Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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Ultra delicious Thai-inspired butternutsquash red curry that is creamy, spicy, rich, and comforting! The sweet butternut squash pairs beautifully with all the red curry spices.

Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)

And here it is!

Two very different curry recipes delivered to you back to back.You should know that this was seriously poorplanning on my part. I didn’t mean to bombard you with curry recipes one after the other. But in my defense, this curry is absolutely worth obsessing over.

Won’t you let me feed you a spoonful of red curry with basmati rice to make it up to you?

Thank the lawwwwd it’s butternut squash season again. The best season there is in my very humble opinion. Because um.. hello! Butternut squash red thai curry is actually a thing. And it’s creamy, spicy, sweet, crunchy, comforting, and just down right addicting. Something i’ve been waiting all summer long to share. But who makes spicy curry in the summertime other than me?

Everything we love about food in general all rolled into one easy curry recipe.What I need you to know is that this is weeknight curry. We’re using store-bought red curry paste and really amping up the flavor with a little yellow curry powder. WHAT. Yes friends. The yellow curry powder addssooo muchspice and flavor to this easy one pot butternut squash curry.

How to Make Butternut Squash Red Curry:

Food like this is my life.

I go a little loopiewhen I think about all that sweet, tender butternut squash nestled in a slow simmered silky coconut curry sauce. Judging by this and the last recipe i’ve shared, it’s obvious that curries would be on the list of food that I could eat forever and ever. Also, top it with crushed cashews/peanuts and freshly chopped cilantro and i’d think you were after my heart.

And speaking of butternut squash. I’m no longer allowing myself to purchase whole butternut squash anymore. That privilege was immediately revoked last fall when I made a decent sized cut between my thumb and forefinger and then proceeded to almost faint from the ample amount of blood that was gushing from the wound.It’s not that slicing and dicing butternut squash is difficult, it’s that the person behind Little Spice Jar happens to have a ton moreaccidents than the average human being. ‘Uncoordinated’ can totally be my middle name from now until the end of time. So it’s a rule now. For my own sake, Imust only purchaseprecut butternut squash.

And hey! On the positive side, shortcuts like these are totally welcome. Especially when I want to get butternut squash red curry in my belly in 30 minutes. Found thatsilver lining. ??

Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

There are two main components to my butternut squash red curry:

1.) the curry base: I’m using store-bought red curry paste and really oomphing up the flavor with a little yellow curry powder. Along with that we need shallots, ginger, a little fish sauce, and some sugar. If you follow a vegan/vegetarian diet, feel free to omit the fish sauce. I know, the stuff smells terrible but what it does for this curry is amazing. It really adds a nice depth that makes the curry taste//smell like it’s been simmering all day. And finally you need a can of coconut milk. I’m not gonna tell you that low-fat coconut milk won’t work, because it will. I’m just going to tell you that full fat coconut milk makes this a more luxurious red curry experience. And to that, i’ll say no more. ?

2.) the veggies: in our case, i’m using butternut squash and baby spinach because I find the combination of the two works really well. We’re big fans of baby spinach and use it for just about everything. Needless to say, we always have some on hand. Kale also works well for this recipe, but keep in mind you’ll have to let it cook with the butternut squash a bit as it takes longer to wilt than spinach. Kabocha squash, acorn, sweet potatoes, and even carrots would work really well in place of the butternut squash. All of these ingredients have that sweet starchy factor that this curry needs.

Grab a bowl, because curries are meant to be eaten in a bowl. Fill it with a nice mound of fluffy basmati rice and top it with that silky coconut sauce loaded withtender squash and top it off with a handful of crushed nuts and fresh cilantro. A squeeze of lime juice wouldn’t hurt either.

This is get snug-on-the-couch-with-netflix food.

Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)

Yield: 4-5 servings

Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ultra creamy and delicious Thai inspired butternut squash red curry that is creamy, spicy, rich, and comforting! The sweet butternut squash pairs beautifully with all the red curry spices.

Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoons coconut oil (or any oil really)
  • 1 large shallots, chopped (or 2 small)
  • 2-2 ½ cups diced butternut squash (about 1.5 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 2-3 tablespoons red curry paste
  • ½ tablespoon yellow curry powder
  • 1 (15 ounce) can coconut milk
  • ¾ cup vegetables or chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce (omit for vegans/vegetarians)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 3-4 cups fresh baby spinach
  • basmati rice, crushed cashews/ peanuts, cilantro, lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Add the shallots and saute them for 5-6 minutes or until they just begin to get golden. Add the butternut squash and grated ginger, stir to coat with the oil.
  2. Add the red curry paste, yellow curry powder and stir until all the butternut squash is nicely coated. Continue to cook the curry paste for 2-3 minutes or until it's fragrant. Add the broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar. Let the sauce come to a simmer before covering. Lower the heat and allow the squash to cook all the way through, about 12-18 minutes. You'll know it's done when you can easily pierce the butternut squash with the tip of a knife. Stir in the baby spinach and allow it to wilt.
  3. Serve with basmati rice topped with crushed nuts, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Notes

  • Kale can be used in place of the spinach in this recipe but keep in mind you'll need to add it in earlier so that it has enough time to wilt.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

If you like this recipe, you might also like:

instant pot cajun butternut squash soup

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Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

How to make Thai red curry more spicy? ›

If you're looking for a spicier red curry, use hotter peppers. Thai peppers are excellent here if you can find them, but if not, use your favorite chili peppers of choice.

