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Saturday, January 14, 2023

So Much Food: Roasted Pumpkin Red Curry


After all the meat and heavy foods that I ate over the holidays, I've been feeling a lot more like I need to get some veggies into my diet.  And I definitely don't mind if it's delicious enough that I don't even miss the meat.  I'm a big fan of Thai curry, and when I can add some fabulous kabocha squash, I'm even more excited.  Seasonal produce is always a big win.  This curry is incredibly flexible; use whatever veggies you want

Roasted Pumpkin Red Curry
Adapted from So Much Food blog

1 (2-pound) kabocha squash
3 tablespoons peanut oil, divided use
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons Maesri red curry paste
4 large kaffir/makrut lime leaves
1 or 2 Thai chilies, thinly sliced
2 (15-ounce) cans full-fat coconut milk
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1½ ounces palm sugar or 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 onion, cut into chunks
1 red bell pepper, sliced
½ pound Japanese eggplant, cut into chunks
¼ pound shimeji/clamshell/beech mushrooms
2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water to make a slurry
Thai basil leaves
Steamed jasmine rice, for serving
Chili oil, for serving

Preheat an oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Cut the kabocha squash in half and scoop out the seeds using a spoon. Cut the squash into wedges and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, until just tender. Cool for 15 minutes and then peel the skin off or use a small paring knife to remove the skin.

Heat a Dutch oven or braiser over medium heat and add the remaining oil. Add the curry paste and kaffir lime leaves and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until the curry paste is very fragrant. Add the Thai chilies and coconut milk and stir until very smooth. Bring to a simmer, then add the fish sauce, palm sugar, and salt. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the onion, bell pepper, eggplant, and mushrooms, stir and cover for 7 to 10 minutes. Once the vegetables are tender, add the cornstarch mixture to the curry and stir well. Simmer for another 5 minutes or so, until very thick.  Add the roasted kabocha squash and Thai basil leaves and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, just to warm pumpkin and wilt basil.  

Serve over jasmine rice with more Thai basil leaves and chili oil.

Makes 6 servings

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