Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry – A cosy, meat-free dish, with caramelised butternut squash and tender lentils with a perfect blend of spices.
This is one of my favourite lentil curries to prepare in a big batch. It's perfect for freezing, and thanks to the natural sweetness of the roasted butternut squash, my kids adore it. Packed with flavour, it's a delightful meal the whole family can enjoy together.
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Calories in Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry
This Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry serves 4 and and is 270 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 200+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Needed
To make this curry you will need the following ingredients:
- Butternut Squash: Adds natural sweetness and creamy texture; roasting enhances its flavour.
- Dried Green Lentils: Provide hearty texture and plant-based protein; absorbs spices well.
- Passata: Smooth tomato purée that adds richness and subtle tanginess.
- Chicken or Vegetable Stock: Adds savoury depth; use vegetable stock for a vegetarian option. It's essential to use the correct ratio of stock cubes to water, as not all stock cubes are identical. Using too few can lead to a bland, watery broth, while too many may create a stock that's overly salty.
- Onion: Sautéed to create a sweet and savoury base.
- Garlic: Adds aromatic depth and pairs well with spices.
- Ginger: Brings a warming, zesty note that balances sweetness and spice.
- Cumin Seeds: Offers a nutty, smoky flavour essential for the spice blend.
- Turmeric: Provides a golden colour and subtle earthy flavour.
- Garam Masala: Adds warmth and aromatic complexity.
- Chilli Powder: Adds a hint of heat; adjust to taste.
- Curry Powder: Infuses the dish with a balanced mix of spices.
- Low-Calorie Spray: Used for sautéing; keeps the dish light. I prefer to use a brand with no emulsifiers in the ingredients.
- Salt and Pepper: These basic yet essential flavour enhancers are key for elevating the taste of your dishes. No food will ever be bland when these are used to season to taste.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
How to Peel and Chop Butternut Squash
Peeling and dicing butternut squash can seem daunting due to its tough skin, but a sharp knife, like a Santoku Japanese Knife, makes the task easier.
Start by placing the squash on a stable surface. To prevent slipping, secure your chopping board with a damp kitchen towel underneath. Slice off the ends and use a sharp vegetable peeler to remove the skin. For quicker peeling, microwave the whole squash for 1-2 minutes to soften the skin.
After peeling, cut off the seedless section and dice it. Slice the bulbous end in half to remove the seeds and chop as needed.
If you prefer convenience, pre-peeled and chopped butternut squash is available fresh or frozen, though I find fresh squash offers better flavour.
Variations and Substitutes
Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to tailor the curry to your taste or what you have on hand:
- Roasted Sweet Potato: Swap out butternut squash for roasted sweet potato to add a different layer of sweetness. Like butternut squash, sweet potatoes should be roasted to enhance their flavour and ensure a creamy texture.
- Brown Lentils: Use brown lentils instead of green lentils for a similar hearty texture and flavour. Brown lentils work well in this recipe and maintain their shape, just like green lentils.
- Chicken: For added protein if not vegetarian, incorporate diced chicken breast or thighs. Cook the chicken separately or with the curry, adjusting the liquid ratio as needed to accommodate the extra ingredients.
- Additional Vegetables: Feel free to include other vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or spinach. Just keep in mind that you may need to adjust the liquid ratio to ensure the curry remains at the right consistency.
- Red Lentils: Avoid using red lentils in this recipe as they break down quickly and can affect the consistency of the curry, unlike brown or green lentils which hold their shape better.
- Spice Adjustments: Depending on your choice of vegetables or proteins, you might want to tweak the spices. For instance, adding extra cumin or coriander can enhance the flavour profile when incorporating different ingredients.
- Creaminess: If you’re looking for a creamier texture, you can stir in a dollop of Greek yoghurt or a splash of coconut milk towards the end of cooking. This can complement the flavours and add richness.
- Heat Level: If you prefer a spicier curry, increase the amount of chilli powder or add fresh chopped chillies. Adjust to taste based on the heat level of your chosen ingredients.
These tweaks can help customise the curry to suit your preferences and make it uniquely your own.
