Slow-smoked Chicken Cajun Soup

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups diced potatoes
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme, left whole
• 2 medium bay leaves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 1/2 cups chopped smoked chicken
• 1 cup frozen sliced okra
• 2 cups coleslaw mix
• 32 ounces low sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups baby spinach (or leafy green vegetable of your choice)
• salt, to taste

Recipe

• 1 heat 2 t. olive oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat. saute onion, celery, and green pepper for about 5 minutes, until softened. add potato, and cook for another 5 minutes.
• 2 add fresh thyme, bay leaves and cajun seasoning, and cook for another minute or so to blend seasonings in, then stir in tomatoes. cook for another minute or so to blend, then add chicken, okra, and cole slaw mix and combine.
• 3 stir in chicken broth and water and bring to a boil. reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
• 4 stir in spinach, then cover and simmer for another 5 minutes.
• 5 before serving, taste for seasoning, and add salt, if necessary. (some cajun seasonings have a lot of salt, so additional salt might not be necessary.) remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. enjoy!