Instant Pot Red Lentil Butternut Squash Curry. This Warming lentil butternut or pumpkin curry is creamy and comforting. 1 Pot, 30 Min make in a Pressure cooker or Saucepan. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free nut-free Recipe. Jump to Recipe
The weather is getting cooler (read pretty cold) out here and every day we feel like we need a bowl of hot, warming comforting soup or stew. This butternut squash and red lentil curry works out perfectly for every meal.
The spices are sauteed with onion and garlic, then just put the lentils and butternut all in a pressure cooker or saucepan with some coconut milk and broth. Cook and done. This dal soup takes 1 Pot and less than 30 minutes either way. Serve as is garnished with some toasted nuts or with a side of fresh bread or flatbread.
This recipe is a modified version of the popular Butternut Coconut Lentil Dal from my Indian Kitchen Cookbook. The Dals in the book are closer to traditional recipes. This one uses more common spices and ingredients. and is creamy and rich with the coconut milk. Red lentils (masoor Dal) go so well with butternut or pumpkin!
More Instant Pot Recipes for fall
- IP Mushrrom Bourguignon. GF
- IP Mushroom Wild Rice Soup. GF
- IP Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce GF
- Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chickin(soycurls). GF – Creamy, Delicious
- Japanese Veggie Curry. GF
- Instant Pot Lasagna Soup with Red lentils. – So Easy
- More Instant Pot Recipes!
If you make this recipe, do let me know in the comments below, rate it and tag me on Instagram #veganricha.
Instant Pot Lentil Butternut Squash Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) mustard seeds
- 4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
- 1/2 (0.5 ) medium onion (finely chopped)
- 1 inch ginger (finely chopped)
- 1 hot green chili (finely chopped)
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) turmeric
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garam masala (or curry powder)
- 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) black pepper (or cayenne, or both)
- 1 large tomato (chopped small)
- 12 oz (340.2 g) butternut squash (or pumpkin) raw, peeled and cubed or frozen
- 1/3 cup (60 g) red lentils
- 14 oz can of coconut milk
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) of water
- 3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt
- 3-4 oz (3 oz) of baby spinach
- lime juice and cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Start the Instant Pot on sauté. Add the oil and once it has heated, add the mustard seeds and wait for them to sputter or change color. Add the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, chili and a pinch of salt. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the spices and mix well. Add the tomatoes and a quarter cup of water and cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally to avoid sticking.
- Add the butternut squash or pumpkin, coconut milk, lentils, water and salt. Mix well to combine and pick up the tomato from the bottom of the pot. Close the lid and pressure cook for 4 minutes. Carefully quick release the pressure slowly once cooking time is done.
- Open the lid and fold in the spinach and mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust the amount of salt, heat and flavor. Add a good dash of lime juice. Garnish with pepper flakes or cilantro. Serve over rice or flat bread or with fresh dinner rolls.
Sauce pan instructions:
- Follow step 1 and 2 in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the butternut, coconut milk, lentils, salt and water. Partially cover and cook for 12-14 mins or until the lentil and squash are cooked through. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more water if the curry is too thick and simmer for a min. Taste and adjust the flavor to your liking, add a dash of lime juice and serve.
Karen says
May 24, 2020 at 4:01 pmHave made this twice and love it! I cooked it in a wok and it came out perfectly. I added a bit more cayenne as I like a spicy curry and it was delicious.
Vegan Richa Support says
May 25, 2020 at 11:28 amhow resourceful of you!
Michelle Rodriguez says
June 11, 2020 at 5:02 pmMy family loves this recipe! I’ve made it several times and it always comes out perfect. Thank you!
Vegan Richa Support says
June 11, 2020 at 6:53 pmthanks! so happy to share
Erin says
July 30, 2020 at 5:49 pmAdded cabbage and used coconut cream instead of coconut milk, and this is legit the best curry I’ve ever made. My 3 and 5 year old loved it , too! Thank you for the easy and delicious recipe!
Vegan Richa Support says
August 1, 2020 at 12:39 pmwow, i’m so happy that everyone loved it. thank you.
Suzanne Cooper says
August 14, 2020 at 6:05 pmLove these flavors! Substituted some kale from my summer CSA share along with a butternut squash from my winter share! Increased the lime juice to 2 Tbsp. Yum!
