Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (2024)

Bless This Mess Recipes

By Melissa

on Sep 25, 2017, Updated Jul 28, 2020

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Easy Lentil Curry made with lentils, butternut squash and coconut milk is the perfect healthy plant-based dinner. A simple yet delicious family meal!

I have a few more curry recipes I think you’ll enjoy. Easy Pumpkin Cauliflower Curry, Green Thai Chicken Coconut Curry and Quick and Easy Sweet Potato Curry (meatless) are great recipes to start with.

Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (2)

Easy Lentil Curry with Butternut Squash

Today I’m working with So Delicious, and I’m really really excited about it. I’m really trying to center my kitchen on healthy plant-based meals that are good for my family, good for the earth, and good for my budget!I also like to keep a little running list of recipes that are good to serve to friends and family with food allergies. This recipe is dairy-free, vegan (check on the curry paste), and gluten-free (use the coconut aminos instead of soy sauce), just because of how it’s made.

This creamy sweet and savory lentil curry with butternut squash is hearty comfort food that comes together in a snap. This is a great meal to keep in your regular rotation because it’s so simple but so full of flavor.

We love curry in all forms and this super simple lentil curry is always a hit. The creamy butternut squash breaks down just a bit while cooking to thicken and sweeten the sauce. Add some curry paste and creamy coconut milk, and you are just about done. Rounding out this dish with a squeeze of fresh lime and chopped fresh cilantro is exactly the finish it needs. The bright flavors of lime and cilantro go so well with the warm savory flavors of the coconut milk, squash, and lentils.

Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (3)

You are going to love this one!

And here’s why you are going to love So Delicious as much as I do. From “our robust allergen-testing program to the innovative work we do creating products made with high quality ingredients, So Delicious Dairy Free is committed to doing the right things for people, animals and the planet.” I read that about their company and it really spoke to me as a person. I’m trying to do right by my people, you, animals, and the planet, too. That’s why I’m so pleased to be working with them today.

Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (4)

Is curry spicy?

Curry paste is a powerhouse of flavor without having to buy a million spices. If you are new to it, it’s time to try it out. I’d recommend red or green curry paste for this recipe. The heat in curry paste seems to vary a lot by brand so you are going to have to play with it a bit to see how much you like. I’d start with adding a smaller amount. Towards the end of the cooking time, taste a little bit. If it needs more flavor, add a little more until it’s to your liking.

What is the best coconut milk for making curry?

I really liked using So Delicious Coconut Milk for this recipes. It’s organic, comes in an easy-to-open carton, and just tastes so fresh. You can use the unsweetened coconut milk or the culinary coconut milk– both are great.

What do I serve with curry?

You can serve this curry over white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or spaghetti squash, or with flatbread or pita bread on the side. It’s so versatile.

What type of lentils do I use for this recipe?

I used brown lentils for this recipe. They hold their shape while cooking and you can see the individual lentils once it is finished. If you were to use red lentils, they would break down while cooking and create a thicker, more “stew-like” curry. Use what you have on hand or prefer, because both are great options.

Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (5)

Print

Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (6)

Easy Lentil Curry with Butternut Squash

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

4.4 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Melissa Griffiths-Bless this Mess
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4 to 6 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This Easy Lentil Curry made with lentils, butternut squash and coconut milk is the perfect healthy plant-based dinner. A simple yet delicious family meal!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 35 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 teaspoons curry paste
  • 3/4 cup lentils
  • 1 small butternut squash, peeled, deseeded, and cubed, about 3 cups cubed squash
  • 1 carton So Delicious Coconut Milk (unsweetened), or two cartons So Delicious Culinary Coconut Milk
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce or coconut aminos, plus more for serving
  • Sea salt
  • Lime wedges, for serving
  • Chopped cilantro, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat a medium pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and onions.
  2. Cook the until the onions are translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and curry paste and cook, stirring well, until the garlic is fragrant and the curry paste is well incorporated.
  3. Add the lentils, butternut squash, and coconut milk. Stir to combine.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, until the lentils are tender and the squash is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
  5. Add the soy sauce or coconut aminos and additional sea salt to taste.
  6. Serve hot over rice or with flatbread and garnish with fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, and additional soy sauce or coconut aminos to taste.

Notes

See the tips and tricks section in the post for lots of notes on this recipe.

  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 35 min
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Indian

Are you new to So Delicious?

I used their unsweetened coconut milk for dishes like One Pot Coconut Chicken and RiceandGreen Thai Chicken Coconut Curry, and I keep it on hand for smoothies (and I love that it is shelf stable since I have to pick it up when I go to town, which isn’t all that often). You could also use the “culinary coconut milk.” It is whiter and fresher than canned equivalents, and it’s formulated to work with recipes calling for a 14oz can. I’m going to look for culinary coconut milk next time I’m out!

Happy healthy curry, from my home to yours! Thank you so much for supporting the brands that I thoughtfully choose to work with.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by So Delicious. I use and love this company regularly in my kitchen and all opinions are my own.

About Melissa

Read More About Me

You May Also Like:

Recipes by Cook Time

Vegetable Soup

Soups, Stews, & Chowders

Wendy’s Chili Recipe

Soups, Stews, & Chowders

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

One Pot Meals

Sopitas

Easy Butternut Lentil Curry Recipe Your Family Will Love! (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to peel butternut squash? ›

Can You Eat Butternut Squash Skin? It's important to note that while many people choose to remove butternut squash skin (and this is best practice for soup making, where you want smooth results), you can 100% eat roasted butternut squash skin. Slice butternut squash into crescents and roast it with the skin on.

How do you thicken lentil curry? ›

Use a slurry.

Mix cornstarch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot with cold water or a cup of liquid from the curry sauce to make a slurry. Add this at the end of the cooking process—the sauce should thicken as soon as it returns to a boil.

Should you soak lentils before making Dahl? ›

Let the dal remain soaked for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of dal. Split pulses can be soaked for 30 minutes or 1 hour and whole pulses should be soaked for 2 hours. This will not only break down complex carbs but will also cut down cooking time. Again wash 3-4 times before using.

Can you eat butternut squash raw? ›

That's right, you can eat butternut squash raw (yep, we said it). Raw butternut squash is carrot-like and holds up well in crunchy salads and slaws. If opting for raw squash over cooked squash, start by peeling away the tough outer skin (FYI, you can eat the skin when it's cooked.

Why is my butternut squash turning brown when I cook it? ›

As the veggies hit the boiling water, volatile acids are released into the water and are carried away in the steam. When the pot is covered, the steam and the acids it contains are forced back into the water. Once there, the acids react with the chlorophyll in the vegetables, turning them an unsightly shade of brown.

What does butternut squash do for the gut? ›

Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.

What is the difference between lentil curry and Dahl? ›

If you think there are no differences between the two, you'd be surprised. While the Indian dal is cooked more like a stew or a soup, a lentil curry is heartier; it uses more ingredients, has room for more proteins and can also be more filling. Much like any curry, lentil curry can vary in taste and recipe.

What is the difference between lentil curry and dal? ›

Dal is just boiled lentils, with simple spices added after boiling. A 'curry', on the other hand, is usually heavily spiced. In a curry, the spices are added at the start, not at the end.

Why does butternut squash turn brown when cooked? ›

Cook at 400 degrees — hot — until the squash releases its juices and they are bubbly and brown around the edges. This is a sign that the sugars in the squash have caramelized and its flavor concentrated. Depending on the size of the squash and on your oven, this will take 30-45 minutes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Golda Nolan II

Last Updated:

Views: 6283

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Golda Nolan II

Birthday: 1998-05-14

Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

Phone: +522993866487

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.