"Daylight" Smoked Chicken and Okra Soup

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.

Checkout the entire collection of okra recipes if you dig this okra soup.

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.

Test Kitchen Secrets

You can buy smoked chicken from your favorite spot, but this is something I do with leftover smoked chicken thighs or breasts.

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.

What To Serve with Chicken Okra Stew

Serve this tasty hearty okra and chicken stew recipe with steamed rice, warm flatbread, or fried yuca for a full plate of sunshine and soul. My grandma's hot water cornbread is good for this too. I sprinkle a dab of pepper sauce in this bowl.

Finish this off with some Southern banana pudding and wash down with a cold glass of sweet tea.

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.

Smoked Chicken and Okra Soup

Author: Marwin Brown

402kcal

4 from 1 vote

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Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 35 minutes mins

Easy okra soup recipe with a smoky citrus vibe from a smoked chicken and lime-based broth. A satisfying summertime soup with a bright, festive feel.

Servings 4 people

Course Soup

Cuisine Modern Soul Food

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 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

Equipment

• ▢
  pressure cooker

Method

Prevent Sleep ModePrevent Sleep Mode

1. Set instant pot to saute setting.
2. Add onions, garlic, jalapeño, and half the spices and saute 4-5 minutes
3. Add rice and saute another 2 minutes
4. Add stock, water, smoked chicken, and remaining spices. Stir to mix the ingredients well.
5. Cancel saute settings, close lid and pressure cook for 20 minutes. Do a quick-release pressure.
6. Remove chicken and let cool
7. Add okra and bell peppers to the pot. And cook 10 minutes on saute normal settings uncovered.
8. While soup continues to cook, pull the chicken off the bone and chop up into smaller pieces.
9. Add the chopped chicken back to the pot along with the lime juice.
10. Serve with fresh cilantro

Nutrition

Calories402kcalCarbohydrates35gProtein40gFat11gSaturated Fat3gCholesterol97mgSodium1321mgPotassium927mgFiber4gSugar8gVitamin A1930IUVitamin C79.5mgCalcium94mgIron3mg

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.

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