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Home Collections Curries

Easy Coconut Curry Sauce

By:Nagi
Published:30 Apr '18Updated:15 Oct '19
193 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Here’s a really terrific Coconut Curry Sauce with beautiful depth of flavour yet is made with everyday spices. It’s an Indian style sauce –  outrageously addictive, and pairs beautifully with chicken, vegetables and legumes.

I’ve used made a Coconut Curry with pumpkin, lentils and cashews here, but see the recipe for the “formula” to use it for what you please! On the table in 30 minutes.

Tablescape overhead photo of Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin in a dark bowl with a side of rice, ready to be served.

Easy Coconut Curry Sauce

If you’ve ever dumped curry powder into liquid then stomped your foot in a huff when you found the sauce to be meh, then this easy Coconut Curry Sauce is for you!

You’re going to absolutely love that you can find all the spices at supermarkets.

You’re going to adore the beautiful coconut flavour that mingles with the spices.

You’ll go bonkers over how it tastes like a full flavoured coconut Indian curry – except you made it in 30 minutes from scratch.

And you’re going to really enjoy lapping up all the compliments from your family and friends. (“OMG that’s the best curry I’ve ever had!!” <– True story, text from a friend)

Close up of Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin in a black skillet

Coconut curry sauce spices

The spices in the coconut curry sauce are:

  • curry powder

  • tumeric

  • coriander

  • cumin

  • paprika

  • garam masala*

Curry powder is the base for this Easy Coconut Curry, but it’s too bland if you don’t add other spices. I experimented with various combinations and tried to cut down on the number of spices but it just wasn’t the same. So they’re all staying in!

What is garam masala?

Garam masala is a crucial spice mix in Indian cooking and smells like a potent curry powder. It really makes a difference in simple curry sauces, so be sure not to skip it! Here in Australia, you’ll find it at all the major supermarkets nowadays, and it costs no more than other spices.

Spices for Coconut Curry sauce

Making the coconut curry sauce

There’s nothing tricky about the coconut curry sauce:

  • Sauté onion, garlic and ginger (fresh please!);

  • Add Spices and cook – this brings out the flavour of the spices, making them bloom;

  • Add coconut milk, tomato passata (tomato puree in the States, or even Tomato Sauce) plus chicken or vegetable broth/stock;

  • Simmer to bring the flavours together

And there you have your curry sauce. And this is where you can unleash your wild side and let the creative juices flow. Or, as the case may be, rummage in your pantry and squabble around in the fridge and use whatever you can find. 🙂

Preparation steps for Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin

What to put in Coconut Curry

This is where things get fun. You can literally put anything in this Easy Coconut Curry Sauce and it’s going to taste great. Here are some ideas:

  • Lentils, pumpkin, spinach and cashews (pictured). Terrific combination my friends go bonkers over;

  • Chicken, fish or prawns – sear before starting recipe, then add them back in later;

  • Sweet potato, normal potato, zucchini, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, squash;

  • Other legumes – chickpeas are sensational, and any other type of beans.

I’ve included a guide in the recipe notes for when to add different ingredients. For proteins, it’s well worth searing them before starting the recipe, then just add them back in later once the sauce is done.

Preparation steps for Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin

Close up of Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin in a black skillet

30 minutes. That’s how far away you are from a homemade-from-scratch Coconut Curry.

The flavour is not quite as in-your-face punchy like with Butter Chicken or Chicken Tikka Masala, but it’s still got quite an intense Indian-style curry flavour.

But then again, you haven’t had to marinate overnight and you’ve used half the spices.

But no one would ever say this is lacking in taste. No one has ever accused me of making bland food – and I intend to keep it that way!!  – Nagi x

PS If you’re after a milder, more creamy style Western curry, try this Everyday Chicken Curry – a 5 ingredients from scratch curry sauce.


If you love coconut milk sauces, you’ll love these!

  • An amazing easy Thai Coconut Noodle Soup

  • Salmon in Coconut Lime Sauce

  • Coconut Pot Roasted Chicken

  • Coconut Marinated Chicken

  • Thai Coconut Chicken

  • Thai Green Curry and Red Curry

  • Browse the Curry Collection

Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin served over rice in a small black bowl, ready to be eaten.

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Coconut Curry with Lentils & Pumpkin served over rice in a small black bowl, ready to be eaten.

Easy Coconut Curry Sauce

Author: Nagi
Prep: 12 minutes mins
Cook: 18 minutes mins
Total: 30 minutes mins
Main Course
Indian
4.96 from 50 votes
Servings5
Tap or hover to scale
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Recipe video above. Spiciness: Low, as long as your Curry Powder and Garam Masala are not spicy.
This 30 minute recipe is all about the sauce. A mild coconut curry sauce with a beautiful depth of flavour that belies how quick and easy it is. Tastes like an Indian curry, but not quite as intense, nor spicy. It's utterly addictive. I really love lentils and pumpkin with this creamy sauce, but feel free to use whatever you want, including proteins - see notes. 

