Thai Pumpkin Curry with Butternut and Chickpeas

Is it weird that I think I like savory pumpkin recipes more than sweet pumpkin recipes?

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good PSL as much as the next girl in leggings and boots does. And a good no bake pumpkin cheesecake or easy pumpkin donuts? Yes please. I’ll eat both. Very happily. While wearing leggings. And boots. And full disclosure I’ll probably be sipping on a PSL. Sorry not sorry. But I’d almost rather dig into some sort of savory pumpkin concoction. Pumpkin mac n cheese with pancetta and peas makes my heart sing. And this pumpkin pizza with brown butter caramelized onions? Seriously shut the front door right now.

And because I’m a basic fall girl, I, of course swoon over all things butternut. And then last week one day, I just felt like I had to do something with the butternut. It was like this little voice whispering at me to go play with some squash. In actuality, there was a little voice only it was whispering at me to go turn on the Little Mermaid. Incessantly. And the whisper was more of a shrill whine. Side bar: can we all just take a moment to agree that The Little Mermaid is the most 80s Disney movie ever? That hair, Ariel’s wedding dress. I mean have you guys checked out those sleeves? And second sidebar: it makes me feel really old that I snorted in laughter when Ariel tells her dad that she’s not a child, she’s 16. No. Sit down, child.

And this actually happened as I was contemplating what I was planning to do with my big old hunka hunka butternut squash. Salad? Nah, I was feeling comfort foody. Soup? Potentially. Then the same little voice that whined for Ariel asked me for chickpeas, which I happily agreed to give her. Anytime my child actually wants to put something reasonably healthy in her mouth is super exciting for me.

Those chickpeas, though, made me think of making my easy chickpea curry. And bam, suddenly, I just knew. I had to throw all the fall ingredients I had into a curry. Pumpkin, butternut, some sweet potato noodles. Basically, if it was orange, it was going in the pot along with coconut milk and a healthy dose of panang curry paste. (Today’s curry brought to you by the color orange) The result? This delicious Thai pumpkin curry with butternut and chickpeas. You guys, so good. It hits all the flavor feels. Savory, spicy, sweet, creamy, and a little crunchy. Just so much yessss.

Even better than how delicious it was? It made me enough to last for a whole week of lunches and it was so easy to boot. If you buy peeled and cut butternut squash, there’s no cutting except to cut a lime in half to juice. Just opening some cans and bottles throwing stuff into a large pan. That’s pretty much how I make I curry. I just toss canned coconut milk with a couple tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce, a little brown sugar, some curry paste and some lime. And before Ariel can finish singing Part of Your World, this pot of goodness is on the stove, simmering away, getting ready to be enjoyed and enjoyed guilt free. This particular recipe is loaded with healthy veggies, gluten free, and vegan. So winning all the way around.

Other Butternut Squash Recipe

• The Best Balsamic Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts
• Brown Sugar Butternut Squash (with Cinnamon)
• Winter Vegetable Pasta
• Roasted Spiced Butternut Squash Savory Butternut Squash Recipe
• Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Fall Vegetables
• Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
• Instant Pot Curried Butternut Squash Soup
• Thai Pumpkin Curry with Butternut and Chickpeas
• Brown Butter Gnocchi with Roasted Squash and Kale

 

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