Delicious and fragrant Indian chickpea cauliflower butternut squash curry is a wholesome meal! Vegetables are simmered in aromatic spices and coconut milk.
The secret to making vegetables shine is gently stewing them in a luscious curry sauce. I used Patak’s mild curry paste, with robust flavors of coriander, cumin, turmeric, tomato puree, chili pepper, ginger, vinegar, paprika, sugar, tamarind, and garlic.
It gives an authentic and powerful flavor when simmered with rich coconut milk. You could create your own blend, but this concentrated paste is for those looking for some simple instant gratification.
One pot, pure bliss. This curry recipe is a feast for royalty. The tender pieces of butternut squash and cauliflower soak up the spices, making each spoonful more addicting than the last. Spinach and chickpeas add extra nutrients like protein and fiber, keeping you satisfied.
Have you ever tried making basmati rice at home? It is a game-changer. I’ve eaten rice all my life, and this is by far my favorite variety. The long grains cook up to be light, tender and stay separate like you are eating a cloud. It’s just the right vehicle to soak up the fragrant Indian curry sauce and hearty vegetables.
Homemade garlic naan is the BOMB! We can’t resist ordering some fresh piping hot bread straight from the inferno tandoori oven. Slathered in ghee and fresh garlic, we are naan fiends. They must be dipped and used as a spoon.
This homemade Indian chickpea curry will make your smile beaming. You have everything you could want all in one bowl. Don’t be surprised if you sneak seconds or want to be the one who eats it the next day for leftovers!
What is Curry?
This can be confusing because the term is used for different culinary applications. Curry leaves are often used in Indian cooking from the Koengli bush. You can also purchase curry powder that can be a combination of cumin and coriander, however, it may not contain curry leaves. Curry can also be the way you prepare a dish like this chickpea cauliflower curry, which the main ingredients have been simmered like a stew in a spiced sauce. No matter the source, it’s yummy!
Cauliflower Butternut Squash Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, ghee or grapeseed oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons curry paste, Patak’s Mild Paste
- 3 cups butternut squash, diced into ½-inch cubes
- 3 cups cauliflower florets, cut into small 1-inch sized pieces
- 15.5 ounces chickpeas, drained, (1 can)
- 13.5 ounces coconut milk, (1 can)
- 1 ½ cups water, plus more as need
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ounces baby spinach, about 4 cups
- 1 cup peas, frozen
- ½ cup cilantro leaves
- 4 cups basmati rice, cooked
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large deep pan over medium heat.
- Add onions and garlic, sauté over medium-low heat for 10 minutes until soft and lightly colored.
- When the onions are tender, add the 4 tablespoons of curry paste, cooking and stirring for one minute.
- Add squash, cauliflower, chickpeas, coconut milk, water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered until the squash and cauliflower are tender, stirring occasionally, 35 minutes.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. If the sauce is too thick, add more water until desired consistency is reached.
- Stir in the peas, spinach and cilantro leaves. Cook over low heat until spinach has gently wilted.
- Serve with basmati rice and naan bread if desired.
Equipment
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Kathleen says
Thank you for a beautiful recipe, Jessica. Made this tonight for my family and the kitchen smells divine. It tastes even better.
I thought I had chick peas but no. I substituted red lentils. Otherwise I had everything on hand.
I love that this stirs childhood memories for you. Trying to make some of my own with my fam. Thanks for helping.
Jessica Gavin says
I loved reading your comment Kathleen! The substitution sound yummy, so happy you enjoyed the recipe 🙂 Keep building those memories!
Anya Simpson says
This is fantastic! Curry, coconut and cilantro are a match made in heaven!
I added one lg carrot, chopped, to the onion and garlic sautee step.
I don’t like chick peas unless ground into hummus, so I substituted with 1 cup red potatos, pealed and diced. Used coconut milk found in milk section, so was able to add a little more coconut milk, and had to go with chopped frozen spinach.
