Tofu Pumpkin Curry
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Published Oct 17, 2020, Updated Jan 23, 2024
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This cozy Thai-inspired pumpkin curry comes together quickly, but the robust flavor makes it taste like it’s been cooking all day. It’s vegan, loaded with protein and perfect as a weeknight meal.
I put up a recipe request box on Instagram for pumpkin week and pumpkin curry was a request that stood out to me! I love curry and knew that a pumpkin curry would be the perfect savory recipe.
This tofu pumpkin curry is inspired by my sweet potato curry recipe. Curry is the perfect comfort meal year round. I love the bold flavors and seasonal produce you can incorporate.
I also have to mention that we served some of the tofu and squash from this dish to Olivia for supper one night and she loved it. So it’s also baby approved too… win, win!
Tofu Pumpkin Curry Ingredients
- vegetables – red onion, yellow bell pepper, pumpkin, baby greens, garlic and fresh ginger
- extra firm tofu
- red curry paste – I like the Thai Kitchen brand
- coconut milk
- water or vegetable broth
- coconut sugar
- olive or avocado oil
- sea salt and pepper
- optional for serving: rice, basil, limes and cashews
What Type of Pumpkin to Use
I used kabocha squash for this recipe which is Japanese pumpkin, but sugar pumpkin, butternut squash or even sweet potato would work as well. Kabocha squash doesn’t need to be peeled, but if you use pumpkin or butternut squash be sure to peel it before using.
How to Prep Tofu for Curry
A couple notes about tofu for this recipe: I recommend buying extra firm and remember to press it to get all the liquid out. The tofu pressing process takes a little bit of time, but is not labor intensive… promise.
You’ll start by draining your tofu – cut a slit in the tofu package and drain the liquid out. The next step is to press the excess liquid out. You can use a tofu press for this, but if you don’t have one there are some other easy ways to press tofu! Simply wrap the tofu block in paper towels or a clean dish towel and set it on a flat surface. Stack a few heavy items on top to press the moisture out – I typically use a cast iron skillet, canned food or cookbooks. This process can take 30-90 minutes depending on how heavy your items are.
How to Make Tofu Pumpkin Curry
Press your tofu – if you haven’t already, press your tofu! I gave the full rundown on how to do that above.
Sauté veggies – heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in the curry paste and tofu, toss and sauté for another 2 minutes.
Simmer – add the pumpkin, coconut milk, water, sugar, salt and pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover and cook until the pumpkin is tender and cooked through.
Finishing touches – stir in the baby greens and cook until they’ve just wilted. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice. Serve over white rice, brown rice or cauliflower rice.
Substitutions & Modifications
This is one of those recipes that is so versatile! Here are the substitutions or modifications you can make:
- Pumpkin – the kabocha squash (Japanese pumpkin) used in this recipe can be swapped for a different winter squash. I’ve tried it with butternut squash, but I’m sure any type of winter squash will work. Sweet potato also works or you can just try my sweet potato curry instead.
- Vegetables – have different veggies on hand or want to clean out the fridge? Feel free to throw them in the curry! I love mixing and matching vegetables in curries.
- Protein – I love the tofu in this recipe but it would also work with other protein options. Shrimp, chicken or chickpeas would all work well!
- Rice – You can serve this curry over brown rice, white rice or cauliflower rice!
More Tofu Recipes:
- Baked Peanut Tofu
- Asian Tofu Tacos
- Easy Crispy Baked Tofu
- Vegan Tofu Chicken Salad
- Tofu Cabbage Noodle Bowl
More Pumpkin Recipes to Try:
- Pumpkin Bran Muffins
- Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
- Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins
- Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
- Pumpkin Rice
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Tofu Pumpkin Curry
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoon minced/grated ginger
- 3 Tablespoons red curry paste, I like Thai Kitchen
- 1 14 oz can coconut milk
- 1 cup water or veggie broth
- 1 Tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups peeled and chopped pumpkin, I used kabocha squash
- 16 oz extra firm tofu, drained, pressed and chopped into bite size chunks
- 5 oz baby greens or baby spinach
- fresh basil, limes and cashews, for serving
- white, brown or cauliflower rice, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the curry paste and tofu, toss and sauté for another 2 minutes.
- Add the pumpkin, coconut milk, water, sugar, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook until the pumpkin is tender and cooked through, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in the baby greens and cook until they’ve just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice. Serve warm, over rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I had a big pumpkin that I had baked. So, I didn’t need a cup of water, since I had two cups of cooked pumpkin. The recipe is delicious and will be a family favorite. Very simple and delicious. Thank you!
So glad this recipe was a hit, Michele! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
We didn’t have squash so we used sweet potatoes instead. It was excellent!
Would this be appropriate for a 9 month old, given that there is added sugar? Would you leave the sugar out? I think my baby would love the tofu and pumpkin!
Hi Amy – I would consult with your pediatrician if you’re unsure your baby can have this, just to be on the safe side!
I made this curry for me and my husband tonight. I was so yummy! I used a pie pumpkin for the recipe and it worked well.
This is a delicious and easy recipe. It’s my go to recipe for my non Vegan guests. Depending on my company, I add a little extra brown sugar to the recipe for a slightly sweeter version. I love it best with the Kabocha.
Thank you, Ana! I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment + review.
This is truly the perfect intersection of an easy and incredible tasting dinner. My 1 year old LOVES the tofu chunks soaked in this curry. Thank you for providing a recipe that the whole family enjoys!
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Amanda. I’m pumped to hear this recipe was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Late to posting this, but I made this last month and it was absolutely delicious. Served it with sticky rice, which soaked up all the yummy coconut & curry sauce. Froze the leftovers and thawing it out for tonight’s dinner. Will definitely keep this recipe, thanks!
Ahh yay!! So glad you loved this curry, Dahlia. I really appreciate you coming back to leave a review. 🙂
How long is typically cooking the vegetables until “fragrant”?
Do you think low-fat coconut milk is a proper substitute? Or is it necessary to use full fat?
Finally, as another person mentioned, is the coconut sugar required for the recipe? Or would it still taste good to leave it out?
Hi Melissa – It depends on the doneness that you are looking for, typically 3-5 minutes. Yes, low fat will work, but the sauce might not me as creamy. I haven’t tried this recipe without the sugar, so I am not sure how it might change the flavor. Let me know if you give this recipe a try and how it turns out! Enjoy!
Thank you, Brittany! One last question though. It seems that all tofu recipes specify extra firm. Would it make a huge difference if I substituted firm tofu?
As you might have guessed, I’m not an experienced cook! 😊
No problem! The texture is a bit different between the firm and extra firm, so it might be softer/fall apart while being cooked compared to the extra firm.
If I were to incorporate chicken, at what stage in the recipe would I do that? Thanks!
I would cook the chicken separately and then add it in or cook it where it says to add the tofu, but I would cook the chicken through before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Made this recipe for my husband tonight who is typically a huge meat eater, and he LOVED it! I couldn’t find the red curry paste at my local supermarket so I substituted with 3 tsps of curry powder. Still came out great and we’re both looking forward to eating the leftovers tomorrow!
Ahh yay! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks so much for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Kelly. I really appreciate it. 🙂