"Daylight" Smoked Chicken and Okra Soup

Indulge in a comforting bowl of okra soup seasoned with smoked chicken, a dish that brings together rich savory flavor and hearty ingredients.

This delightful soup features tender pieces of smoked chicken, adding a deep, savory essence that perfectly complements the fresh, slightly crisp texture of okra. With each spoonful, you'll experience a harmonious blend of spices and vegetables, creating a satisfying and nourishing meal.

Related Okra Posts:

• Grilled Okra
• Southern Fried Okra
• Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

Okra Soup - an Easy 30-minuteokra recipe prepared via instant pot. The smoked chicken elevates this to a main dish soup dish that is perfect for busy weeknights.

If you’ve followed recent posts, then you know this month is all about okra recipes, partly because it’s okra season, but also as part of my personal campaign to get the world to “Eat More Okra.” This is my first okra soup post, but don’t sweat I have a few more in store for you that will make you say “Uggh” like Master P! My mentality is that when it comes to okra recipes, there are no bad ideas. Well perhaps that okra smoothie was a not so good idea.

There are soups that contain okra and then there are okra soups. With the former, it’s usually about making the dish thicker. Okra soups are for okra lovers who appreciate everything about the fuzzy green pods. These soups are popular worldwide and all throughout the South and midwest. Gumbo ain’t nothing but okra soup with a roux and a bunch of other stuff. Similarly, Brunswick is soup, no roux, but with many different vegetables.

My introduction to okra soup came from my grandmother who made a deeply flavored tomato-based okra soup with onions, corn, and peppers. When I decided to make my version, I wanted something complex in flavor, but made with few ingredients, and had more of a summertime feel, i.e. not heavy like a stew. I was more influenced by my grandma's recipe, but added a smoked meat to mimic Nigerian "okro soup" on a small level.

Nigerian okra soup differs in that it is distinctly flavored with palm oil, includes unique leafy vegetables like pumpkin leaves, bitter leaves or even collard greens, and likely leverages seasoning cubes and ground crayfish. Lastly proteins vary from smoked fish to goat meat and anything in between.

What Inspired this Okra Recipe?

What I came up with is a smoked chicken and okra soup. The smoked chicken adds a level of deep flavor to the broth while also making the dish substantial enough for a main entree meal. The lime juice is the ingredient that makes this soup next level. The tart citrus, breaks up the smoked meat, while also bringing out the flavor in the okra. The idea for the lime juice dates back to my time spent in so many real Mexican restaurants where chicken lime soup 'Sopa de lima' can be common.

I was short on time when I made this recipe. So rather than slowly simmering this dish on the stovetop I “cheated” and used my instant pot. The instant pot had the added advantage of not eating to the heat situation given the 90+ degree summer Texas weather. So what was normally an hour or two hour-long cook time, became a 30-minute recipe. This recipe is an example of pressure cooking gone right.

Beats and Eats (music to pair with Okra Soup)

RAMP's song "Daylight" pairs nicely with this okra soup for several reasons, creating a harmonious blend of auditory and culinary experiences:

"Daylight" has a smooth, mellow groove that creates a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a comforting bowl of soup. The laid-back rhythm complements the warm, soothing nature of the soup.

Just as "Daylight" layers soulful vocals and rich instrumentals, the okra soup combines the smoky depth of the chicken with the unique texture of okra and a medley of spices. This complexity in both sound and taste creates a rich sensory experience.

The song's warm, inviting sound pairs well with the comforting, homey feel of the soup, making you feel cozy and content. And if you're a fan of hip hop, particularly A Tribe Called Quest, then you're recognize the sample used to make that classic track "Bonita Applebaum" which has the same impact and feels.

The rich, smoky notes of the chicken in the soup harmonize with the smooth, soulful tones of "Daylight." Together, they create a balanced experience that is both flavorful and melodious.

In essence, the pairing works so well because both the song and the dish offer depth, warmth, and a sense of comfort, making for a truly enriching and delightful experience.