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 garlic cloves , minced
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger , finely grated
  • 1/2 onion , finely chopped (brown or yellow)
  • 400g/14oz can coconut milk (full fat)
  • 1 cup/ 250 ml chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup / 125 ml tomato passata (tomato puree) (Note 1)
  • 400 g/14 oz can brown lentils , drained
  • 250 g / 8 oz pumpkin (~3 cups) , cut into 2cm / 4/5" cubes
  • 80 g / 2 cups (packed) baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup cashews , unsalted (roasted or raw) (Note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp each salt + pepper

Spices:

  • 1 tbsp garam masala (Note 3)
  • 2 tbsp curry powder (mild or spicy, your choice) (Note 4)
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp paprika (sweet, or hot for spice!)
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric

Serving:

  • Coriander/cilantro leaves, whole or chopped
  • Chopped cashews (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger, cook for 2 minutes until onion is a bit tinged with gold.
  • Add Spices and stir for 1 minute - don't worry if it looks a bit dried out.
  • Add coconut milk, passata and broth. Stir until incorporated.
  • Add lentils and pumpkin. Bring to simmer then adjust heat so it's simmering energetically.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes or until pumpkin is tender but not mushy, and sauce has thickened.
  • Stir through baby spinach until wilted, then cashew nuts.
  • Add salt and pepper last, adjusting to taste.
  • Serve over rice, sprinkled with coriander and extra cashews, if using.

Recipe Notes:

1. Crushed canned tomato can also be used here but doesn't yield the same smooth sauce. Use 3/4 cup.
2. Roughly chopped macadamia or pistachios would be a great sub. Otherwise, leave the cashews out and sprinkle generously with store bought fried shallots or onions (Asian section of supermarket), these are a great alternative for providing texture and added interest into the curry.
3. Garam Masala is a spice mix that is found in major supermarkets in Australia (Woolies, Coles etc) that is commonly used in Indian cooking. It smells like curry powder and is not spicy, if you buy it from standard supermarkets. If you get it from a speciality store, check the spiciness before using - you may wish to dial it back a bit.
4. I use Cloves of India (sold at supermarkets, spice section), mild or spicy. Any curry powder will be fine here because it's not intended to be a full blown authentic Indian curry.
5. The Formula: This recipe is all about the curry sauce, so feel free to use it for whatever you want to put in it. It makes about 3 1/2 cups of sauce which is enough for about 4 - 5 packed cups of "stuff".
Examples: 500g/1 lb chicken cut into bite size pieces (~2 1/2 cups) + 2 1/2 cups of chopped veggies of choice. Or 500g / 1 lb prawns / shrimp + 2 cups chopped sweet potato. Or 5 cups of veggies, chopped into bite size pieces. Or 1 can of beans (~2 cups) plus 3 cups of chopped veggies. Etc etc. 🙂
Stir throughs like spinach which wilts down to nothing is a freebie that doesn't count in the cups allowance, and similarly with a small amount of nuts.
Proteins (chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish and prawns/shrimp especially great) - brown first then remove (still raw inside ok), then proceed with recipe. Add it back in to finish cooking through / reheat. For beef and lamb, be sure to use a nice marbled cut and don't overcook, keep it juicy inside. You could also stir through shredded or chopped precooked meat.
Vegetables, add them into the sauce based on the cook time. The sauce needs 10 minutes to reduce / flavours to develop.
Legumes (beans) - whether canned or cooked dried beans, add them in as soon as the sauce is mixed and simmer for the full time so they soak up some flavour.
Dried lentils (2/3 dried = 1 can drained) - use 2/3 cup dried and simmer in 3 cups of lightly salted water for  20 minutes or until tender but still firm (not mushy). Drain and use per recipe.
6. Nutrition per serving, assuming 5 servings. It's a pretty generous amount! Excludes rice. It could almost be a meal in itself.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 316gCalories: 432cal (22%)
Keywords: Coconut Curry, coconut curry sauce
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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193 Comments

  1. Irma says

    November 2, 2023 at 7:42 am

    5 stars
    I did not follow this recipe, I just used the sauce part and added completely different veggies. Works a charm with everything. This is a great all purpose sauce. I added 1/2tsp ground fennel aswell. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
  2. Rachael says

    October 23, 2023 at 8:15 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is an absolute winner- I’ve made it twice in a week! First time exactly as written with pumpkin, and the second time I used kohlrabi from my garden. Delicious, hearty, easy 😊

    Reply
  3. Elin says

    October 7, 2023 at 4:49 am

    Delicious!

    We make this curry recipe regularly but especially enjoy it in pumpkin season! It’s fairly easy to replace ingredients if you wouldn’t have it on hand and works well with sweet potato instead, if necessary.

    I believe all measurements are right, the taste is lovely! I recommend serving it with a splash of Sriracha or such. And toast the cashews!

    Nagi – Many thanks from Sweden!

    Reply
  4. Felicity says

    September 26, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    5 stars
    OMG. This curry sauce was amazing. Easy to source ingredients and easy to make. We all loved it.

