One of the first things the title “Okja” brings to mind is okra, so I am pairing one of my favorite okra recipes with the movie.

This vegan, gluten-free slow cooker jambalaya recipe makes 4-6 “servings.”

Ingredients
6 cups veggie broth
1 12-ounce bag frozen chopped okra (fresh or canned also works)
16 ounces vegan “chicken”
1 cup uncooked short grain white rice
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (adjust according to your spice level preferences)

Instructions
Pour the broth, okra, chicken, rice and Cajun seasoning into your slow cooker on high heat.

My chicken came in pieces, so if yours doesn’t, make sure you cut it up. We also went up to 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning because we were feeling spicy.

Stir together so everything is evenly mixed.

Let it cook on high for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. It should reach a thick consistency with the combination of the okra and rice.

Spoon and serve with “Okja!”

The Easy Route
You might be able to find a jambalaya starter kit with rice and veggies.

Know of a vegan, gluten-free premade jambalaya? Please share those details in the comments.

The Pairing
I wanted to start this Veganuary with one of the movies that motivated me to stay vegetarian at the time and was part of the push tor me to go fully vegan.

“Okja” tells the tale of a creature grown for meat in the near future in South Korea who befriends a young girl, Mija (Seo-Hyeon Ahn).

The blending of the CGI/puppet creature with the live action elements of the story is flawless, evoking gut-wrenching emotional sequences.

As Mija fights to save her friend Okja from her fate, we see the deplorable conditions these creatures face, which are comparable to the factory farming situations for many animals folks eat these days.

It is hard to watch at some points, especially if you are an animal lover like me, but the film expertly blends genres to provide some lighter moments as well.

The supporting cast also includes memorable turns from Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Giancarlo Esposito, Steven Yeun and Paul Dano.

While “Parasite” is rightly considered a masterwork from director Bong Joon-ho, “Okja” is beats it out as my favorite from the beloved filmmaker.

If you’re a fan of his, any of the actors and/or films with with a vegan message, I highly recommend checking out the modern fable that is “Okja” this Veganuary.

If you decide to make this jambalaya and/or watch “Okja,” let us know! Tag us in your Instagram posts & stories, threads, TikToks and/or tweets: @veg_out_recipes. We’re also on Bluesky as @vegoutrecipes.bsky.social.