Things to Eat With Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup, made primarily of dried peas, chicken broth and milk, can also include a variety of seasonings, including garlic. Split pea soup can be served as an appetizer to a dinner or standalone as a lunch. Whether split pea soup is your main dish or just one of many courses, serve complementary foods with this distinctive tasting soup.

Ham and split pea soup go together like two peas in a pod. Some recipes for split pea soup call for chunks of ham to be served in the soup. If you do not want to put the ham into the soup, you can always use the two together in other ways. If you are serving a spiral ham as a main course, split pea soup makes a complementary appetizer. Split pea soup also works as a side for a ham sandwich. Switch things up with smoked sausage.

Italian focaccia bread has a dense, chewy texture and it is sometimes seasoned with garlic, rosemary and Parmesan. Focaccia has a grainy texture that can withstand soup dunking. It will not fall apart like a slice of sliced white bread. Other hearty breads will also work with split pea soup.

Due to its similarities to ham, bacon is another salty meat that complements split pea soup. While some chefs choose to put bacon crumbles in the soup, put your own spin on the dish by serving plain pea soup with a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich on the side. Toasting the bread on the BLT sandwich makes it more sturdy for anyone who wants to dunk their BLT in the soup.

Like other soups, you can add toppings to a split pea soup to liven it up and add texture. Classic croutons work as well for split pea soup as any other soup. If you didn't add bacon crumbles, you can serve them on the side. Add hints of freshness by garnishing the soup with fresh chopped chives, parsley or green onions. For a woodsy treat, add sauteed mushrooms on top. For a creamy element, try a dollop of sour cream. If you like it spicy, add a dash of hot sauce on top of the soup.