• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Piping Pot Curry logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Instant Pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Indian
    • Cooking 101
  • Resources
    • Amazon Store
    • Instant Pot 101
    • Air Fryer 101
    • Meal Plan
    • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Instant Pot
  • Air Fryer
  • Indian
  • Shop
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Curry

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry with Spinach

    December 13, 2020 . By Meeta Arora . 18 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry
    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry

    This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry is a creamy vegan curry, filled with goodness of squash, coconut milk and spinach. This cozy and comforting curry is perfect for Fall dinners!

    Butternut Squash Curry with spinach served over rice. Garnished with cilantro and peanuts

    I am totally loving all the squash and pumpkins in the stores during this time of the year. I realized that I have so many pumpkin and squash recipes now, I will do a roundup soon!

    This butternut squash curry is so delicious, it has a good balance of sweet squash with the spicy curry base.

    I like to make this curry as any other indian curry, with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and lots of aromatic spices. It all comes together perfectly with the addition of creamy coconut milk.

    I also add in some spinach at the end for extra nutrition, and color, and taste!

    This curry pairs well with rice or quinoa. You can cook the rice separately, or you can make pot-in-pot white rice while cooking this curry.

    If you love pumpkin and squash as much as I do, check out 8 easy pumpkin and squash recipes.

    Butternut squash coconut curry topped with cilantro and peanuts in a white bowl

    How to make Butternut Squash Coconut Curry?

    Let's first talk about the ingredients in this curry:

    Butternut Squash - I cut the butternut squash myself, but pre-cut squash works great in this recipe. The only thing is you might need to adjust cooking time by 1-2 minutes if the pieces are much smaller or larger than the suggested size.

    If the pieces are 1 inch in size, then increase the cook time by 1-2 minutes. If they are less than ½ inch, then reduce cooking time by 1-2 minutes.

    You can also use pumpkin or kabocha squash in this recipe. They would cook well in the same time.

    Coconut Milk: I use full-fat coconut milk.

    Spinach: I added spinach at the end, but any green could work.

    The method for this recipe is really simple:

    • Start with heating the instant pot and adding oil to sauté the onions, ginger and garlic.
    • Then add in the tomatoes, and spices.
    • Then add the butternut squash pieces and water. Then pressure cook.
    • After pressure cooking, stir in the coconut milk, lime juice and add spinach.
    butternuts squash curry being made in the instant pot - step by step collage

    This curry comes together so quickly and you won't believe how delicious it is.

    Garnish with peanuts, and cilantro leaves.

    Butternut squash spinach curry topped with cilantro and peanuts in a white bowl

    Tips

    • Make sure you adjust the cooking time, based on the size of squash pieces.
    • It is important to deglaze the pot well before pressure cooking to avoid burn.
    • You can add other veggies that cook in similar time to this curry.
    • I highly recommend to not skip the lime juice. It really brings out the flavor of this curry.

    Common Questions

    How to store this curry?

    Let the curry cool down completely. You can store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also portion it in small air tight containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, then add the garnishes.

    What to serve this curry with?

    This curry pairs perfectly with rice. You can use white or brown rice. You can serve over quinoa.
    The cooking time for this curry is perfect to cook pot-in-pot white rice with the curry. See this dal fry recipe for how to add pot-in-pot rice to the instant pot.

    What other veggies can I add to this curry?

    You can add hearty veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and bell pepper. You can also add red lentils or canned chickpeas. They would cook well in the same time.

    Butternut Squash Curry with spinach served over rice. Garnished with cilantro and peanuts

    Variations for this Curry

    Lentil Butternut Squash Curry: You can also add red lentils to this curry along with the squash. The cooking time will remain the same. I would suggest to reduce the squash to about 12oz and add ⅓ cup red lentils.

    Chickpea Butternut Squash Curry: You can also add a can of chickpeas to this curry. Here is my recipe for how to cook chickpeas in the instant pot. You can pre-cook chickpeas and add to this curry before pressure cooking as well.

    Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry: Add Thai red curry paste and skip the tomatoes to make a Thai version of this butternut quash curry.

    I hope you give this easy Butternut Squash curry a try this Fall. Do comment back with how you enjoyed the curry!

    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    Butternut Squash Curry with spinach served over rice. Garnished with cilantro and peanuts

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry with Spinach

    Meeta Arora
    This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry is a creamy vegan curry, filled with goodness of squash, coconut milk and spinach. This cozy and comforting curry is perfect for Fall dinners!
    4.91 from 21 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 206
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
    Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • 1 cup Onion diced
    • ½ tablespoon Ginger grated
    • ½ tablespoon Garlic minced
    • 1 cup Tomatoes I used fire-roasted diced tomatoes
    • 4 cup Butternut Squash peeled and cut into ½ to ⅔ inch pieces, about 18oz*
    • 1-½ cup Water

    Spices

    • 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin (Jeera powder)
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika or mild red chili powder, adjust to taste
    • 1 teaspoon Salt

    To finish

    • ⅔ cup Coconut Milk I used full-fat
    • 1 teaspoon Lime juice
    • 4 cup Baby Spinach chopped

    Toppings (optional)

    • Cilantro leaves chopped, to garnish (optional)
    • Roasted Peanuts crushed
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Set the Instant Pot on sauté mode and let it heat. Then add oil to it.
    • Now add the onions, garlic, ginger and sauté them for about 3 minutes.
    • Add the tomatoes and spices. Saute for couple of minutes.
    • Add the butternut squash and water. Stir well and deglaze the pot making sure nothing is stuck to the bottom of the steel insert.
    • Switch the Instant Pot to pressure cook (manual) mode on high pressure for 5 minutes with the vent in sealing position.
    • When the instant pot beeps, do a quick pressure release.
    • Add the coconut milk, lime juice and stir well. Then add the spinach and mix it in with the curry. Set the instant pot on saute mode and let it simmer for about 3 minutes.
    • Butternut Squash Curry with coconut milk and spinach is ready. Serve over rice and garnish with chopped cilantro and crushed peanuts.

