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 Saag Aloo or Vegan Palak Paneer, which are both 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!
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
Big taste reward for little effort. Thank you!
Jules, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
Fantastic flavors and texture. Used olive oil instead of coconut oil and did whole recipe in 3 qt instant pot!!! It all fit and was just below the 2/3 max line. It was amazing. I cook a lot of curries and this is going to be one I make regularly.
Awesome, Niti. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
It really was sooo creamy! Great layers of flavor, too. The yellow onion I bought for this was moldy when I cut into it, so I had to omit it and subbed some onion powder instead. The consistency and taste was still fantastic.
Glad you loved the curry, Chelsea!
I just made this and it’s so good! I skipped the cayenne, used almond butter, because that’s what I had on hand, baby spinach, and replaced half the green lentils with baked tofu. I will definitely make this again!
Delicious, Melissa! Thanks for sharing your substitutions!
A-ma-zing!! My husband, who claims he doesn’t like lentils, can’t stop eating it! It will be on heavy rotation in our house. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Jessica!
Hello!
There was no butternut squash at the store. Is it possible to just add more lentils or will that messed up the cooking time and texture of the curry?
I have made this before with butternut squash and it was amazing!!!
Hi Tiffani, I think you would be fine omitting it from the recipe but at that point I would suggest trying another one of the curry recipes on the RPL blog!
I made this today and, whoa! It is really good! I did not add the cashew butter actually or any nut butter and it was still fabulous—super warming and energizing. I used the baby spinach, lemon and cilantro to garnish. I just happened to have the cumin seeds that were supposedly expired in 2016—and voila—the best curry I have had in a while. Thank you Nisha!
Hi Angela, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! 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!
Blown away AGAIN! Another winner Nisha. This will be going on regular rotation in our house during the colder months. Thank YOU!!
Awesome, Kelley. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
Will this fit in the 3-quart Instant Pot or do I need to cut the recipe? Looks delicious and I really want to try it. Thank you for your time.
Hi Vickie, you’ll need to half the recipe. Make sure to add enough liquid as to not cause burning and sticking, though.
I’m not an Instant Pot expert Vickie, but I’m inclined to say that the original recipe will fit in a 3-quart pot.
I say that because I’ve doubled a few of Nisha’s curry recipes including this one using a 6-quart pot, and they’ve all turned out perfectly.
So my reasoning is that, if I can double the recipe and have it fit in a 6-quart pot, you should be able to use the original recipe in a 3-quart pot.
If in doubt though, start by halving the recipe and check if you have enough room in the pot to make the original serving next time.
Just in time for the cooler weather.
Made this last night and subbed sweet potato for the squash since I had this on hand. Also made a batch of Naan to go with it!
That’s so great to hear, Nancy! 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!
This recipe dropped into my inbox on just the right day! I have the last of our home grown butternuts and I just sat down to look for a great recipe for tonight’s dinner.
Can’t wait!
Excited for you to try it, Carol!
Hi there! Do you think this would work with the cubed squash they sell in the frozen section? And if so would you adjust the liquid in the recipe to account for what would drain off as the frozen pieces cooked?
Thx!
I just made the recipe tonight and used frozen cubed butternut squash— it turned out great.
Hi Kate, if you decide to use those I would try to defrost them in the fridge overnight before cooking!
Can I freeze leftovers?
Hi Renee, yes you can!
Ohh, this is so good!! So flavorful! I doubled the cayenne and am glad I did—might add even more the next time! This will definitely be on my rotation—delicious enough for special company, too! I have made many of your recipes, and they have all been amazing! Its nice when you have a cookbook that you can trust to turn out perfectly. Thanks and looking forward to the new one!
Madonna, So glad to hear you loved this recipe! Thanks for the wonderful review!
I recently got an Instant Pot to go with Nisha’s cookbook and this popped up aswell. This is a great recipe, mine could do with a lot more heat but the butternut squash worked so well in this. Really great go to recipe for me now and another way to use butternut squash!
Great! So glad you enjoyed!
Quick and delicious paired with brown rice. Will definitely make this again!
Glad you loved it, Rosann!
Can’t get a 15 oz can of coconut milk anymore–they’ve all dropped down to 13. How do you adjust the recipe to work with the current can sizes? Thanks.
Hi Nancy, I do see most cans are 13.5 ounces these days. You have two options, you could either use 1.5 ounces from another can of coconut milk or you could probably substitute those 1.5 ounces of coconut milk for vegetable broth instead. I hope that helped!
Out of this world!
If you have not made it yet…do not waste any minute. Go, go! Make it now!
I thought at first that lentils, butternut squash and coconut milk – it will all taste bland. I was very wrong!
Absolutely delicious curry – highly recommended.
I was doing a gratitude meditation this morning and was suppose to think of something I am grateful for. It was this curry! I’m looking forward to having it again tonight. Very delicious. Thanks Nisha!
Man, I’ve had this saved forever and finally tried it after getting a butternut squash in my CSA box. This was easily one of my favorite curries ever! Brilliant use of a squash, and not a ton on prep work. My favorite kind of recipe!