Sides for Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry
Elevate your serving of curry with a variety of delicious sides, such as:
- Basmati Rice or Flavoured Pilau Rice: A classic accompaniment, perfect for soaking up the rich curry sauce. Check out this Sweetcorn Pilau Rice or Zucchini Pilau Rice
- Naan Bread: Try making your own with this Greek Yoghurt Garlic Naan recipe on our website. Soft, pillowy naan is perfect for scooping up every bit of curry.
- Poppadums: Cook them in the microwave with a little spray oil for a quick, crispy treat.
- Extra Vegetables: Cauliflower, aloo gobi or bombay butternut squash make wonderful, hearty sides that complement the curry's flavours.
- Roasted Cauliflower Rice: a perfect low carb side for any curry.
- Raw Red Onion and Coriander: Fresh red onion slices and a sprinkle of coriander brighten up the dish and add a refreshing crunch.
My favourites to serve with this is pilau rice and poppadums.
Note: Feel free to get creative and tailor the meal to your personal preferences!
More Butternut Squash Recipes
Love recipes that use butternut squash? Check out these other butternut squash recipes on Slimming Eats
See more Butternut Squash Recipes
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
FAQ for Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry
Yes, this curry freezes beautifully. Allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until piping hot. You may need to add a splash of water or stock to loosen the curry as it reheats.
Red lentils are not recommended for this recipe as they break down quickly and can affect the consistency of the curry. Unlike green or brown lentils, which hold their shape and provide a hearty texture, red lentils tend to become mushy and alter the overall texture of the dish.
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Recipe Card
Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry
Roasted Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry – A cosy, meat-free dish, with caramelised butternut squash and tender lentils with a perfect blend of spices.
Ingredients
- 400g (14oz) butternut squash, peel and chopped in 2cm cubes
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon of curry powder
- 1 teaspoon of kashmiri chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of garam masala
- low calorie spray
- salt and pepper to season
- 180g (1 cup) of dried green lentils, washed and rinsed
- 480g (2 cups) of passata
- 720ml (3 cups) of chicken stock or vegetable stock
- handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan), 200°C, 400°F, or Gas Mark 6.
- Place the butternut squash in an oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with paprika, season with salt and pepper, and spray with low-calorie spray. Toss to coat. Roast in the oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until softened and golden. (set aside once cooked)
- While the squash is roasting, spray a large saucepan or deep frying pan with spray oil. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger, and cook until softened.
- In a mortar and pestle, combine all the spices with a little water and mix together.
- Add the spice mixture to the onion, garlic, and ginger. Stir well to coat evenly.
- Add the lentils, stock, and passata to the pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for approximately 45 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
- About 10 minutes before serving, stir in the roasted butternut squash and chopped coriander.
- Taste and season as needed with salt and black pepper.
- Serve with your choice of sides
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly - use vegetable stock
- Gluten Free Friendly - use vegetable stock
- Dairy Free Friendly
- Suitable for Freezing ❄️
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 270Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 5mgSodium 933mgCarbohydrates 55gFiber 14gSugar 10gProtein 16g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Hannah says
How much is a cup??
admin says
about 230ml
Kelly Manton says
I made this tonight and it was very very nice! I did find I had to add more water to it to stop the lentils drying out and sticking to the pan. It worked out fine though and had a lovely flavour! Thank you for the recipe, I'll be making it again!
Hannah says
So what would that be in weight? For the lentils?
admin says
no idea in grams. I nearly always use my measuring cups for cooking. If you use a normal mug, just fill it to about 3/4 quarters with lentils and that should be about right. It doesnt have to be spot on.
Anonymous says
Just made this and it's delicious. Was going to freeze 3 portions but got to have another tomorrow.
1 cup of lentils by the way is 8oz
Love this site, fab recipes. Thanks
Emma Evans says
This is amazing!!Just like a curry bought from a takeaway shop - you have to try it! So easy to make 'enjoy
Bud says
Excellent, easy to make and great for a winters meal.
Lorraine says
Just made this, had to use red lentils instead as they were all I had. I cut the ingredients in half and made enough for today and tomorrow. Will definitely be making this again, so yummy!
Elaine says
Hi can I use ground ginger and cumin?