Being a food blogger is great. I get to try out new recipes on a regular basis, my fridge is perpetually stocked, and I always have leftovers. I am literally never hungry. But the food blogging life has its downsides. For instance, I am always trying out new recipes, so I rarely get to make the same dish more than once or twice.
But, this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry was so good and so easy to make that not only did I make it more than once, I made it three times in just two weeks.
For even more terrific dishes featuring lentils, check out my round-up of lentil recipes. Or if it’s instant pot recipes you’re after, there are more than 90 incredible vegan Instant Pot recipes in my 5-star-rated cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook!
Why you’ll love this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry
First, it has a low-effort, high-reward ratio. Thanks to the Instant Pot, there’s just 5ish minutes of hands-on cooking involved, so it’s one of those meals you can easily throw together on a weeknight. Once you sauté the aromatics for a few minutes, you can just toss everything in the Instant Pot and let the machine do its pressure cooking magic.
If being able to prepare a delicious, healthy, and crowd-pleasing dinner on a weeknight with minimal work isn’t motivation enough to finally buy an Instant Pot, I don’t know what is. Even better, it makes for fabulous leftovers!
Don’t have an Instant Pot? Try this Thai Butternut Squash Curry or this Vegan Pumpkin Curry instead!
Another reason I love this curry so much is that it is incredibly flavorful but has a fairly minimal ingredient list and is made with commonly available ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
Another selling point: this curry is creamy and hearty AF, making it the perfect winter comfort food. The Instant Pot magically transforms plain old lentils into creamy morsels bathing in a velvety stew made of coconut milk and cashew butter.
But to keep this curry on the lighter side, I opted for “lite” coconut milk instead of the full-fat variety. While you can definitely use the full-fat variety, I find that “lite” coconut milk is sufficient to yield a rich, creamy texture.
As for cashew butter? No, it’s not a traditional ingredient in curries, but it does add a nice, rich creaminess, just like almond butter does in my Red Lentil Curry, which you all love so much.
This curry, however, isn’t just indulgent comfort food – it’s healthy, too. This is the kind of comfort food that will nourish your soul and your body. This butternut squash lentil curry starts with anti-inflammatory powerhouses ginger and turmeric, then gets a healthy dose of vitamin-rich butternut squash, followed by heart-healthy lentils and cashew butter, and finally a generous sprinkling of antioxidant-rich kale.
Looking for more nourishing Indian recipes? Try my Dal Palak, Saag Aloo or Vegan Palak Paneer, which are all loaded with greens!
Substitutions for this recipe
A few notes on substitutions. I use whole cumin seeds because I love the aroma and extra depth of flavor that whole spices bring to a curry, but if you don’t have cumin seeds, you can just use the same amount of ground cumin and add it along with the turmeric and curry powder (skip the first step).
If you can find fresh turmeric (Whole Foods usually stocks it), that would make this curry even better. Grate or mince 1 1/2 tablespoons of the fresh stuff, and add it along with the garlic and ginger.
Regarding butternut squash, you can use any winter squash you like, such as kabocha squash or red kuri squash. Red kuri squash, also known as hokkaido pumpkin, makes the prep work even easier because you don’t have to peel the skin.
And if you’re having trouble finding cashew butter, just substitute almond butter or tahini (peanut butter has a much stronger taste and might be overwhelming in this curry).
That’s all there is to say about this easy Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry, so I hope you give it a try and enjoy it!
Big Vegan Flavor
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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unrefined virgin coconut oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (2-inch) piece of fresh ginger, finely minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for spiciness)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 5-6 cups (700-850g) peeled and roughly chopped butternut squash, (can buy pre-cut squash)*
- 1 1/2 cups (360 mL) low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup brown lentils or green lentils
- 1 (15-ounce/ (400 mL) can “lite” coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons cashew butter (can substitute with almond butter or tahini)
- 4 ounces baby kale or baby spinach (or 4-5 large handfuls)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
- 1 large handful fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- For serving: white rice and/or flatbread
Instructions
Instant Pot Directions
- Rinse the lentils and drain them.
- Select the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and after a few minutes, add 1/2 tablespoon of the coconut oil, followed by the cumin seeds. Toss for 30-60 seconds until lightly browned and very fragrant.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, followed by the onion and 1/2 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Cook the onion for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned. Then add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the the curry powder, turmeric, and cayenne (if using) for 30 seconds, adding the 2 tbsp water to prevent the mixture from drying out too much.