Vegan Richa Support says
August 16, 2020 at 6:26 pmgreat idea!! & more lime = more Vitamin C . thanks =)
Wendy says
September 5, 2020 at 5:21 pmI made this today and my mother in law says it’s a keeper, which believe me, is high praise! I bought cut butternut squash that I didn’t realize was seasoned with olive oil and seasonings. What to do, so I just used it. I did a double recipe and only had 1 can and a bit of coconut milk so did water for the rest. After the first pressure it was quite watery so added another 1/3 cup red lentils which thickened it up nicely. I can always count on your recipes to be a hit! Thanks!
Vegan Richa Support says
September 7, 2020 at 4:09 pmlol. thanks Wendy
Wendy says
September 5, 2020 at 5:31 pmI made this today and my mother in law says it’s a keeper, which believe me, is high praise! I bought cut butternut squash that I didn’t realize was seasoned with olive oil and seasonings. What to do, so I just used it. I did a double recipe and only had 1 can and a bit of coconut milk so did water for the rest. After the first pressure it was quite watery so added another 1/3 cup red lentils which thickened it up nicely. I can always count on your recipes to be a hit! Thanks!
Vegan Richa Support says
September 7, 2020 at 4:06 pmlol. thanks Wendy
Haley says
September 12, 2020 at 5:28 pmMy family of five loves this recipe! It is a fall favorite. We prefer it with pumpkin over butternut squash. I only wish I could find cubed frozen pumpkin so I could make it year around. Our garden only yeilds a few small pumpkins each year and I cube and freeze them for this recipe only. If anyone knows where you can buy frozen cubed pumpkin, please share!
Divs says
September 15, 2020 at 2:21 pmI’ve made this with butternut squash and loved it. Would it work with kuri squash too?
Kailey says
October 16, 2020 at 8:17 amSo good and so fast. I can’t wait to make it again and again!
Vegan Richa Support says
October 16, 2020 at 10:44 amI’m so happy to hear !! Thank you for your awesome review
Raksha says
October 19, 2020 at 8:51 pmThis recipe is heavenly and so soul soothing!
Genevieve says
October 21, 2020 at 2:35 pmThis curry is awesome! Thank you so much for such a great recipe. My whole family loves it and has been asking for it on repeat lately 🙂
Richa says
October 21, 2020 at 6:33 pmAwesome
Carlette Winfrey says
November 5, 2020 at 12:47 pmEasy and delish! It is very hearty. I used a serrano pepper.
Richa says
November 5, 2020 at 1:53 pmThanks
Emily says
November 14, 2020 at 7:33 pmThis was the perfect recipe with which to christen my Instant Pot! Thank you for making it such a good one- this curry is divine. Will definitely be making again.
Vegan Richa Support says
November 16, 2020 at 4:52 pmthank you for popping by. sounds good!
Jayne Vanauken says
November 17, 2020 at 3:56 pmMade this tonight so quick and easy, my husband and I loved it I will be making it again for sure! Going to try your Butter Chick’in next!
Grace Meyer says
January 3, 2021 at 11:35 amI love to do variations on this recipe! It always turns out great!
Vegan Richa Support says
January 5, 2021 at 6:01 amthank you – let me know what you try
Katherine says
January 5, 2021 at 4:49 pmWow!!! So good and so simple to make. Thank you so much for posting! Will be making again and sending recipe to friends/ fam
Vegan Richa Support says
January 7, 2021 at 1:18 pmawesome! thanks for popping in
Maureen says
January 12, 2021 at 3:33 amEvery single time my husband and I took a bite of this, we couldn’t help but say “mmmmmmm!” It is so incredibly delicious. Thank you so very much for this recipe. I can’t believe I’m eating something this delicious at my house and not a restaurant.
Vegan Richa Support says
January 12, 2021 at 10:45 amyay! Exactly
Anna says
January 14, 2021 at 8:06 amI’ve made a lot of recipes from here, but I made this last night and it is the BEST meal I’ve made! I normally don’t like coconut based curries. This one was just perfect and there was only a hint of coconut. I used curry powder over garam masala and broth instead of water. Absolutely perfect – thank you!
Vegan Richa Support says
January 14, 2021 at 5:55 pmhooray!!!!!!!!!
charlie says
February 5, 2021 at 11:07 amVery nice, only thing i added was teaspoon of fennel seeds
Vegan Richa Support says
February 5, 2021 at 4:32 pmthanks for popping in ♡
Toni Furan says
February 18, 2021 at 11:14 amThis is hands down the best red curry recipe I’ve ever tried. I did add about 8 oz of firm tofu to the recipe to pump up the protein. I have a favorite local Thai restaurant and this is exactly the flavor of their famous Squash Red Curry.
Vegan Richa Support says
February 18, 2021 at 7:18 pmwow!