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Butternut squash and chickpea curry with kale and rice.

Easy 30-Minute Butternut Squash Curry

A delicious, comforting butternut squash curry that's perfect for any night of the week. This recipe is full of flavour, easy to prepare, and sure to be a hit with the whole family.
4.88 from 8 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 (5 cups) medium butternut squash (approx. 800g), peeled and cut into 2 cm cubes (or carnival squash, pumpkin, or sweet potato)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tablespoons mild curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala, optional, for extra warmth
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 400 g (14 oz) chopped tomatoes
  • 400 ml (13 ½ oz) coconut milk
  • 400 g (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 100 g (3 cups) spinach or kale, roughly chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • Small bunch fresh coriander, cilantro, chopped

Instructions

Prepare the squash

  • Peel and dice the butternut squash into medium cubes. If using carnival squash or pumpkin, the texture and sweetness will be very similar. Thin-skinned varieties like delicata can be left unpeeled.

Pan-roast the squash

  • Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan or saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced squash and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the edges start turning golden.

Measure the spices

  • While the squash is roasting, measure out the curry powder, garam masala, and turmeric onto a small saucer so they’re ready to go.

Toast the spices

  • Add the spices to the pan and stir well to coat the squash. Let everything cook together for 2–3 minutes until the spices are fragrant and slightly toasted.
  • Chef’s tip: For even deeper flavour, you can toast the spices in a dry pan first before adding them to the curry.

Build the curry

  • Pour in the chopped tomatoes, chickpeas, and coconut milk. Stir thoroughly and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 10–12 minutes until the squash is tender but still holds its shape.

Add the greens

  • Stir in the spinach or kale and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted.

Adjust the consistency

  • Remove the lid. If you’d like a thicker curry, simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to reduce the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Finish & serve

  • Stir in lime juice and plenty of chopped coriander. Serve hot with basmati rice or naan bread.

Notes

  • You can substitute butternut squash with other types of squash for a different flavour.
  • Adjust the spice levels according to your taste preference.
  • If you prefer, you can use kale instead of spinach. Add it after removing the curry from the heat and cover the pan with a lid to let it wilt, which should take about 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 729kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 24g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 186mg | Potassium: 1441mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 21262IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 225mg | Iron: 9mg
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