- Add the chopped butternut squash and stir to coat it in the spice mixture. Pour in the vegetable broth and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Then add the remaining 1 teaspoon kosher salt, the lentils, and coconut milk. Scoop the cashew butter on top but do not stir. This helps prevent the nut butter from sinking to the bottom and possibly triggering the Instant Pot burn warning.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook or Manual setting and set the cook time for 10 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, allow a natural pressure release. Once the pressure has released, open the pot and stir in the baby kale. Select the Sauté setting and heat for about 2 minutes or until the kale has wilted, then select Cancel. Add the lemon or lime juice and the cilantro and stir to combine.
- Serve the butternut squash lentil curry over white rice or with flatbread.
Stovetop Directions
- Heat a deep, heavy skillet or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon of the coconut oil, and once hot, add the cumin seeds and fry for 30-60 seconds until lightly browned and very fragrant.
- Add the onions and cook until they are translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant. Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, and cayenne (if using) until well incorporated.
- Add the butternut squash, vegetable broth, lentils, coconut milk, and cashew butter. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the curry mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender and the squash is cooked through, stirring every few minutes.
- Add the baby kale and allow to cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Add the lemon or lime juice and the cilantro and stir to combine.
- Serve the butternut squash lentil curry over white rice or with flatbread.
Notes
- If using the stovetop method, cut the squash into smaller cubes
This. Is. Incredible. Delicious out of the pot and even better over the next couple of days as the flavors bloom. Will be in my regular winter rotation. Thank you, Nisha, for your creativity and gift for coming up with delicious dishes!
Hi Stacey, Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! Appreciate you taking the time!
Like all your dishes, this is amazingly yummy. I can’t wait for lunch tomorrow so I can eat it again. Thank you, Nisha!
Your positive feedback is the best reward for our hard work. Thank you, Karen!
Amazing recipe, made it multiple times. This is the first time I’ve had leftovers, does it freeze well?
Hi Shane, we’re thrilled to hear you are such a fan of the recipe! Yes, this recipe freezes well! :)
Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
Why did my curry turn out kind of gray? I followed the instructions using green lentils hoping that the color would somehow change to turmeric-yellow like your pictures.
Don’t get me wrong. The curry was awesome. It just looked weird. Did I use the wrong kind of lentils (French Puy)?
Hi Lucielle, we use regular green lentils, not French puy, in this recipe. French green lentils are much darker in color, so yes, that is a possible reason why the curry turned out much darker in color.
I did like this recipe, and found it extremely filling. I added a bag of frozen spinach at the end, rather than handfuls of fresh spinach. When I ate it, there would be bites that were a glob of undissolved almond butter, even after cooking as directed and stirring plenty after the recipe was done. Is there a way to get the nut butter to incorporate more, rather than staying in globs?
Hi Staci, I imagine it depends on the brand and consistency of your almond butter as well as whether you’re using the stuff at the bottom of the jar or the well mixed stuff at the top of the jar.
To avoid clumps of undissolved almond butter in your curry, here are a few tips for better incorporation:
Pre-mix the almond butter: Before adding it to the curry, mix the almond butter with a bit of warm liquid (vegetable broth, water, or coconut milk) in a small bowl until it forms a smooth, pourable paste. Then add this mixture to the curry.
Warm up the almond butter: If your almond butter is cold or stiff, warming it slightly in the microwave or over low heat will make it easier to stir and dissolve.
Simmer gently: If the curry is too hot or boiling vigorously, it can cause the almond butter to seize or clump. Add it when the curry is simmering gently and stir constantly as you incorporate it.
We hope this helps for next time, cheers!
Made this for the first time last night and it was really tasty! We will definitely be making it again. We added some lemon juice and it was perfect!
Thank you for your lovely comment, Kailey! It makes us happy to know that you enjoyed the recipe.
All I have is full fat coconut milk. Would this cause pressure cooker issues? Should I water it down with oat or soy milk?
Hi Louwana, if all you have is full-fat coconut milk, you can dilute the full-fat version with water to mimic the lighter consistency. Open the can and stir well to combine the cream and liquid (full-fat coconut milk often separates). Mix 10 oz of full-fat coconut milk with 5 oz of water. This 2:1 ratio will approximate the consistency and fat content of “lite” coconut milk. If you want it slightly richer, you can use a little less water. Enjoy!
