This Butternut Squash curry is a really warming vegetarian recipe. Packed with vegetables, lentils and flavour, it also happens to be dairy free, gluten free and vegan.
What’s not to love about a dinner that needs 5 minutes preparation and gives you 4 of your 5 a day in one bowl?
I’m always looking for recipes that make eating vegetarian or vegan food feel really simple and accessible. This Butternut Squash Curry definitely hits the mark.
It’s like a hug in a bowl and it gets even better the longer you cook it for.
You’ll love this Easy Butternut Squash Curry recipe because:
✅ Mix it up in just 5 minutes.
✅ Gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan AND packed with flavour.
✅Perfect for batch cooking and freezing.
What is the best way to cut a Butternut Squash?
I’m always looking for a foodie cheat, so SHHH I don’t chop mine. I always buy ready chopped and frozen butternut squash (available from most supermarkets now).
However, if you do want to chop your own butternut squash this is the best way I’ve found to do it.. Slice around 2 centimeters off each butternut squash end, and then peel using a vegetable peeler. Then stand the squash on end and chop it right down the middle.
Next use a metal spoon to scrape the seeds and the pulp from the cavity of your butternut squash. Now lay each half of the squash down and and cut lengthways.
Then to make cubes cut the other way across the slices you have made.
Can I really just put it all into the pan and go?!
You could definitely brown all of the vegetables first if you have the time or inclination.
BUT I really think if you can make your life a little easier by not doing it, the end result is still really delicious.
What do you serve with Butternut Squash curry?
You can serve this curry with the usual curry side dishes, rice, naan bread and poppadums.
This really gives it a take away feel.
Or with my Easy Flatbreads, as the children absolutely love them.
Tips for making Butternut Squash Curry:
- This Butternut squash curry is perfect for batch cooking, just make double the recipe and freeze in freezer safe containers (like these containers on Amazon which I LOVE for this purpose).
- I mostly use these curry pastes, you can also vary the heat of your curry with the different type of paste. I used Balti paste for this Butternut Squash Curry but using madras would give a spicer curry.
- You could also add cubes of fried or grilled halloumi just before serving which would be LUSH.
Fancy more easy Vegetarian recipes?
- Halloumi Cheese Bake – Always a winner!
- Vegetarian Moussaka – Totally delicious make ahead dinner.
- Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake – Total comfort food pasta.
Originally posted on February 13, 2019 this post was fully updated on 26 January 2021.
Easy Butternut Squash Curry {Ready in 30 Minutes}
Ingredients
Main ingredients:
- 1 Onion Finely chopped. (See Note 1.)
- 3 Cloves Garlic Crushed. (See Note 1.)
- 1 inch Ginger Fresh, finely chopped. (See Note 1.)
- 700 g Butternut Squash Cubed. (See Note 1.)
- 400 g Cauliflower Cut into small chunks. (See Note 2.)
- 100 g Red lentils Dried
- 400 g Chopped Tomatoes
- 400 ml Coconut Milk
- 150 g Curry Paste
- 1 tsp Salt
Before serving:
- 2 tsp Garam Masala
- 2 tbsp Mango Chutney
Optional garnish to serve:
- Fresh mint or coriander
Instructions
- Put all of the main ingredients into a large saucepan. Cook over a medium heat for 25 minutes (or more if you would like it to be more soft in texture).
- Add the garam masala and mango chutney before serving.
- Serve with rice and naan bread.
Notes
I use the onions, garlic and ginger pre-prepared and frozen to make this as quick as possible. Note 2 - Cauliflower
The smaller you cut this, the more it will soften and break down. So if you want big chunks, leave it large. If you want it to break down (that's how I like it) cut it smaller and/or cook it for longer. You could also use frozen cauliflower.
Natalie says
Looks delicious what curry paste do you use?
Thanks
Laura says
Love it, thank you! So, so easy. I didn’t have red lentils so put in some tinned ones instead, blended a couple of ladle-fuls at the end to give it creamier texture. Had balti paste in fridge. Delicious!
Jo Best says
Absolutely delicious. Very happy that we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Verity says
Made this today using all frozen veg I already had in, super easy and so tasty…made the house smell lovely too! Thanks for another brilliant recipe
Nathalie says
Absolutely delicious. I did mine in the slow cooker too which was even less hassle.
