- A 200g bag of brown basmati rice
- 2 baby bear squash
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 cinnamon stick
- A small handful of curry leaves
- A 200ml tin of coconut milk
- A 400g tin of chickpeas
- A 25g sachet of pumpkin seeds
- 550ml boiling water
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- Bowl
- Sieve
- Small pan with a lid
- Heatproof measuring jug
- Deep frying pan or wok with a lid
- Deep frying pan
- 1.
Tip the rice into a large bowl. Cover with cold water. Whisk for 1-2 mins till the water turns cloudy (this is the starch). Drain and rinse under cold water. Tip into a pan. Pour in 400 ml boiling water. Add a pinch of salt.
- 2.
Cover the pan and bring to the boil. Turn the heat right down and very gently simmer for 25 mins till the water is absorbed. Take off the heat. Set aside, lid on, for 5 mins to finish cooking the rice.
- 3.
While the rice simmers, halve the squash. Scoop out the seeds (see our tip for how to use them). Peel and roughly chop the squash.
- 4.
Peel and finely chop the onion. Warm a deep frying pan or wok for 1 min. Add ½ tbsp oil and the onion. Season with salt and pepper. Sweat over a low heat for 5 mins till soft and golden. Stir now and then.
- 5.
Add 1 tsp each cumin seeds and turmeric to the onion. Add 1 cinnamon stick and the curry leaves. Cook and stir for 1 min.
- 6.
Add the squash and coconut milk to the pan. Pour in 150ml boiling water. Cover. Bring to the boil. Turn the heat down a little and simmer for 15-20 mins till the squash is tender. Drain the chickpeas and add to the pan. Simmer for another 5 mins to warm everything through.
- 7.
Meanwhile, tip the pumpkin seeds into a dry frying pan. Toast over a medium heat for 2-3 mins till they pop. Fish the cinnamon stick and curry leaves out of the curry. Taste and add more seasoning if it needs it. Serve with the rice, topped with the pumpkin seeds.
- Tip
Seed stars
We’ve sent you pumpkin seeds to top your curry, but you can also roast the seeds from your squash for a snack. Pick them clean of any squash threads or flesh, rinse them and pat dry. Spread out on a baking tray, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with your remaining cumin seeds. Roast for 10-15 mins at 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4.