Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry

If you’re looking for a great big bowl of healthy comfort food, look no further than this warm Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry.ย 

This Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry is a quick, healthy one pot meal. A few days ago I was writing up my grocery list for the week and asked my husband what his favorite healthy foods are. He gave me a sort of vacant, blank stare and mumbled, “Uhhhh…salad?”

Unfortunately, I think that’s the response most people would give you if you asked them the same question. We associate a big bowl of greens with New Year’s Resolutions, and think “getting healthy” involves forking dry, bitter kale into our mouths for three meals a day.

Now, don’t get me wrong, salad can be wonderful (especially if it’s That Good Salad), but healthy food runs a much wider, more diverse gamut. When it’s cold and dreary outside, I don’t much care for salad.ย I want to come home to something warm and comforting, but perhaps a bit lighter than a casserole dish full of baked macaroni and cheese. Now, when I think of my favorite healthy foods, I think of this Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry.

Save this Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry is loaded with flavor and a super comforting one pot meal.

I can’t believe it’s taken me almost six years to make a curry for the blog.ย I hope this rich, colorful curry will make up for the long wait. Here we have sweet butternut squash, ground turkey,ย and snappy bell peppers swimming in an earthy, bright coconut milk and curry broth. This dish has layers of flavor–garlic, ginger, cayenne, curry–each adding dimension and depth to the final dish. If you’re looking for healthy comfort food, this is it. A bowl of this curry will warm you from the inside out.

I love using ground turkey in saucy dishes like this, as the turkey really soaks up all the savory, spicy, sweet flavors. Turkey also happens to have more protein and fewer calories than chicken, which makes it ideal for healthy weeknight meals. You can serve the curry over rice if you like, but I find it’s plenty filling on its own, with a sprinkling of cilantro, and a generous dollop of Greek yogurt swirled in.

Speaking of yogurt, I’d never had full fat yogurt until I started buying it for little P, and OMG WHY DID NO ONE EVER TELL ME HOW AMAZING FULL FAT YOGURT IS?! Didn’t mean to yell, but someone dropped the ball here.ย I never understood the appeal of Greek yogurt until I tried full fat. Now, I’m dropping it on baked potatoes, blending it in smoothies, and swirling it into curries. The creaminess and tang isย just rightย with all the warm spices of the curry.

ground turkey product shot

This recipe was inspired byย my recent trip to Virginia to visit a turkey farm with Honeysuckle White turkey.ย On a chilly fall morning, we droveย to a family farm tucked into the valley, surrounded by tree linedย mountains.ย There we met Glenn and Sheri Rodes, one of the 700 independent family farmers Honeysuckle works with. He shared with us his passion for raising healthy, happy turkeys and for helping supply our grocery stores with safe, fresh foodย raised without any growth-promoting hormones.

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I always appreciate having the opportunity to see exactly where my food comes from and meet the people who work so hard to provide it for us. I have done a few farm tours now, and with each one I have been overwhelmed by the great care and pride the farmers take in their animals and their work. I love Honeysuckle’s commitment to supporting these family farms and providing affordable, quality meat to the public.

This Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry is a healthy, comforting one pot meal that's packed with flavor.

You can find Honeysuckle White in your local grocery store, or if you’re on the East coast, look for Shady Brook Farms.ย Next time you’re at the store, grab the ingredients for this simple one pot meal (don’t forget the full fat yogurt!), and treat yourself to a bowl of warm, healthy, comfort food!

This Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry is a quick, healthy one pot meal.

Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry

Yield: 5

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Honeysuckle White ground turkey
  • 3 teaspoons coconut oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 a butternut squash, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
  • 3 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with their juices
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cilantro, for serving
  • Prepared rice, for serving
  • Greek yogurt, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat a teaspoon of the oil over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, stirring often, until no pink remains. Remove the turkey to a plate.
  • Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and add the onion, bell pepper, and squash. Saute until the onions start to soften--3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and spices and saute until fragrant, another minute or two.
  • Add the turkey back to the pan along with the tomatoes and coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer, cover, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the butternut squash is softened.
  • Serve the mixture with a swirl of Greek yogurt, a sprinkling of fresh chopped cilantro, and rice, if desired.
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    This post is sponsored by the wonderful people at Honeysuckle White Turkey. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who keep NeighborFood running!

    21 Comments

    1. Made thisโ€ฆ.simply delicious! Have already shared it with family and friends. Will definitely become a go-to recipe for simplicity and flavor!!!

    2. Hubby and I just made this with chopped Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. Just left out the first step, did everything else the same. Served over jasmine rice with a dollop of yogurt on top–yummy!

    3. Hi! This looks delish! Have you ever made it in the instant pot? And how would you convert the time cooking if you did? Thanks!

    4. Is there any nutritional info on this recipe. My husband is a type 1 and I need the info so he knows how many carbs are in a serving. Thanks, Diana

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