Vegan and Gluten-Free Thai Pumpkin Curry

Written by
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
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Darlene Schmidt
Updated 10/22/19
Vegan gluten free Thai pumpkin curry recipe

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
482 Calories
19g Fat
71g Carbs
16g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 482
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 820mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 71g 26%
Dietary Fiber 14g 50%
Protein 16g
Calcium 204mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This vegetarian curry offers an array of bright colors—orange, yellow, and red—infused with citrus accents. You'll love the delicious taste of this curry, as well as its healthy combination of vegetables, including pumpkin or squash, yam or sweet potato, carrots, yellow bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes. Add chickpeas as a protein source, then finish the dish with a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds and nasturtium flowers for a gourmet dish that's as beautiful as it is delicious. It's a wonderful vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe, but equally tasty any time of the year.

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Ingredients

  • For the Pumpkin:
  • 1/2 small pumpkin (or substitute 1 acorn squash, butternut, or any other orange squash except spaghetti)
  • 1 small yam (or 1/2 large yam or sweet potato, peeled and cubed)
  • 1 to 2 medium carrots (cut into thick slices)
  • 1 yellow bell pepper (cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 can chickpeas (drained)
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • For the Curry Sauce:
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 to 2 red chilies (or substitute fresh green chilies, or 1 to 2 teaspoons Thai chili sauce)
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon tamarind paste (or substitute 1 tablespoon lime juice)
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce (use wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free diets)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoons lime juice (from 1/2 lime)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoons rice vinegar (or substitute apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 tablespoons coriander seeds (ground)
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1/3 purple onion (sliced)
  • Garnish: a handful of fresh basil leaves
  • Garnish: 1 tablespoon roasted pumpkin seeds and a few nasturtium flowers (or other edible flowers)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for vegan pumpkin curry
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. To make the curry sauce, place all sauce ingredients together in a food processor (or blender if you don't have a processor). Process well. Set aside.

    Mix curry
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Prepare the pumpkin or squash by cutting it open and scooping out the seeds with a spoon. Either save the seeds for roasting or discard. Cut the pumpkin into cubes, slicing off the skin. You will probably only use 1/3 to 1/2 a pumpkin for this recipe (save the rest in the refrigerator for cooking later).

    Cut pumpkin
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  4. Prepare the rest of the vegetables, plus the orange rind.

    Chop vegetables
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  5. Place the pumpkin, yam, and carrots in the wok or frying pan together with the curry sauce over medium-high heat. Stir well.

    Add vegetables to curry
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

  6. When the curry begins to boil, reduce heat to medium, stirring occasionally. Allow to simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, or until vegetables have softened.

    When curry begins to boil
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  7. Add the bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and orange rind, stirring to incorporate. Simmer for 2 more minutes.

    Add bell peppers and tomatoes
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  8. Do a taste test for salt and spice. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If not spicy enough for your taste, add more fresh chili (or chili sauce). If too sour, add a little more sugar.

    Add spices
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  9. To serve, scoop into a large serving bowl, or portion out on individual plates. Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves and pumpkin seeds, then top with several nasturtium flowers (if using). Serve with plenty of Thai jasmine rice.

    Scoop into bowl
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

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