This pumpkin curry is a simple yet very flavoursome vegetarian dish that is ready in as little as 30 minutes. Chunks of red pumpkin are cooked in almond milk with a selection of spices and aromatics. Mustard seeds and curry leaves give this dish a distinctive Sri Lankan feel, while star anise and almond milk create an unexpected flavour twist. Thick, delicious gravy is perfect for serving the curry over white rice, naan or paratha.
The Flavour Affair:
Pumpkin + Ginger + Mustard Seeds + Star Anise + Almond Milk + Cumin & Coriander + Curry Leaves
While there is a lot more going on here, the above components create the flavour foundation of this curry.
Pumpkin: sweet red pumpkin or butternut squash work best in this recipe. You can also try a variation with green pumpkin.
Ginger: sharp, pungent and citrusy ginger is great for pairing with sweet mellow pumpkin.
Mustard seeds: milder yellow mustard seeds are a great way to add a little heat to the gravy along with just a hint of bitterness.
Star anise: while complementing the pumpkin with its sweetness and warmth, the licoricey taste of star anise gives the dish a fresher feel. It also shares citrusy notes with ginger.
Almond milk: an alternative to more usual coconut milk or cream, almond milk offers a subtle nutty taste with little less sweetness, making it a better, more balanced choice for pumpkin.
Cumin and Coriander: this is a classic duo in a vast majority of curry masalas. Fresh and floral coriander is paired with earthy, slightly pungent cumin to form the backbone of savory blends.
Curry Leaves: a staple in Sri Lankan cuisine, these plump, meaty leaves have a mild fragrance that turns into a stronger, musky and herbaceous aroma when bruised or sliced.
Other Ingredients:
There is an array of supporting ingredients that help create a more robust flavour profile. Cinnamon will work great for those who prefer it on a slightly sweeter side. Garlic and red onions or shallots are often used together with ginger as the base for many Indian curries. Turmeric will add distinctive earthy notes and deepen the colour – it should be used sparingly though as its bitterness can easily overpower the dish. Fresh coriander leaves add visual vibrancy and a fresh, aromatic finish. Roasted almonds accentuate the nuttiness of almond milk and add an appetizing crunch.
Preparation tips for pumpkin curry:
- In this recipe, the aromatics and some of the spices are roasted beforehand. Both burn easily so you need to keep the heat on medium-low and watch them closely.
- Keep an eye on the pumpkin, too. Depending on the type, cooking times may vary but it tends to get done faster than you think! Overcooked pumpkin will be mushy (doesn’t affect the flavour though).
Serving suggestions:
You will want to make the most of the thick, indulgent gravy – so serve your curry over rice, naan or with a freshly fried paratha.
Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Try the all time favourite Butternut Squash and Prawn Soup or Butternut and Chorizo Pasta!
Pumpkin Curry with Almond Milk
Equipment
- 1 non-stick medium pot or casserole
Ingredients
- 250 g pumpkin cubes see notes
- 2 tbsp olive or coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard seeds
- 1 whole star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 3cm piece of ginger grated
- 1 shallot or red onion thinly sliced
- 8-10 curry leaves thinly sliced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp ground turmeric
- 200 ml almond milk
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
- Roasted almonds for garnish
Instructions
- Have all your ingredients lined up ready.
- Heat oil to medium.
- Add mustard seeds, star anise and cinnamon stick. Fry for a few seconds until the seeds starts to pop.
- Immediately add sliced onions, garlic and ginger. Cook for a minute or two.
- Add sliced curry leaves and cook for another minute.
- Add the ground spices (cumin, coriander and turmeric), salt and stir to combine.
- Add the pumpkin and move around to coat the chunks with the oil and spices.
- Pour in 200ml almond milk. Bring to boil, lower down the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pumpkin is done to your liking.
- Remove from the heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes to thicken the gravy.
- Serve sprinkled with fresh coriander and roasted almonds alongside white rice or a paratha bread.
Notes
- You can use any sweet red pumpkin or butternut squash in this recipe.
- If you are used to cooking with spices, try swapping shallots and garlic for a pinch of asafoetida.
- You can use coconut milk or cream instead of almond milk.
- Ready curry can stay in the fridge for a day or two. Freezing is not recommended out of concern for the texture of defrosted cooked pumpkin.
47 Responses
Very interesting details you have mentioned, thanks for putting up.
Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your website in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.
I really like what you guys are up too. This type of clever work and exposure! Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have have in mind your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I really like what you’ve bought right here, really like what you’re stating and the best way by which you assert it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to stay it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you. That is actually a terrific site.
Hello there, I found your blog via Google while looking for a related topic, your website came up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Thankyou for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting information.
Thankyou for this grand post, I am glad I found this website on yahoo.
Would love to constantly get updated great weblog! .
I truly prize your piece of work, Great post.
What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & help other customers like its helped me. Good job.
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & help other customers like its aided me. Great job.
I am not positive where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was in search of this information for my mission.
Some really interesting details you have written.Helped me a lot, just what I was looking for :D.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and all. Nevertheless think about if you added some great images or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and video clips, this site could certainly be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Awesome blog!
I’ve read some excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you place to create any such great informative web site.
I am now not positive where you’re getting your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent information I was looking for this information for my mission.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “The capacity to care is what gives life its most deepest significance.” by Pablo Casals.
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain good points in features also.
Utterly indited written content, Really enjoyed looking at.
Hello, you used to write wonderful, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Excellent web site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your sweat!
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
I’d have to verify with you here. Which is not one thing I often do! I get pleasure from reading a submit that may make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
I am glad to be one of the visitors on this great web site (:, thankyou for putting up.
I truly treasure your work, Great post.
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Would love to forever get updated great web blog! .
Great post, you have pointed out some good points, I besides conceive this s a very great website.
I am also commenting to make you know of the nice experience our girl developed studying your site. She discovered such a lot of issues, which included what it is like to possess an ideal coaching mood to make others really easily comprehend chosen complex subject areas. You truly surpassed our own desires. I appreciate you for displaying those great, safe, informative and in addition fun tips about this topic to Tanya.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
I believe other website proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and wonderful user pleasant style and design.
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up.
rhino bridge wallet works
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂
rhinobridge tool works
I conceive this internet site contains very fantastic composed content material content.
It’s actually a nice and useful piece of info. I am happy that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …
Well I definitely enjoyed studying it. This subject provided by you is very practical for good planning.
Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your web-site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal web site.
I’ve read several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make such a magnificent informative site.
As I website owner I conceive the subject matter here is rattling excellent, thanks for your efforts.
What i do not understood is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
You have brought up a very excellent details , regards for the post.