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A bowl of creamy orange Indian pumpkin curry garnished with fresh cilantro and served with basmati rice, showing the rich, velvety texture and vibrant colors of this comforting one-pot meal.

Indian Pumpkin Curry


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  • Author: Inez Rose
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: About 6 cups 1x

Description

Easy 30-minute Indian Pumpkin Curry recipe! Creamy, vegan, and packed with warming spices. Perfect comfort food for cozy dinners. One-pot wonder.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Curry Base:

    • 2 cups pumpkin purée (use culinary pumpkin, sugar pumpkin, or kabocha squash)

    • 1 medium onion, chopped

    • 3 cloves garlic, minced

    • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

    • 1 medium carrot, diced

    • 1 bell pepper, chopped

    • 2 cups kale or spinach, chopped

Liquids:

    • ½ to 1 cup vegetable broth (adjust for desired thickness)

    • ¾ cup full-fat coconut milk

    • ½ cup passata or tomato sauce

Spice Blend:

    • 2 teaspoons curry powder

    • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

    • Salt and pepper to taste

Optional Add-ins:

    • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

    • Chili flakes or cayenne pepper for heat

    • 2 tablespoons oil for sautéing (or water for oil-free)

For Serving:

    • Fresh cilantro or parsley

    • Lime or lemon wedges

    • Cooked basmati rice, quinoa, or naan


Instructions

Step 1: Get Your Vegetables Going

Heat oil in your big pot over medium heat. Toss in the chopped onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Let them cook for about 5 minutes until the onion stops looking raw and everything starts smelling good.

Step 2: Add the Good Stuff

Throw in your minced garlic and ginger. Cook for maybe a minute – just until it smells amazing. Don’t walk away because garlic burns fast and tastes bitter when it does.

Step 3: Toast Your Spices (This Step Matters)

Add all your spices – curry powder, turmeric, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds. This is where people usually mess up by skipping this step, but it’s what makes the difference between bland and incredible.

Step 4: Build the Curry

Pour in the passata, pumpkin purée, broth, and coconut milk. Stir everything together until it looks uniform and bring it to a gentle bubble.

Step 5: Let It Do Its Thing

Turn the heat down to medium-low and let it simmer for 5-8 minutes. The vegetables should get tender and the whole thing should thicken up a bit. Stir occasionally so nothing sticks.

Step 6: Add Your Protein and Greens

If you’re using chickpeas, add them now. Then fold in your kale or spinach and cook for about 2 minutes until the greens wilt down.

Step 7: Taste and Fix

Try it and add more salt, pepper, or chili flakes if needed. A squeeze of lime or lemon juice brightens everything up.

Step 8: Serve It Up

Spoon over rice, add fresh cilantro and lime wedges, and watch people clean their bowls.

Notes

The curry should be thick but not paste-like. Think hearty soup. Too thick? Add more broth. Too watery? Let it bubble uncovered for a few minutes.

Fresh pumpkin works if you want to be fancy, but canned saves an hour of your life. Both taste the same in the end.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Indian-Inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup with ½ cup rice
  • Calories: 285
  • Sugar: 12g
  • Sodium: 420mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 11g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 38g
  • Fiber: 6g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg