Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry

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Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry — An EASY one-skillet curry that’s ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

Chickpea Sweet Potato Curry — An EASY one-skillet curry that's ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

Thai Sweet Potato Curry Recipe

This sweet potato coconut curry is an easy curry that’s healthy, made in one skillet, ready in 30 minutes, hearty, comforting, and naturally vegan and gluten-free.

If you’re trying to make more meatless meals, this is a winner. You’ll never miss the meat because between the sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and spinach there’s a lot of great textures going on to keep you full and satisfied.

And holy moly, let’s talk about the flavor explosion going on. Onions are sautéed in coconut oil with garlic, ginger, and coriander before adding Thai red curry paste, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, and finishing the dish with spinach and cilantro.

The ingredients create layers of unami goodness. Savory, with a touch of acid from the lime juice, and natural sweetness from the sweet potatoes and sweet Vidalia onions.

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry - An EASY one-skillet curry that's ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

Sweet Potato Curry Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy red curry with sweet potatoes: 

  • Coconut oil
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Ginger (ground or fresh) 
  • Ground coriander 
  • Sweet potato
  • Thai red curry paste
  • Vegetable broth
  • Salt and pepper
  • Chickpeas 
  • Coconut milk
  • Fresh spinach 
  • Lime juice 
  • Soy sauce (or fish sauce, if not vegan)
  • Brown sugar
  • Fresh cilantro

How to Make This Vegetarian or Vegan

If you’re making this as a vegan/vegetarian recipe use vegetable broth or water instead of chicken broth, and use soy rather than fish sauce.

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry - An EASY one-skillet curry that's ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

How to Make Sweet Potato Curry

This sweet potato and chickpea curry couldn’t be easier to make! Here’s an overview of the basic recipe steps:

  1. Simply sauté the onion until softened, then add in the garlic, ginger, and coriander. 
  2. Add the diced sweet potato, curry paste, broth, salt, and pepper and cook until the potato chunks have softened.
  3. Stir in the chickpeas and coconut milk and let the mixture bubble away until sufficiently thickened. 
  4. Add the spinach, lime juice, and soy sauce last.
  5. Cook until the spinach has wilted, then serve! 
Chickpea Sweet Potato Curry — An EASY one-skillet curry that's ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Curry Powder Instead of Curry Paste? 

I used Thai red curry paste because I think it adds a richer and smoother flavor profile than curry powder (Indian) does, but if all you have is curry powder, you can go for it knowing that the flavor of Thai vs. Indian curry products is vastly different and your dish won’t taste like mine.

Can I Add Extra Veggies to This Recipe? 

Of course! If you have extra veggies you want to incorporate — such as cauliflower, bell peppers, tomatoes, or edamame — add them when you add the chickpeas and coconut milk to really make this a veggie-centric dish.

Can curry be made in advance?

Yes! I love have planned leftovers of this Thai sweet potato and chickpea curry recipe because they’re great for lunch the next day or an easy nuke-in-the-microwave kind of easy dinner that’s ready and waiting. In fact, I think the leftovers taste even better as the flavors marry and meld while it sits – similar to how lasagna or marinara sauce tastes better the next day!

Is this curry spicy?

As with all curry pastes and powders, they vary in intensity and everyone’s preferences for spice and heat vary, so adjust to taste. I used 2 rounded tablespoons and I wouldn’t call this sweet potato curry spicy, but there’s robust flavor. My 10-year-old (at the time I originally posted this!) said she gives it a 4 on a 1-10 scale of spiciness. We like spicy food though.

What’s the best coconut milk for making curry?

I used canned lite coconut milk to make this sweet potato curry, but you’re welcome to use full-fat if desired. Full-fat coconut milk will result in a richer, creamier sweet potato chickpea curry. 

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry - An EASY one-skillet curry that's ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

Storage Instructions

This easy curry recipe is amazing right out of the skillet. In fact, I can’t stop taking little tastes of the broth as it simmers.

