Begova Corba (Bosnian Chicken and Okra Soup)
A silky Bosnian chicken and okra soup finished with egg yolks, soured cream and lemon for a gentle tang.
- Time1 hr 20
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.25 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 373kcal
- 12.3gcarbs
- 4.5gof which sugars
- 20.5gfat
- 10gsaturates
- 33.9gprotein
- 2.7gfibre
- 1.3gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the chicken, onion, one whole carrot, bay leaves, peppercorns and water in a large pan. Bring to the boil, skim off any foam, then simmer gently for 35 minutes, until the chicken is falling off the bone.
35 min - 2
Lift the chicken out and strain the stock into a clean pan. Dice the cooked carrot and shred the chicken, discarding the bones. Grate the second carrot and add it to the stock.
- 3
Add the okra to the stock with the salt and simmer for 10 minutes until tender.
10 min - 4
Melt the butter in a small pan, stir in the flour and paprika and cook for 1 minute to make a smooth roux. Ladle in 2 ladlefuls of hot stock, whisking, then pour it all back into the soup. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
5 min - 5
Add the shredded chicken and diced carrot and warm through.
- 6
Whisk the egg yolks, soured cream and lemon juice in a bowl. Slowly whisk in 2 ladlefuls of hot soup, then stir the mix back into the pan off the heat. Do not boil it again, or the egg will curdle.
- 7
Taste, adjust the salt and lemon, scatter with parsley and serve hot.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
