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Smooth Okra Soup with Smoked Chicken, Bright Heat, and Deep, Soulful Flavor
Alright now, close your eyes and let that “Daylight” groove from RAMP carry you straight into the kitchen, where we are servin up a soul-sippin’ Instant Pot Okra Soup with smoked chicken that hits like a lazy Sunday with flavor on high. Video included in recipe card.
Loosely inspired by African okro soup which might include smoked seafood, palm oil, fresh spinach, etc., this version flips the script with leftover smoked chicken and a citrusy jalapeño kick that keeps things bright and deep at the same time.
That Instant Pot works its magic, fast-tracking a slow-cooked vibe in under 30 minutes—no babysitting, just press, wait, and vibe.

Beats and Eats (music to pair with okra soup)
The song’s mellow groove and smooth rhythm mirror the soup’s balance of smoky depth and bright heat, especially when you hit it with lime juice and jalapeño. Just like the okra’s texture rounds out the dish, the track’s silky bassline and lush vocals wrap around you, grounding you in comfort while lifting your spirits.
You can buy smoked chicken from your favorite spot, but this is something I do with leftover smoked bird.
For a bit of slimy texture control rinse and dry okra thoroughly before cooking. Searing it briefly in the sauté mode can also help. Finish with acid aka lime juice. A splash right before serving brightens the soup and balances the richness.
My heavy recipe testing has shown me that to maximize flavor, a few ingredients go a long long way. Jalapeño pepper adds a green fire, and that smoked chicken brings a down-home depth that plays like bass under sweet funk vocals. That fresh okra? It thickens and ties the whole groove together, like a rhythm section in your spoon.
Serve this tasty hearty soup recipe with steamed rice, warm flatbread, or fried yuca for a full plate of sunshine and soul.
Keep up with my food exploits on Instagram and YouTube. If you like any of the music you find on the site, visit me at Spotify to find curated playlists.
Equipment
- pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic diced
- 1 jalapeño chili deseeded and diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- ½ tablespoon Salt
- ½ tablespoon Pepper
- ½ tablespoon Paprika
- ⅓ cup Rice
- 4 cups Chicken Stock
- 2 cups Water
- ½ Smoked Chicken
- ½ lb Okra sliced ½ inch thick pieces
- ½ cup Lime Juice
- Fresh cilantro optional
Instructions
- Set instant pot to saute setting.
- Add onions, garlic, jalapeño, and half the spices and saute 4-5 minutes
- Add rice and saute another 2 minutes
- Add stock, water, smoked chicken, and remaining spices. Stir to mix the ingredients well.
- Cancel saute settings, close lid and pressure cook for 20 minutes. Do a quick-release pressure.
- Remove chicken and let cool
- Add okra and bell peppers to the pot. And cook 10 minutes on saute normal settings uncovered.
- While soup continues to cook, pull the chicken off the bone and chop up into smaller pieces.
- Add the chopped chicken back to the pot along with the lime juice.
- Serve with fresh cilantro
Video

Notes
- 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.
es legítimo el centro de cumplimiento corporativo
Tuesday 14th of February 2023
Thank you so much for the wonderful recipes.I love it very much.es legítimo el centro de cumplimiento corporativo
Marwin Brown
Tuesday 14th of February 2023
Thank You!
Elizabeth Cerami
Monday 7th of November 2022
Incredible
Marwin Brown
Monday 7th of November 2022
Thank u!