Roasted Butternut Squash Curry

I love butternut squash. I love it even more if it is roasted.  

I originally bought the squash to make roasted butternut squash soup, but that would have made more soup than I would have been willing to eat all by myself. I love soup, but I do feel that you can have too much of a good thing at times.  So, I decided to use half of the squash to make soup, and the other half of the squash to make curry.  Here is the recipe for the curry, I will post the soup recipe sometime soon.

The flavor of the curry was excellent and I will definitely be making this recipe again. Although I'll likely add a bit more heat to it.

Roasted Butternut Squash Curry

1/2 Butternut Squash, roasted (See Note), peeled, and cubed. About 1" pieces 
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1/4 cup water, if necessary
Two 2" x 1" x 1/8" pieces of ginger, peeled and julienned
1 small red onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp Hot Madras Curry Powder
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 large tomato, cored and diced
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)

Heat wok over medium-high heat
Drizzle oil down the sides.
Add garlic, onion, ginger, and stir fry until light brown
Add the squash and the curry powder, stir fry until the squash begins to brown.
Add the salt and the coconut milk.
Cover, lower heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes.
If the sauce becomes to thick, add water to thin it out. 
Remove the squash from the liquid.
Return heat to medium high.
Add the tomatoes and the cilantro, cook until sauce thickens up.
Add the squash back in and stir until reheated.
Remove from heat and serve over steamed rice.

Note: To roast the squash:
    Heat oven to 375 degrees.
    Cut squash in half, lenthwise.
    Remove seeds (don't throw them away, allow them to dry out a bit and
    then dry roast them).
    Place squash, with cut side facing down on lightly oiled baking pan.
    Cook for approximately 30 minutes, or until soft.
    Peel the squash while still hot from oven. Be careful not to burn
    yourself.
    You may also peel the squash beforehand.

This dish was adapted from Breast of Chicken with Tomato and Coconut Milk from 660 Curries.

Stir Fry Pork and Kimchi

This dish was inspired by a dish made by some friends over at the Flock. I didn't have a recipe for this dish and I couldn't get a hold of either of my friends or their cookbook, so I winged this together with some stuff I had in the house. I thought it turned out well and even Kate, who dislikes kimchi, enjoyed this dish.


Stir Fry Pork and Kimchi

2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb thinly sliced lean pork butt, cut into approx 1" pieces
1 jar kimchi (I prefer the spicy version)
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 cup sliced green onion, and a small amount reserved for garnish
1-2 cloves garlic, finely minced
Sesame Seeds (optional)


Heat skillet or wok over medium heat.
Add 2 tbsp olive oil.
Add pork and stir fry, until browned on both sides.
Drain pork on paper towel.
Drain off oil and fat from pan if in excess, retain a few tablespoons for cooking.

Add green onion to pan and cook until soft.
Add garlic, stir around until fragrant.
Add kimchi and cook until warmed through.
Add soy sauce and sesame oil.
Add pork back into dish, stir until heated through.

Serve over steamed rice.
Add reserved green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.