What is the red spice in curry? ›

Red Curry. This type of curry is moderately spiced and one of the most versatile. Red curry is made with several red chilies, which gives it a bold and spicy flavor. Ingredients for the curry base include coriander, cumin, red bell pepper, red chile, lemongrass, and ginger.

How do you make jar curry less spicy? ›

Top five ways to make a curry or chilli less spicy
  1. More vegetables. ...
  2. Coconut milk or cream. ...
  3. Lemon, lime or vinegar. ...
  4. Yogurt or soured cream. ...
  5. Sugar or ketchup.
Dec 21, 2020

What's the difference between red curry and Thai curry? ›

Traditionally, all Thai curries were made with the same ingredients except for one thing: the chillies. Red curry was made with several red chillies for a fiery hot dish, while green curry was made with green chillies, and yellow curry was made with yellow chillies.

What spice makes Thai curry spicy? ›

Thai red curry gets its colour from the red chillies used in the paste. They can be hot, but the spice factor in this Thai curry is toned down a little by the inclusion of coconut milk. If you're making this Thai curry from scratch at home, you can always remove the seeds from your chillies to make it less spicy, too.

How to make curry extra spicy? ›

Here are some options:
  1. Chili flakes or powder: Sprinkle chili flakes or powder directly into the curry and stir well. ...
  2. Fresh chili peppers: Finely chop fresh chili peppers like jalapenos, serranos, or Thai bird's eye chilies, and add them to the curry. ...
  3. Hot sauce or chili paste: Stir in a few teaspo.
Jan 18, 2022

What are the 5 spices in a curry? ›

The Essential Five Spices are:
  • Cumin seeds.
  • Coriander seeds.
  • Black mustard seeds.
  • Cayenne pepper.
  • Turmeric.

Which Thai curry taste the best? ›

1. Green Curry. This Green Curry is one of the best Thai curries if you like hot, spicy food. It's creamy, fiery, and delicious, deriving its heat from a generous amount of green chilies.

What is the most popular Thai curry? ›

Green curry is considered the most popular curry in Thai cuisine. The green color of Thai green curry sauce has become more vibrant over the years with the addition of fresh coriander (cilantro), makrut lime leaf and peel, and basil.

How to make jar curry better? ›

Add more spices: Store-bought curry sauces often lack the depth of flavour that homemade sauces have. To remedy this, you can add more spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala. Use fresh ginger and garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic add a lot of flavour to curries.

How do you fix too spicy Thai curry? ›

Adding dairy is an ideal way to dull down the heat in hot spicy food. Try serving spicy curries with a dollop of plain yoghurt or serve that spicy soup with a hearty pour of cream or sour cream. Another method to counteract spiciness in a dish is to add a squeeze of acid such as lime or lemon juice, even vinegar.

Does adding water to a curry make it less spicy? ›

If you're hesitant to add fat, you can also dilute the heat of a curry or stew by adding more water.

What is a common base in Thai curries? ›

Chillies, lemongrass, garlic, and shallot are usually the most common base ingredient. The extra spice and fine tuning however will make a huge different, you can ended up with a totally different curry with just one extra ingredient.

Which Thai curry is healthiest? ›

People love green curry because of the gentle balance of heat, sweet, and acid from the chiles, lime, and fresh herbs. Green curry is great with chicken and shrimp because it offers a punch of seasoning to the protein. The long list of herbs also makes green curry one of the healthiest Thai cuisine dishes.

Which is nicer red or green Thai curry? ›

Green Curry: How They're Different. While the dish's spiciness can vary based on the chef, typically, red curry is hotter than green. Red curry tends to be more versatile, while green is more unique in its flavors.

How do you fix bland red curry? ›

Another simple way to improve the taste of bland curries is by adding some slightly roasted onions, garlic, ginger. You can toss or caramelize them separately and add them to the curry and simmer for sometime so that it can absorb the flavours.

What to add to Thai food to make it spicy? ›

While spices like red and green chilies are used to add heat to a dish, other spices like cumin and cinnamon are used to create complex flavors. Meanwhile, ingredients like chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and peppercorn give Thai food the tingling spicy sensation that people love.

Why is my Thai red curry bland? ›

The most probable reason for the Thai curry to taste bland is that the flavor inducing ingredients such as galangal, garlic, onion are being added in less than required dosage. If the herb mix is not right then also the Thai curry may taste bland.

How do you add depth to Thai red curry? ›

The addition of peanut butter will add a rich and nutty flavor to the dish, giving it a satisfying depth of taste, or serve it with a side of peanut noodles instead! Lime: You can also add some extra lime zest for a tangy and delicious Thai red curry that you'll absolutely fall in love with.

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