    Stovetop Method

    • In a heavy bottom pot on medium-high heat, follow the same steps as above before the pressure cook step. Then add the coconut milk and let the curry simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir every 5 miutes to make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom. You can also cover the pot with a lid. Check that squash is cooked well. If not, add a few more minutes. Once the squash is tender, add the lime juice, spinach and stir well. Garnish and serve over rice!

    Notes

    Butternut Squash: Use about ⅔ inch cubes of butternut squash or ½ inch for softer texture. If you are buying pre-cut squash, adjust cooking time by 1-2 minutes if the pieces are much smaller or larger than the suggested size. 
    Storing: You can also store this curry in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can also freeze this curry by storing it in air-tight containers up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, then add the garnishes.
    Variations: You can add hearty veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and bell pepper. You can also add red lentils or canned chickpeas. They would cook well in the same time.
    Pot-in-pot Rice: You can cook pot-in-pot white rice while cooking this recipe. After adding all the curry ingredients, place a trivet and a bowl of rice with water on the trivet. Then pressure cook. For reference, see how I do this in my dal fry recipe. 

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 206kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 622mgPotassium: 910mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 18252IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword butternut squash coconut curry, curry squash, instant pot butternut squash curry
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry

    More Curry

    • Bharwa Karela
    • Lauki Kofta
    • Bhindi do Pyaza
    • Punjabi Kadhi Pakora
    451 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. rob says

      December 06, 2022 at 7:10 am

      Not surprisingly, another delicious recipe! Our new favorite butternut squash dish.

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        December 08, 2022 at 11:14 am

        Hi Rob - So happy to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    2. Nikki Mammano says

      January 11, 2022 at 9:41 pm

      How can I make this without an instant pot?

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        January 19, 2022 at 4:38 pm

        Hi Nikki - I have included stovetop details in the recipe card. Hope you enjoy the curry!

        Reply
    3. Michelle Paul says

      October 22, 2021 at 7:10 pm

      Recipe was easy to follow and overall good but we thought it could use a lot more spice. Well doubled up on the spices for the leftovers and it tasted much more like curry.

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        November 09, 2021 at 12:12 pm

        Hi Michelle - Glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for sharing your feedback!

        Reply
    4. Emily says

      May 17, 2021 at 11:51 am

      Really enjoyed this recipe! I didn't peel the squash, added the lentils, and increased the ratios for the sauce so I could use 28oz. can of tomatoes and now I have a giant pot of delicious curry. Would definitely make this again.

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        May 19, 2021 at 2:11 pm

        Glad to hear you enjoyed the curry, Emily!

        Reply
    5. Kyle says

      February 24, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      My wife and I enjoyed the recipe but tweaked it by increasing the amount of spices by about 1/3. Great weeknight cook quick easy delicious.

      Reply
    6. Ravi Shahani says

      January 22, 2021 at 12:33 am

      Do you think frozen spinach would work well in this, or does it need to be fresh?

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        January 27, 2021 at 8:52 pm

        Hi Ravi - I have not tried with frozen spinach. I believe either you might have to thaw it before using or add it earlier before pressure cooking. You can also use other greens such as kale in this recipe. Hope you enjoy the curry!

        Reply
    7. Manoj says

      January 09, 2021 at 10:03 pm

      Forgot to rate it 🙂

      Reply
    8. Manoj says

      January 09, 2021 at 10:01 pm

      Hi Meeta

      Thank you for sharing this recipe. I made it yesterday and it was delicious 🙂

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        January 11, 2021 at 4:26 pm

        Hi Manoj - Happy to hear you enjoyed the curry. Thank you for sharing back!

        Reply
    9. Ron says

      December 12, 2020 at 5:58 am

      My wife and I made this butternut squash curry the other night. We didn't bother with the instant pot, as squash cooks up pretty quickly in a standard pot, and we had some time on our hands. It was outstanding! The flavors come together perfectly. We served it over rice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Enjoyed the leftovers the next day for lunch as well. Thank you, Meeta.

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        December 14, 2020 at 8:35 am

        Hi Ron - So happy to hear that. Thank you for sharing your experience 🙂

        Reply
    10. Sara says

      November 26, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      Hi, is it ok not to peel the squash ? It is just too tideous sometimes 🙁

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        November 30, 2020 at 11:18 am

        Hi Sara - Sorry I have not tried this curry without peeling squash. I usually use a peeler, which makes it a little easier to peel the squash.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meeta Arora of Piping Pot Curry

    I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. Here you will find easy & delicious recipes using Instant Pot & Air Fryer.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry
    • Crispy Air Fryer Kale Chips
    • Instant Pot Chana Masala (Punjabi Chole Masala / Chickpea Curry)
    • Indian Dal Tadka / Dal Fry with Basmati Rice - Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
    • Perfect Basmati Rice - Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    AS FEATURED ON

    Piping Pot Curry Featured on websites

    Footer

    AS FEATURED ON
    Piping pot curry Featured on sites

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Meeta
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    Recipes

    • Instant Pot 101
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Indian Food Recipes
    • Cooking 101
    • Web Stories

    Resources

    • Shop
    • Gift Guide
    • How to start a blog?
    • Subscribe

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Piping Pot Curry