Okra Soup Ingredients

• Okra
• Smoked Chicken
• Lime Juice
• Chicken Stock
• Jalapeno
• Red Bell Pepper (red bell pepper is my preferred but choose any from the rainbow colors of bell peppers)
• White Onion
• Garlic Cloves
• Rice
• Paprika
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Water

How to make Okra Soup

Step 1: Saute vegetables

Set Instant Pot settings to saute (medium heat or medium high heat) and cook onions, jalapeno, plus half the spices for 4-5 minutes stirring occasionally

Step 2: Toast Rice

Add rice to the vegetables and saute 2 minutes

Step 3: Pressure Cook

Cancel saute settings. Add stock, water, chicken, and remaining spices. Mix well. Close lid and pressure cook for 20 minutes. Do a quick pressure release. Remove chicken and set aside.

Step 4: Add Okra

Add okra + bell peppers to the pot. Cook 10 minutes on saute normal settings uncovered.

Step 5: Finish the Soup

While soup cooks, pull the chicken off the bone and chop into smaller pieces. Add the chopped chicken back to the pot along with the lime juice.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this soup with fresh cilantro. You can treat this as a main dish soup and pair with a salad like any of these:

Pear Fennel Salad

Cucumber Salad

Turnip Greens and Quinoa Tabbouleh

Blackeyed Pea Salad

Sweet Potato Salad

Okra and Smoked Chicken Soup Cooking tips

• Don’t smoke a chicken just for this recipe. Buy a half-smoked chicken from your favorite local bbq spot or just reserved some from your next Summer cookout and use the leftovers in the soup. If neither of these is an option, just use beef like I mentioned they do in Africa and the Low country
• Saute the onions, peppers, and chicken first to release their flavor
• Cut the okra into smaller pieces for faster cook times, but no too small such that the other ingredients overshadow that good okra flavor.
• If using pressure cooker/Instant Pot add the okra after pressure cooking process to preserve the okra texture and fresh okra flavor. Similarly if using traditional slow simmer in a pot approach add the okra later in the cooking process.
• For convenience use a food chopper or food processor to chop your vegetables excluding the okra. I prefer sliced okra cut on the diagonal.

Substitutions If Needed or Preferred

Okra

• Green Beans -while they won’t have the same thickening properties, they can provide a similar texture. Lima beans are another consideration. While the essence of the soup changes obviously without okra, for those of you who can't get past the slime factor they are good alternatives.

Smoked Meat

• Smoked Turkey: A great alternative that provides a similar smoky flavor.
• Smoked Sausage: Adds both smokiness and a slightly different texture.

Crayfish (Ground)

• Shrimp Powder: Provides a similar seafood flavor.
• Fish Sauce: Can be used to add a different type of umami, though in smaller quantities.

Seasoning Cubes

• Homemade Broth: Use homemade chicken or beef broth for more natural flavor.
• Salt and Spices: Adjust the soup with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and other spices to your taste.

Onions

• Shallots: A milder, sweeter option.
• Leeks: Adds a slightly different but still savory flavor.
• Scallions: A lighter, fresher alternative.

Does This Recipe Work With Traditional Cooking Methods?

This recipe is for Instant Pot/pressure cooking but is easily convertible to traditional stovetop cooking. You follow the same approach as far as sautéing the onions, peppers, garlic, and chicken first to release their flavors.

Next, you bring the stock and vegetables (minus okra) to a boil, then reduce the heat and slowly simmer the soup (sans the okra and lime juice) for at least an hour. Add the okra during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking. Finish with the lime juice.

For similar soul food okra based recipes you might like, try these:

Southern Fried Okra

Roasted Okra

Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

Okra with Sofrito and Grits

Okra Fried Rice

Charred Okra with Harissa Sauce

Grilled Okra

Okra and Collards Salad

Blistered Okra

Callaloo

making this hearty soup recipe

Okra soup seasoned with smoked chicken is a delightful fusion of flavors and textures that embodies both comfort and sophistication for your taste buds. The smoky richness of the chicken infuses the soup with a deep, savory essence, while the fresh okra adds a unique texture that perfectly complements the other ingredients.

If you make this okra soup recipe, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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