Coconut Curry & Butternut Squash

This past week I put together a few of my produce box vegetables to make a curry dish.  This coconut and curry dish is slightly sweet with a thick sauce made of puréed squash. It made plenty of food – enough for freezing, leftovers, or to feed a large crowd.  I served it with cooked Basmati Rice.

I made it milder for my kids, but amped up my own bowl with a few more spoonfuls of curry paste.  Curry is one of my favorite flavors of all time and I am fairly certain I could put it on just about anything. Curried ice cream, curried cookies, curried bananas…you name it and I will try it with curry.

Start by cutting 1 medium butternut squash into 4 sections and removing the seeds.  Place the squash sections on a rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, and bake it at 400° for 35-40 minutes.  This is the easiest method for preparing butternut squash, because after the squash has cooled off, the skin just peels right off.

Purée the cooked and peeled squash with 1- 13.5 oz. can of coconut milk and 1 cup of water.  I split my pureé into 2 sections, so as to not overflow my Ninja Professional Blender (this is the best blender I have ever owned!)  You may have more or less, depending on the size of the squash, and therefore adjust water as needed.  Place the squash mixture into a slow cooker and turn it on low.

Peel and cube 2 medium potatoes.  Add to slow cooker. Sauté 1/2 of yellow onion in oil until softened, add to slow cooker. Mix in 2-5 tablespoons Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste (less for milder dish, more for spicier dish).

Cube 1 block of extra firm tofu.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with oil, and spread out tofu.  Flip to coat in oil.  Bake in oven at 400° for 15- 20 minutes, flipping once.  This helps to dry out and the tofu before adding it to the squash mixture.  For crispier tofu, follow broiling steps, with or without flavoring.  Remove tofu from baking sheet and add to slow cooker.

Remove seeds and ribbing, and slice 1 medium green bell pepper, add to slow cooker. Stir mixture well, and cook on low, covered, for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours.  I served this with cooked Basmati rice.  As you can see, the recipe creates a very full slow cooker.  You can reduce veggies or tofu amounts, if desired.

Other things going on in my world – caucusing is coming up. I live in Iowa, so of course the political scene is a big deal right now.  February 1 is the big date and the candidates are still working Iowa hard.  I haven’t caucused since college and am looking forward to being a part of the process again.  We found this hilarious shirt at the downtown Des Moines Raygun shop.

It’s been cold, so the kids and I have been catching up on our reading.  This is a new family favorite – Star Wars ABC.  My daughter just giggles when I tell her that wookies are my favorite part of Star Wars.  I haven’t seen the newest one yet and have a rule in my classroom that students aren’t allowed to spoil it for me.  I need to get Eric up to speed first, as he is not as much of a Star Wars fan as I am.

Coconut Curry & Butternut Squash 

1. Cut 1 medium butternut squash into 4 sections and remove the seeds.  Place the squash sections on a rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, and bake it at 400° for 35-40 minutes.  Allow squash to cool and remove skin.
2. Purée the cooked and peeled squash with 1- 13.5 oz. can of coconut milk and 1 cup of water.  Place the squash mixture into a slow cooker and turn it on to low.
3. Peel and cube 2 medium potatoes.  Add to slow cooker.
4. Sauté 1/2 of yellow onion in oil until softened, add to slow cooker.
5. Mix in 2-5 tablespoons Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste (less for milder dish, more for spicier dish).
6. Cube 1 block of extra firm tofu.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with oil, and spread out tofu.  Flip to coat in oil.  Bake in oven at 400° for 15- 20 minutes, flipping once.  Remove tofu from baking sheet and add to slow cooker.
7. Remove seeds and ribbing, and slice 1 medium green bell pepper, add to slow cooker. Stir mixture well, and cook on low, covered, for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours.  Serve with cooked rice of your choice.