Kaddu Ki Sabzi Is The Simple Pumpkin Curry You Should Know

It doesn't matter how hot it is outside, we've officially reached that time of year when pumpkin reigns supreme. From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin pancakes, this sweet and tender vegetable is a major crowd-pleaser. If you want to try a more savory twist on pumpkin this fall, however, kaddu ki sabzi is a dish worth trying. With hearty ingredients and warm spices, it is everything you need to satisfy your stomach all season long.

Kaddu ki sabzi, or pumpkin sabzi, is an Indian dish that falls under the broad category of curries. While the true definition of curry is up for debate, it is typically considered to be any South or Southeast Asian dish that employs heavy usage of spices and sauce. As if attesting to the vague nature of this definition, this dish tends to be drier, or less saucy, than many curries since no large amount of liquid is added during cooking outside of some water to help the pumpkin cook evenly. Besides pumpkin, ingredients in this meal often include aromatic vegetables, as well as a wide variety of herbs and spices.

Pumpkin sabzi has few hard and fast rules, so cooks are welcome to put their own interpretation on it. Pumpkin is the central component, but for what may be the most subtly flavored fruit (yes, fruit), it benefits from classic Indian spices like cumin, turmeric, garam masala, and whole or ground chiles. Those who cook the meal in casual contexts will often add minced ginger and onions, though the dish is also a popular choice for religious holidays, during which time those who observe a Sattvic Diet abstain from these two and other ingredients; and in these cases, the dish will be made without them.

Once you have settled on the ingredients you are using, the cooking process is a simple matter of toasting any whole spices you are using separately in oil, then sauteing the peeled and cut-up pumpkin, as well as any additional vegetables, over low heat until soft. It's at this point the ground seasonings can be added because the tender veg can now absorb the flavors and fragrance of the spice blend. Pumpkin sabzi is served warm, with the pumpkin either cut into bite-sized chunks or puréed for a creamy texture. It is often enjoyed with a grain-based accoutrement such as rice or roti.