    Reply
  5. Frida R says

    September 25, 2023 at 7:30 am

    5 stars
    This curry was so easy and had an AMAZING flavor. Even better the next day. This is the first of Nagi’s Indian recipes I tried cooking, and I’m definitely gonna check out more of them. Even my boyfriend loved it, and he’s not usually not a fan of the components (spices, squash, ginger.) I used 1/2 cup French lentils and a half an acorn squash and only a teaspoon of the garum masala, as suggested by other commenters. I also stirred in 3 tablespoons of sour cream at the end, for extra creaminess. I didn’t have cashews or spinach on hand but it was still good without them.

    Reply
  6. Peter says

    September 1, 2023 at 3:46 pm

    Typo in note 4: should be Clive of India curry powder.

    Reply
    • Sue H says

      October 17, 2023 at 7:49 am

      Ha ha! Well spotted, but Cloves of India sounds more romantic!

      Reply
  7. Rea says

    August 18, 2023 at 5:16 am

    PS Forgot to ask ~ how long does this keep in the fridge & ***can I freeze it?*** Need an answer urgently please 🙏🏻 bec going away for a few days

    Reply
  8. Rea says

    August 18, 2023 at 5:11 am

    Another keeper from Nagi. Incredible❣️

    Reply
  9. Kate says

    August 17, 2023 at 6:34 pm

    Wow. This is so very delicious. How you spoil us Nagi! This tastes like a take-out meal and I just love the simplicity and deliciousness. The cashews and pumpkin, spinach combo is a winner. Thanks again Nagi x

    Reply
  10. El says

    July 27, 2023 at 10:26 am

    5 stars
    Made according to the recipe, so delicious. Great flavour, quick and easy, and a great vegetarian option!

    Reply
  11. Steve says

    July 24, 2023 at 2:38 am

    Tomato puree is not Passata.

    Reply
  12. Cherilyn McLay says

    July 5, 2023 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight, wanted a vege curry – didn’t have pumpkin & spinach so used carrot, potato, broccoli and silverbeet. Great flavour and simple – will definately put this on repeat.

    Reply
  13. Barry says

    February 1, 2023 at 4:05 am

    Hi Nagi, can you please confirm it is 1 tablespoon of Garam Marsala, instead of 1 teaspoon ? Seems an awful lot from my “limited” experience 🙂 Thank you, love your recipes.

    Reply
    • D says

      April 20, 2023 at 8:53 am

      I would use 1tsp. I made it with 1Tbsp tonight and after tasting decided I’d use much less next time. Does have a strong Garam Masala flavor.

      Reply
      • Mike says

        August 31, 2023 at 12:12 pm

        Garam Masala; a little goes a long way!!

        Reply
      • Barry says

        May 1, 2023 at 9:43 am

        Thank you D, it seemed a lot to me, much appreciated 🙂

        Reply
        • Simone Tyson says

          May 4, 2023 at 6:54 pm

          Having put in a tablespoon it’s way too strong and almost inedible. Note to self: read the comments first!

          Reply
  14. Margie says

    January 16, 2023 at 8:59 am

    Can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth in this coconut curry sauce?

    Reply
  15. Maria says

    October 30, 2022 at 3:14 am

    I am thinking of making the basic curry sauce to serve alongside an indian roasted lamb leg….would that work with it??

    Reply
  16. Sue S says

    September 20, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    The curry is fun to make and the flavours are really useful for all kinds of other ingredients.
    I was looking for a vegetarian meal, added the pumpkin, green lentils, cashews and spinach…so good.
    Great consistency. I’ll definitely do this again. Planning to freeze a small quantity.

    Reply
  17. Jenyne says

    September 19, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    Hello,
    I want to make this without tomatoes as my friend is allergic. What could I use in its place, or could I just omit it altogether and add more stock. Thanks

    Reply
  18. Pandora says

    April 15, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    5 stars
    I added some of that readymade Thai garlic/ginger/chili/lemongrass paste into the sauce. For veg I used a bag of frozen Kroger brand “Mexican” veg blend, fresh spinach, beet greens, and mushrooms. I seared some tofu and my sons added some leftovers chicken thighs. So easy and so delicious!

    Reply
  19. Arnella says

    March 9, 2022 at 10:29 am

    This recipe is so versatile and delicious. I’ve made it twice with chicken and pumpkin and again with tofu, shrimps and sweet potatoes. Absolutely a winner with so much flavor and nutrients. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  20. Annette says

    March 7, 2022 at 10:12 pm

    I’m wondering if this would work in the slow cooker with some lamb shoulder or chuck for a cheaper red meat option ?

    Reply
    • Jesse says

      January 15, 2023 at 11:13 am

      It will but use extra broth or stock and 15minutes before your ready to eat take lid off turn up to high and add the coconut milk and pumpkin. Serve once thickened. don’t add the coconut milk at the start or it will go mushy and yuck.

      Reply
    • Fannie R says

      June 20, 2022 at 5:01 am

      I think it would be fabulous! But regardless of how you cook it, I’d cut back on the tomatoes because it’s too tangy as written. Too, writing only 3 months since your question, a crockpot-size lamb shoulder roast now costs about $75 here in Massachusetts, US. It’s the most expensive meat there is, eclipsing even beef filet mignon per pound, if you can even find it.

      Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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