a refreshing flavor that complements the earthiness of the soup.

Pro Tip: If you want a little bit more color in your salad, try adding some chopped tomatoes.

Substitutions:

• If you don’t have parsley, you could use cilantro or basil.
• If you don’t have mint, you could use oregano or thyme.
• If you don’t have bulgur wheat, you could use quinoa or rice.

Russian Olivier Salad

Your split pea soup is going to love this Olivier salad!

The salty, briny flavors of the olives and capers are a perfect match for the earthy peas.

And if you’ve never had Russian dressing before, get ready to be blown away by how good it is with this salad.

The sweetness of the dressing helps to balance out the strong flavors of the olives and capers.

Pro Tip: If you can’t find Russian dressing, you can easily make your own by mixing together mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickle juice.

Substitutions:

• If you’re not a fan of olives, try using chopped up dill pickles instead.
• Don’t have any capers? No problem! Just use some chopped up green onions instead.
• Not a fan of Russian dressing? Try using balsamic vinaigrette or even just plain old olive oil and vinegar.

Greek Salad

If you like appreciate fresh veggies and a flavorful dressing, this salad is for you!

The acidity from the vinegar and lemon juice in the dressing complements the soup perfectly.

And, if you’re looking to lighten things up, this salad is a great way to do that.

Pro Tip: If you want more of a crunch in your salad, add some chopped up cucumber or celery.

Substitutions:

• Instead of Greek dressing, use tahini or avocado mayo
• Instead of feta cheese, use goat cheese or cheddar cheese
• Instead of olives, use roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes

Asian Slaw

With just a few ingredients (and no cooking required), this salad is a perfect accompaniment to soup.

The acidity from the rice vinegar and lime juice balance out the richness of the soup, while the crunchy cabbage and carrots add texture and freshness.

Pro Tip: For extra crunch, top with chopped peanuts or cashews.

Substitutions:

• Swap out the cabbage for kale or spinach
• Use apple cider vinegar in place of rice vinegar
• Add diced mango or pineapple for sweetness

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and bacon bits come together in this salad to create the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunch.

The soup is a great way to cool down the spice from the salad.

Pro Tip: If you want to make this salad ahead of time, wait to add the bacon bits until you’re ready to serve.

Substitutions:

• Swap out the broccoli for cauliflower
• Use dried cherries instead of cranberries
• Add chopped almonds for a different nutty flavor

Healthy Brussels Sprout Salad

I love adding cranberries and pecans when I make this salad because it gives it a little bit of sweetness and crunch.

I also love how the acidity from the vinegar cuts through the richness of soup.

This salad is perfect for when you want something light but satisfying.

Pro Tip: When roasting your Brussels sprouts, cut them in half so they cook evenly.

Substitutions:

• Instead of cranberries, you could use diced apples or pears.
• Pecans can be swapped for walnuts or almonds.
• If you don’t have white balsamic vinegar, you could use apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.