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The Best Creamy Coconut Curry (Easy 30-Minute Recipe!)

A cozy bowl of homemade, healthy Vegetable Coconut Curry served over a bed of basmati rice for a delicious dinner.

An easy, one-pot recipe for a fragrant and flavorful vegetarian coconut curry. This dish features a rich, aromatic base of well-browned onions, fresh ginger, garlic, and a blend of warm spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cubes of butternut squash and cauliflower florets are simmered in full-fat coconut milk until tender. Fresh spinach and peas are wilted in at the end, and the curry is finished with a bright splash of fresh lemon and lime juice. It is best served over basmati rice with fresh herbs.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups cubed butternut squash
  • 3 red Thai chiles, or 1 serrano, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen peas
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • For Serving:
  • 2 cups cooked basmati rice
  • Fresh basil or cilantro leaves
  • Naan bread (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the coconut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often and reducing the heat as needed, until soft and well-browned.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the minced garlic, grated ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, and salt.
  3. (Instructions past this point are inferred as they were missing from the article)
  4. Add the spice mixture to the onions in the pot and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Add the butternut squash, sliced chiles, cauliflower florets, and the can of coconut milk. Stir to combine.
  6. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
  7. Stir in the lemon juice, lime juice, fresh spinach, and peas. Cook for another 2 minutes, just until the spinach is wilted.
  8. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Serve the curry hot over basmati rice, garnished with fresh basil or cilantro.

Notes

  • Note: The final cooking instructions were not provided in the original article and have been inferred based on standard curry-making techniques.
  • Cooking the onions until they are well-browned is a key step that builds a deep, sweet flavor base for the curry.
  • ‘Blooming’ the spices by toasting them in the hot pot for a minute before adding liquids enhances their flavor and aroma.
  • The fresh spinach, peas, and citrus juices are added at the very end to preserve their bright, fresh flavors and textures.