This was fantastic! REALLY! Didn’t even serve it over rice, had no Naan bread… still amazing! Thanks!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you for sharing your experience! I love that you made modifications, sounds so tasty!
Katie W says
This looks delicious! Is the nutrition fact of 1,030 calories for the entire recipe or one serving?
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you Katie! The nutrition facts is for the entire curry dish, it has 4 servings.
Katie W says
Thank you for the reply. I made it and it is so delicious!! I am making it again as we speak. I didn’t even realize it was vegan but it is so good. This time I found some whole wheat Naan bread at Whole Foods. Can’t wait to taste it. Thanks for the recipe.
Jessica Gavin says
Yay Katie! Isn’t it so divine? It’s my families favorite meatless meal. So glad you found some yummy naan!
Joe says
Hi, I realised that I dont have butternut squash on hand. Could I replace it with sweet potatoes?
Thanks
Hugh
Jessica Gavin says
Absolutely Joe! Just check the tenderness on the potatoes a little earlier since they cook a little quicker than the squash.
sandy says
Hi, this looks a great recipe. Does the total carb content of 88 g include the rice as well by any chance please? Also is it for the 4 servings. I don’t suppose it includes the naan bread as well by any chance. I am following a low carb diet for diabetes and have been avoiding rice, butternut and chick peas etc and am really missing these wonderful curries. Many thanks and fingers crossed, Sandy
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Sandy! It does include the rice but not the naan bread. Thanks!
Jessica Gavin says
Sorry I forgot to mention that it is per serving and not for the total 4 servings. Thanks!
Ramchandra Yadav says
very nice thanks for share
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you and you’re welcome!
Jessica Gavin says
You’re welcome!
Joyce Suter says
This is delicious! Thanks.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you Joyce!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you Joyce!!!
Brenda says
Made this fantastic recipe last night, loved it. Even better tonight when I added the spinach to it and reheated it for a super quick meal for my husband and I. Thanks a lot!
Jessica Gavin says
Awww, thank you so much Brenda! So happy you enjoyed the recipe, the spinach addition sounds delicious and healthy!
Jenny says
I made this tonight, I was a little too heavy handed with the curry paste and had no spinach, which would be picked out by the men anyway. BUT, why this recipe hasn’t got 5 stars has got me beat, it was one of the best vegetable curries I’ve ever had and an easy fix. Thanks for sharing this recipe, adding it to my regular menu plan.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you for your feedback! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it Jenny!
Peter S. says
I am so making this tonight. Found this recipe this morning and ran out on my lunch hour from work to buy all the ingredients that I didn’t already have at home. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Jessica Gavin says
Whoo hoo! I can’t wait to hear what you think Peter.
Peter S. says
I ended up making it tonight instead of last night but it was worth the wait! And there’s only two of us so that means leftovers! So easy to throw together and so delicious!
Jessica Gavin says
Whoo hoo! Thank you for your feedback Peter.
Shari says
I made this tonight and was disappointed I didn’t notice the salt in the ingredients list since it’s not mentioned in the recipe instructions. Needless to say, me missing this omission and not adding the 1 teaspoon at the beginning of the recipe as it should have said, made it nearly impossible to add enough after it had cooked. I added it after it cooked and let it simmer an additional 15 minutes and it still substantially needed salt. We could imagine how tasty it would be properly salted and I plan to try it again because it was tasty, however I will add a teaspoon or two of curry powder or additional curry paste because we’d like it a bit more spicy.
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Shari- I’ve updated the recipe to include when to add the salt. Hopefully, it makes the instructions more clear and flavorful! You can adjust the curry paste or powder to your taste 🙂
HMB says
So tasty, so easy. I get butternut squash and cauliflower a lot from my CSA box, so this dish has become a go-to. And if I cut up the squash and cauliflower the night before, it’s quick to get on the table after work. The Patak’s mild paste is only available at one store in my area and the one jar is enough to make this dish multiple times, but at some point I’m going to have to come up with my own curry paste, as the curry pastes my regular grocery store carries are all labeled “hot.”