Roasted Vegetable and Nut Christmas Curry:

The holiday season is characterized by warmth as well as togetherness, but most importantly, delicious food. Yet, the problem with Christmas jollification is that however the festive atmosphere is distracting all and everyone seems to be fun, it is not easy to hit the spot with one dish for all – more so for those who have vegetarian pals or wish for an easier on the tummies version of the usual heavy meats.
Thus, the inspiration for the Christmas is roasted Vegetable and Nut curry. The dish is a fantastic combination of seasonal fresh vegetables, decadent spices, coconut milk, and a generous amount of toasted nuts. It is both tasty and textural, which also makes it a very healthy dish to include in your festive menu. Whether you are a lifelong vegetarian or simply someone who loves a tasty plant-based meal, this curry will impress even the most fastidious eaters at the table.

Why Make This Curry for Christmas?

Dishes such as curries do not exactly feature prominently in most people’s snapshots of a Christmas family feast. Well, let us take a step beyond that! Curries are intense, packed with heat and comfort, that one would need for a festive season meal. In addition to that, this curry also has roasted seasonal vegetables such as butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and bell peppers blended into the curry, which gives it a wholesome festive feeling.

Adding these vegetables along with crunchy nuts such as cashews and almonds not only enhances the richness of the dish but also enhances the experience of eating every single bite. What do you know? A completely appropriate dish that is wholesome enough to be served as a main course but sufficiently light that it doesn’t leave you feeling stuffed inside. Not forgetting, it’s Vegan and naturally gluten-free, which is a plus!

Want to treat your loved ones with a twist this season, guaranteed that they will love it? Let us all head to the kitchen now!

The Ingredients That Make This Nut Christmas Curry Special

Let me first tell you the reason why this curry is so addictive before going into the recipe.
Butternut Squash: This winter squash is sweet, creamy, and tender when roasted and even a little caramelized. It enhances the flavor of the curry very well.
Brussels Sprouts: Roasting brussels sprouts caramelizes them, enhances their sweetness, and provides crispiness on the outside. These vegetables are in a perfect contrast with the soft squash.
Bell Peppers: The use of both red and yellow bell peppers acts as a color enhancer and gives the dish a mild sweetness which balances the heat from the curry.
Spices: This is where equity instead of efficiency comes in. It is the warm, spicy and aromatic flavour warm thanks to the spice mix composed of cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon and chili powder.
Coconut Milk: Coconut cream coconut milk thickens the curry and makes it rich though not too heavy because it is creamy smooth and a bit sweet.
Nuts: The addition of cashew and almond would not only enhanced the texture of the dish but would also added a rich nutty flavor which is harmonious with the vegetables and spices.
Chickpeas: These filling legumes also add textural interest and extra protein so they make this dish even more satisfying and hearty.

Step by Step Instructions for Roasted Vegetable and Nut Christmas Curry

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

⦁ 2 cups butternut squash peeled and diced
⦁ 1 cup Brussels sprouts, chopped in half
⦁ 1 red bell pepper diced
⦁ 1 yellow bell pepper diced
⦁ 1 medium onion cut into cube.
⦁ 2 tablespoons olive oil
⦁ 1 teaspoon cumin powder
⦁ 1 teaspoon coriander powder
⦁ 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
⦁ ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
⦁ ½ teaspoon of chili powder
⦁ 1 can 14 oz of coconut milk
⦁ 1 cup vegetable broth.
⦁ 1 cup chickpeas cooked
⦁ ⅔ cup cashew large cut
⦁ ⅔ cup almond large cut
⦁ Salt to taste
⦁ Pepper to taste
⦁ Some cilantro leaves for decoration

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat the Oven
First things first, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degree Celsius. This stage in the cooking process entails roasting the vegetables which will help caramelize their edges and, consequently, sweeten them enhancing the overall dish.

Step 2: Season and Roast the Vegetables
Take a big bowl and put all the butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, red and yellow bell peppers and red onion into it. Conclusively, add some olive oil and season with cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, chili powder, salt and pepper to the vegetables before mixing them. Ensure that this seasoning process is done well and all vegetables are covered inside the spices.
Lay out the spiced vegetables on a baking tray in a single layer to avoid them steaming and not roasting properly. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway, until the vegetables are soft and have some brown edges.

Step 3: Prepare the Curry Base
At the same time as the vegetables are roasting, it’s also essential to create the curry base. Take a big-sized pot and pour in the coconut milk and vegetable stock and place it on a medium flame until it starts to slightly bubble.

Step 4: Add the Chickpeas
After the base mixture has reached the simmering point, introduce the previously cooked chickpeas into the post. In order to infuse the coconut milk with the taste of chickpeas, allow it to boil for 5 minutes after stirring in the chickpeas.

Step 5: Combine Roasted Vegetables with the Curry
After finishing cooking the vegetables, place them into the saucepan containing coconut milk and chickpeas. Turn the pot so that every vegetable is immersed in the coconut curry sauce.

Step 6: Add the Nuts
Now for the crunchy magic! The chopped cashew and almond should go perfectly with the curry as they should embellish the dish. Add the nuts in the curry and let it simmer for 5 – 10 minutes more for better cohesiveness of the flavors and to soften the nuts a bit.

Step 7: Season and Serve

Lastly, taste the curry and add salt or pepper to the curry if they deem it necessary before serving it to guests. Serve the made curry while it is hot and preferably with some fresh cilantro on top to offer some bursts of freshness.

Tips for Success:

Roasting the Vegetables:
Don’t afford to skip the roasting step! It is very important in developing the deep, rich flavors that makes this curry wonderful. Stirring the vegetables half way ensures that they cook evenly.

Make Your Own Vegetables:
While butternut squash and brussels sprouts tend to carry the praise for this dish, you can easily find some substitutes like sweet potatoes, carrots, or cauliflower whenever you are on a budget.

Make It Ahead:
The next day, enjoy this curry again. It gets better as everything soaks and melds together. Do it early and keep in the refrigerator for an easy to prepare festive meal.

Serve with Sides:
Consider adding some basmati rice, naan, or even a basic quinoa salad in accompaniment to this curry for an enriching Christmas meal.

Why This Curry Is Just Right For A Christmas Gathering

Presentation That Evokes Awe And Is Effortless: It looks so gorgeous that one may think it is difficult to cook but this is or rather turns out to be a very simple dish to make. Assembling the spices, veggies and nuts will not take even an hour of your time hence making it a great dish to cook even on the crazy festive days.

Ideal For Every Type Of Eating Habits: This meal is exciting because it is vegan, gluten free and also nut free if one does not add cashew nuts or almond. They are ideal irrespective of the diet version of the guests.

Has A Well Thought Meal: This dish is full of vegetables and chick peas which are high in fiber, contains healthy fats in the nuts and coconut milk and also contains a variety of healthy nutrients to prove that even festive pigging out can be healthy.