It’s official. I bought my first butternut squash of the season. And I promise it will not be the last. Butternut squash is one of my absolute favorite ingredients to prepare. It’s sturdy, versatile, and stunning raw or cooked.
This butternut squash and chickpea curry is warm and comforting, perfect for a brisk fall day. Like two-bean turkey chili, it’s an effortless one-pot dish that can be made in a little over an hour. I like that the curry flavor is subtle, too, so the sweetness of the squash and coconut milk sings through. Serve it with hot Basmati rice or, better, homemade naan to sop up the delicious sauce.
Have a favorite winter squash recipe? Let me know! I’m always looking for new ways to use this pretty produce.
Recipe adapted from Vikalinka.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 onions, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, stalks and leaves separated, stalks reserved
- 2 tablespoons green curry paste
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into ½" cubes
- 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 14 oz. can coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 4 cups tightly packed spinach leaves
- shredded coconut (for topping, optional)
- Basmati rice, cooked according to package directions (for serving, optional)
- In a large pot, warm olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, garlic and cilantro stalks and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened, about 10 minutes.
- Add curry paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Then add butternut squash, chickpeas, coconut milk, water and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until squash is tender, 35-40 minutes.
- Uncover and continue simmering until the liquid reduces and curry reaches desired consistency. (This can take up to 20 minutes.) Then stir in peas, spinach and cilantro leaves.
- Remove from heat and fish out cilantro stalks, if desired. (It's not necessary, but they are a bit stringy.) Season with additional salt to taste.
- Sprinkle with shredded coconut, if using. Serve with hot Basmati rice.
Thank you for this simple delicious recipe. I have a vegetarian daughter and carnivorous son and have been looking for easy recipes to make for her that I can add meat to and have a meal. I made the main dish then used some of the sauce to season pan sautéed chicken breasts. It was perfect.
I’m so glad you liked the recipe, Stephanie! I love the idea of adding chicken to satisfy meat eaters!