Is there a substitute for the coconut milk in this recipe?
Hi Ann, although the coconut milk is a characteristic ingredient in Indian curries, if you can’t have it, you can substitute with thinned out cashew cream. Enjoy the recipe!
Well. The flavors you put in this dish are great. However, it seems one should either utilize red lentils that cook quickly or precook the brow/green lentils as you suggest. My IP got burn notice twice even after adding extra liquid. I moved to stove top and with the coconut milk and tahini it is too difficult for those lentils to cook as the mixture thickens too quickly even on low temp on stove top. What a loss.
Oh so delicious! The balance of sweet and spicy is what does it for me. Fairly quick to make too. 10/10 recommend!
Thanks for the sweet review, Jackie :)
The stovetop version comes out a gloppy, unappetizing mess. The brown lentils are still a little firm after 30 minutes while the squash has turned to mush.
Hi Katie, did you by any chance use older lentils? They take much longer to cook. And if you don’t want the squash to melt into the curry, we recommend cutting into larger cubes.
We are sorry this recipe wasn’t your favorite but we hope you’re able to either try it again with those tweaks or just enjoy other recipes on the site altogether.
The lentils were in a new bag, purchased about a week ago.
I’ve tried many other recipes here and enjoyed almost all of them, this one just seems off for the stovetop version.
Sorry to hear it, Katie. We appreciate your feedback either way.
Good flavors. 10 minutes in IP resulted in grossly overcooked squash.
Hi Carol, the squash should be quite soft and melt into the curry, as it naturally thickens the curry. If you prefer a firmer texture, you can try cutting the squash into larger pieces.
We tried this recipe last night. Bursting with flavour, and warming on cold South African winter evenings. Thank you for sharing this!
We’re over the moon to hear everyone enjoyed the recipe, Lauren. Thanks for your kind words!
I made this recipe last night! So easy & delicious. I didn’t have 5 cups of butternut squash, so I threw in 2 cups of cauliflower, but other than that, I stayed true to the ingredients. We served the curry over rice and with the side of naan bread. Will make this again and again.
We appreciate your feedback and support, Sarah. Thank you for leaving a review!
I can’t wait to try this! I was wondering if you have any recommendations for making this on the slow cooker setting instead? I’m hoping to make this on my lunch break to eat for dinner.
Thanks :-)
Hi Michelle, sorry for such a late response.
We haven’t tried this ourselves so don’t know for sure how it would turn out. If we did try it, these are the steps we might take:
Follow steps 1-5 as normal
Step 6 cook on slow cooker settings: low heat for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours
Step 7: Select the Sauté setting and heat for about 2 minutes or until the kale has wilted, then select Cancel. Add the lemon or lime juice and the cilantro and stir to combine.
Easy and delicious. Perfect combination of lentils and squash. Seasoning was just right.
Hi Heller, it’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
One of my all-time favourite recipes. We probably make this once a month. Love the texture. I always add firm or extra firm tofu. So goood.
Hannah, So glad to hear you love this recipe! :)
I don’t have brown lentils on hand, do you think it would ruin the recipe if I used red lentils instead?
Thanks!
Hi Cindy! Red lentils should work well. They will break down more, but since it’s a curry, it should be fine. They do have a tendency to stick a bit more in the Instant Pot, so I would give them a rinse and be sure to deglaze the pot very well before pressure cooking. You might also want to add an additional ¼ cup broth or water to be on the safe side.
Hi,
Did anyone other than me experience really long times for the instant pot to pressurize and seal in this recipe? This is the 2nd time I’ve tried this recipe and after 25 min, my instant pot still had not pressurized and sealed. I thought it was the device but I tried making rice in it after and it worked with no problem. Any tips?
Hi Patrick, the time it takes for the instant pot can be kinda tricky. The time it takes to pressurize is variable not only across types of recipes (the more liquid in a recipe, the longer it takes; a cup of rice usually only takes 5ish minutes to pressurize) but also across machines, depending on the model and the age of your machine. So it’s hard to estimate what a normal time would be for this recipe to come to pressure. Did the machine eventually come to pressure after the 25 minutes?
This dish tasted great and was satisfying. The lentils needed an additional 3 minutes in the instant pot so I added my greens and pressure cooked for the additional time.
We appreciate your feedback and support, Monica. Thank you for leaving a review!