Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil or sesame oil
1 small sweet onion, diced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp red curry paste
2 cups vegetable broth
1 can coconut milk
1 cup pureed pumpkin
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup red lentils (dry)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups baby spinach
1⁄4 – 1⁄2 cup toasted salted cashews (optional)
fresh cilantro (optional)
Served with cooked brown rice – available at Holland and Barrett

Method

1. Heat oil in a deep skillet or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook about 2 minutes, just until it starts to turn golden. Stir in the garlic and curry paste and cook about 1 minute, until the curry paste is fully incorporated.
2. Stir in the broth, coconut milk, pumpkin, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and cook on medium-low heat about 15 minutes, until the lentils are cooked but not too soft. Stir occasionally. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
3. During the last 3-5 minutes of cooking, add 2 cups of baby spinach – allowing it to wilt into the curry.
4. Serve over rice, quinoa, cauliflower or your favourite base. If desired, add chopped roasted cashews and cilantro to the top for colour, flavour, and crunch

Pumpkin Nutritional Information
Pumpkin is a type of winter squash that’s in the same plant family as cucumbers and melons. It’s technically a fruit since it contains seeds. Yet, in terms of nutrition, it’s more like a vegetable. Pumpkin is an incredibly nutritious food. It’s nutrient dense, meaning it has lots of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories.
Pumpkin gives you a hefty dose of beta carotene, which is partially converted into vitamin A which can help your body fight infections. Some research shows that vitamin A is particularly important for strengthening the intestinal lining, making it more resistant to infections.

Lentil Nutritional Information
Lentils are relatively quick and easy to prepare, and their low cost makes them an accessible form of high quality protein for many people around the world. Consuming all types of plant based foods has associations with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions.
Plant based foods often provide a wide range of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and may contain antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work against free radicals, which are compounds in the body that may contribute to inflammation and cancer. Lentils are a plentiful source of fiber, folic acid, and potassium. These nutrients all support heart health.