Jo says
How long did you slow cook it for?
Caroline says
Well I put mine in the slow cooker and it’s a bit mushy ☹️. Mine looks very pale too not that lovely rich dark colour ☹️. Probably just my cooking skills
Kim says
Oh my goodness this is another fabulous, quick and easy and healthy recipe. Thank you so much!
Pamela Whinfield says
Made this curry in slow cooker for my daughter who is vegetarian. Added chicken for my husband and I…we all enjoyed it! Full of flavour!
Rita says
Would this work in a slow cooker?
Sarah Barnes says
Yes! x
Joanne Grimley says
Wow this is so tasty and easy to make .. this will definitely be a regular in our house. Thank you 😊
Fiona says
I used potato instead of cauliflower with massaman curry paste. I only had green lentils & added some additional water. I didn’t use the garam masala or mango chutney as it was so flavourful without it, but instead used the juice of half of a lime & it turned out delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe 🙏
Naomi says
Good idea! I’ll use lime as I have no mango chutney.
Sarah Rixson says
Love this recipe , quick and easy , taste delicious
Diana Huntingford says
Hello I didn’t have cauliflower so used carrots snd forgot the coconut milk it was delicious thanks
Graeme says
As with all the recipes this one is packed with flavour, healthy and easy to cook.
Sarah Barnes says
So glad you like it Graeme!
Ali says
Made this at the weekend. Followed receipe apart from the garam masala.
It was amazing, my kids loved it and so did we. Served with rice and nann.
Would definitely do this again 🙂
Kay says
Friends this recipe is just the best. We didn’t miss the meat at all and the flavours are so authentic.
Thanks so much for these lovely recipes. All the once I ha e tried are always a winner in our house!
Claire says
Fantastic flavour & so easy to follow
Poppy says
Made this last night at my mums house. We had it with cous cous as there wasn’t any rice.
It was absolutely delicious and my mum loved it. I will definitely be making it again.
Fantastic flavour.
Claire says
Really easy & delicious, but cheap and nutritious too. Satisfies vegetarians/vegans and meat eaters do not miss the meat. A total winner! Well done & thank you!
Sandra says
Just made 5his tonight. Absolutely delicious! Thank you
Kim Williams says
Made this yesterday and we had it for dinner tonight. Absolutely gorgeous and so easy. Deffo be making again for friends
Zoe stacey says
Just made this tonight and it was delicious and really pleased to have a new vegetarian option as find it hard to find good veggie meals as meat eaters trying to reduce meat consumption.
Left out the curry powder and replaced with cumin and coriander. Had it with rich, poppadoms and naan bread.
Served two adults and two kids with enough leftover to freeze for a quick meal in a few weeks. Thanks a lot. First time I’ve used your recipes; used your week planner and enjoyed them all this week.
madara says
this was amazing, one of my favourites!
Sue says
This is a gorgeous curry, even without the exact ingredients it was super easy, super tasty and super popular in our house! Another win from you Sarah. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas that mean I don’t have to think too hard about feeding my bunch…the difficulty is choosing what to go for 🤔
Michelle seddon says
Loved this!! Made in honour of my newly veggie 6 year old twins so that we could all share a veggie meal, my 20 year old son said he’d want meat in it in future but no one else missed the meat and there’s loads left over, I could literally half all your recipes and it would be enough so thanks for another winner……I’ll be dishing the leftovers out to family to show off 🤣
Ko says
This looks great – How long would you do this in a slow cooker? I’m new to slow cooking 😂
Rachel says
Absolutely delicious and my meat loving husband devoured it too. Thank you, all your recipes are amazing!
Sarah Barnes says
Thanks so much Rachel, so glad he enjoyed!
Jules says
Absolutely gorgeous curry and so easy to make with the frozen veg!! So glad there is plenty left over to freeze and I’ve been told I must make it again!! Thanks for your recipe – it’s highly recommended!!
Zee says
Authentic flavours , made for dinner and it was a big yes from everyone. .thank you for a brilliant recipe.
Valeria says
Just made this! Thank you so much, absolutely delicious 🙂 I didn’t have any curry paste , so just added cumin, turmeric and a little bit of paprika. I did add a bit of water and left it for longer, but the consistency was amazing in the end. I served it with naan , poppadoms and fresh cucumber.