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    You Are Here: Home → Vegetarian

    Thai Butternut Squash Curry

    January 27, 2021 | Updated April 27, 2021 by Ryan 1 Comment

    225 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy and healthy Thai butternut squash curry recipe is creamy, rich and perfect on a crisp fall day or any day for that matter. It is super easy and healthy as the sweetness from the butternut squash pairs great with the curry spices.

    veggie curry with white rice on white plate

    For those that follow this blog, I try to balance eating my absolute favorite foods like pizza and tacos which I know aren't the best for me with healthy vegetarian options that are super tasty. From vegetarian burrito bowls to butternut squash sweet potato soup, there are plenty of options.

    To me it's important to eat what you enjoy, but it all comes down to balancing everything. I've admitted I didn't grow up a huge veggie fan so I've had to learn to like it. However with this Thai butternut squash curry, it really isn't hard to enjoy this!

    What makes this recipe so great is while there aren't many spices, curry is packed with so much flavor it feels like you threw 20 spices into the dish. Being loaded with vegetables making it a healthy curry recipe doesn't hurt either!

    If you're like me and have to work at eating your vegetables, this butternut squash Thai curry is the perfect dish to eat something that's tasty where you won't feel guilty afterward. There's never something wrong with that combo.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Ingredient Swaps
    • Step-by-Step Photos
    • FAQs
    • Benefits of Butternut Squash
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Vegetarian Recipes
    • Thai Butternut Squash Curry
    overhead shot of vegetarian curry on white plate

    Ingredient Notes

    • Veggies - the combination of onions, peppers, butternut squash, carrots and kale add a ton of flavor and nutrients.
    • Curry - using both Thai red curry paste and yellow curry powder gives that curry flavor you expect.
    • Coconut milk - adds necessary fat and creaminess.

    Ingredient Swaps

    Like any recipe, you can swap out some of the ingredients. Some variations include:

    • From a veggie standpoint, you can replace butternut squash with pumpkin or sweet potato and kale with spinach.
    • Coconut milk is the go-to for making a creamy sauce, but whole milk, almond milk or even heavy cream work as well.
    • I like the flavor of peanut butter, but almond or cashew butter are good substitutes. Or sunflower seed butter if you have a nut allergy.

    Step-by-Step Photos

    process shots of how to make butternut squash curry

    Cook the onions and peppers until the onions are translucent then add the veggies, ginger, curry and garlic, cooking for another 2-3 minutes.

    Add the stock, milk, fish sauce, peanut butter and sugar, bringing to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes before stirring in the kale and cook until wilted.

    FAQs

    What is Curry?

    Curry is actually a meaningless that colonizers used when they saw foreign dishes. However curry usually comes in two forms and both are used in this dish.

    • Curry paste - comprised of fresh ingredients like lemongrass, ginger, galangal, chilis, and/or herbs which are ground together to make a thick paste.
    • Curry powder - a combination of dried spices blended together and used in Indian cooking.

    Can I Make Without Coconut Milk?

    If you are allergic to coconut or just don't like it, you need to replace with something that is high in fat. So no almond milk. If you are fine with dairy, heavy cream is the best substitute.

    If you need a dairy-free option, make your own cashew cream. Soak one cup of cashews overnight in water and then blend with ¾ cup of water and a dash of sat.

    How Do I Peel Butternut Squash?

    Butternut squash can be quite tough to cut into, so one key is to microwave for 1-2 minutes to soften the flesh.

    From there, slice off the ends before peeling the skin. Cut in half and scrape the seeds out before dicing. Look at these step-by-step process shots.

    Can I Use Different Vegetables?

    Of course. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin are a great substitute for butternut squash. Acorn squash also works well. You can't go wrong with any of them.

    Can I Adjust the Heat?

    You control the amount of heat in this curry by how much red curry paste you add, so if you like it hotter, add another 1-2 tbsp. If you want less heat, reduce the paste to 2 tbsp.

    What Pairs Well?

    My go-to is basmati or jasmine rice. But you can also use brown rice, quinoa or millet.

    How Long Will it Last?

    You can keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 3 months.

    Benefits of Butternut Squash

    Like many vegetables, butternut squash comes with a ton of benefits, including:

    • High in nutrients but low in calories
    • Rich in vitamins and minerals
    • Contains disease-fighting antioxidants

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • Be consistent when cutting the vegetables so everything will cook evenly.
    • To save time, buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes.
    • You can replace the kale with spinach but you need to add it earlier to give it time to wilt.
    • If you are vegetarian/vegan you can make your own vegetarian fish sauce.
    butternut squash curry with rice on white plate

    Other Vegetarian Recipes

    • Vegetable Pad Thai (Noodle-Free)
    • Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
    • Vegetarian Cauliflower Fried Rice
    • Veggie Enchiladas

    If you’ve tried this butternut squash curry recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    overhead shot of vegetarian curry on white plate
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Thai Butternut Squash Curry

    This easy and healthy butternut squash Thai curry recipe is creamy, rich and perfect on a crisp fall day or any day for that matter.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Thai
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
    • ½ medium sweet onion, chopped (1 cup)
    • 1 green bell pepper, seeds removed and thinly sliced
    • 1 red bell pepper, seeds removed and thinly sliced
    • 5 cups butternut squash, diced into ½" cubes (about 1.5 lbs)
    • 1 cup carrots, diced into ½" cubes (2 carrots)
    • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • 3 tablespoon red curry paste
    • 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder
    • 1 cup vegetable stock
    • 1 (15 oz can) coconut milk
    • 2 tablespoon peanut butter
    • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 4 cups fresh kale
    • 1 cup basmati rice
    • cashews, lime juice, cilantro for serving

    Instructions

    • Cook rice according to instructions. Set aside.
    • Heat coconut oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes or until onions are translucent.
    • Add butternut squash, carrots, and ginger and stir to coat in oil. Toss in red curry paste and yellow curry powder and stir until everything is coated. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. With 30 seconds remaining, add garlic.
    • Add stock, coconut milk, fish sauce, peanut butter and sugar and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until butternut squash are cooked through. Stir in kale and cook until wilted.
    • Serve over rice with crushed cashews, cilantro and fresh lime juice.

    Notes

    • Be consistent when cutting the vegetables so everything will cook evenly.
    • To save time, buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes.
    • You can replace the kale with spinach but you need to add it earlier to give it time to wilt.
    • You control the amount of heat in this curry by how much red curry paste you add, so if you like it hotter, add another 1-2 tbsp.
    • If you are vegetarian/vegan you can make your own vegetarian fish sauce.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 431mg | Potassium: 717mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 17450IU | Vitamin C: 181.5mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 2.5mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
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    Comments

    1. Chris says

      November 14, 2018 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      Never thought of combining Thai and butternut squash!

      Reply

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