However, leftovers taste just as good! The chickpea sweet potato curry keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Curry

We love serving this curry alongside rice for soaking up the sauce, and naan bread for mopping up our plates. Other great curry side dishes are:

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4.66 from 192 votes

Sweet Potato Curry

By Averie Sunshine
An EASY one-skillet sweet potato curry that's ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients  

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, olive oil may be substituted
  • 1 medium/large sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, diced small
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons ground ginger or 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 2 medium/large or 1 extra-large sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 cups, diced)
  • 1 to 3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste, or to taste (curry powder may be substituted, to taste)
  • 1 cup low-sodium broth, vegetable or chicken or water (I used water)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • one 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (I used no-salt added)
  • one 13-ounce can coconut milk, I used lite; full-fat will deliver a richer/thicker result
  • about 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon soy or fish sauce, optional and to taste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional and to taste
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped for garnishing (basil may be substituted)
  • rice, quinoa, or naan, optional for serving

Instructions 

  • To a large skillet, add the oil, onion, and sauté over medium-high heat until the onion begins to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes; stir intermittently.
  • Add the garlic, ginger, coriander, and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir frequently.
  • Add the sweet potato and stir to combine with the onions.
  • Add the curry paste, broth or water, salt, pepper, and stir to combine.
  • Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and allow mixture to gently boil for about 10 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are mostly tender; they don’t have to be completely cooked through yet.
  • Add the chickpeas, coconut milk, turn the heat to medium-high, and cook uncovered for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until liquid volume has reduced as much as desired and thickens slightly.
  • Add the spinach, optional lime juice, optional soy or fish sauce, and stir to combine. Cook until spinach has wilted and is tender, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Taste and optionally add brown sugar, additional curry paste, salt, pepper, etc. to taste.
  • Evenly sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Curry will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 444kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 1214mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Originally posted September 27, 2017 and reposted September 29, 2023

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Recipe Rating




Comments

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad that this is a hit, even with folks as you said who “aren’t curry eaters” but this will make a curry eater out of anyone!

  1. 5 stars
    Really delicious! My family doesn’t like spicy so I made with curry powder and left out the pepper and coriander. I added chicken as well. Came out great!

  2. 5 stars
    Really delicious! My family doesn’t like spicy so I made with curry powder and left out the pepper and coriander. I added chicken as well. Came out great!

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this came out great for your family and that you tweaked the recipe to your liking!

  3. 5 stars
    I have been making this for years and I LOVE it! It is so flavorful and unique. I do either use full sodium broth or double the salt, but that’s my preference. Just a warning to cooking newbies – 35 minutes is AMBITIOUS! This recipe usually takes me an hour or more (sweet potatoes are hard to dice!!). But it doesn’t use too many dishes and it’s so worth it.

  4. 5 stars
    I have been making this for years and I LOVE it! It is so flavorful and unique. I do either use full sodium broth or double the salt, but that’s my preference. Just a warning to cooking newbies – 35 minutes is AMBITIOUS! This recipe usually takes me an hour or more (sweet potatoes are hard to dice!!). But it doesn’t use too many dishes and it’s so worth it.

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this has been a winner for you!

      To save time chopping, it is more expensive but you can always buy them prechopped (many better grocery stores sell them that way), use bagged shredded carrots, etc. Possibly an option but if not, the more you cook, the faster you get :)

  5. 5 stars
    So good! I  added a green pepper, cauliflower and a little extra sweet potato. Used all the curry paste and twice as much broth. Spicy level: 1, but I got the paste from Trader Joes :)

  6. 5 stars
    So good! I  added a green pepper, cauliflower and a little extra sweet potato. Used all the curry paste and twice as much broth. Spicy level: 1, but I got the paste from Trader Joes :)

    1. Glad this worked out well for you! The TJs paste isn’t very spicy but to doctor that up you can throw in a few generous sprinkles of cayenne pepper to bump the spice level right up.

  7. 5 stars
    I loved this so much and if there happens to be a bit leftover It is amazing the next day too! I didn’t add sugar or do the broth but there was amazing flavour. Thanks, Averie!

  8. 5 stars
    Made tonight and it was very good! I added three large carrots in with the sweet potatoes (used white sweet potatoes) and a little cauliflower. I did all the options of additions and garnishes. Served with minute brown rice. Served two with two servings left over for lunches. Will make again!Â