This easy coconut curry is a comforting vegan-friendly dish for fall.
Hello from North Carolina! I’ve been all over lately—Arizona last week, now down here in NC—but one thing’s stayed totally consistent: my obsession with bold, unexpected flavors in plant-based dishes. This coconut curry with almond butter, sweet potato, and apple noodles has caught me off guard in the best possible way. The creamy coconut meets the nutty almond butter for richness, while the spirals of sweet potato and apple noodles add elements of freshness, crispness, and brightness. They dance beautifully against the heat of the curry.
I recommend making this on a chilly evening, the kind of night when you’re craving comfort food but you don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy dish. The first spoonful will dazzle you by being sweet, spicy, creamy, and fresh all at once. Then, the texture is layered. You’ve got silky sauce, tender sweet potato spirals, crisp apple, and those little pumpkin seed crunches that harmonize into one cohesive dish. If you’re a big fan of fall flavors, they all shine here—perfect for lunch, weeknight dinners, or any other friendly foodie gathering.
Mastering veggie noodles
Noodles made from spiralized vegetables can be tricky. They tend to go limp if you overcook them, which is easy to do, and too much sauce can make them soggy. Here are some tips to keep in mind when cooking with them:
Dry them first: After spiralizing the noodles, gently pat them dry. Removing any excess moisture will help prevent them from getting mushy in the pan.
Use the right blade size: I like to use a 3-millimeter blade. Thicker noodles hold their shape and texture better while they’re cooking.
Sauté quickly: Vegetable noodles do not need long in the pan. Sauté sweet potato spirals for around 3 minutes until just tender.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Tossing too many veggie noodles into the pan will cause them to steam and turn to mush, which you don’t want.
How do I store leftovers?
After cooking, let the curry cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container to keep in the fridge. It should keep for up to 3-4 days. Apple noodles don’t keep very well and will soon oxidize, so try to only spiralize as many as you can eat in one sitting. When reheating your curry, warm it gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally so the sauce loosens.
Serving suggestions
This curry bowl is packed with filling, healthy ingredients, making it a full meal in and of itself. If you want to bulk it up further, you could serve it with a side of Basmati Rice or Naan. And for even more delicious ways to mix sweet potato and curry, try this Sweet Potato Curry Soup, this Vegan Coconut Sweet Potato Curry With Sweet Potato Noodles, and this Grilled Sweet Potato Salad With Curry Almond Butter Vinaigrette.
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 large sweet potato spiralized with the 3-millimeter blade
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced
- 1 1/2-2 teaspoons yellow curry powder
- 1 13-ounce can light coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons creamy almond butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pepper
- 1/2 a large apple spiralized with the 3-millimeter blade
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
- 2 tablespoons golden raisins
- Chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
- Add in the sweet potato noodles and fresh ginger and cook, stirring frequently, until the noodles just begin to soften and wilt, about 3 minutes.
- Add in the curry powder and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour in the coconut milk along with the almond butter, salt, and a sprinkle of pepper into the pan. Stir until well combined and the almond butter melts. Bring the curry to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the curry thickens, about 10-15 minutes.
- Divide the curry between bowls and top with the spiralized apple noodles, pumpkin seeds, and raisins, and garnish with cilantro.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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