This creamy One Pot Vegan Curried Spaghetti with Kale recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, with a handful of ingredients, making it the perfect weeknight dinner. Kale adds crunchy, healthful texture, spices add flavor, and coconut milk gives a wonderfully silky mouth-feel.
This is my new favorite weeknight recipe and I think I am going to be craving and eating it every day. My Creamy One Pot Curried Spaghetti with Kale.
I have really been enjoying the one pot thing -- anything to get me out of doing too many dishes. And if you've tried my One Pot Chickpea Curry, you know that paring down on the number of pots and pans you use does not equate to paring down on flavor. In fact, there's something to be said for how well flavors mix and meld together when ingredients cook at the same time.
I said this recipe takes under 30 minutes, but that's probably overstating it-- it takes more like 20, especially if you prep as you go.
It is also very versatile. You can add to it some canned white beans for a protein punch, or use another vegetable if you'd prefer, instead of kale. Any green leafy would be great here, including spinach and chard, and you can definitely use a summer squash. In fact, here's a great idea: dice up some zucchini and add at the very end for even more flavor and texture.
I had a rather sucky weekend, and I am still carrying over a bit of a headache, so I am going to run now and leave you with this recipe for One Pot Curried Spaghetti with Kale. But do come back for seconds!
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Vegan One Pot Curried Spaghetti with Kale recipe
One Pot Vegan Curried Spaghetti with Kale
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti, broken into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or coconut oil
- 3 large cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 heaping tbsp garam masala (curry powder will do at a pinch)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 18-20 leaves kale, tough stems trimmed, then finely shredded. I used lacinato, but curly kale or purple kale would be fine too. So would baby kale.
- ½ cup canned coconut milk (stir the can after opening with a spoon so you don't just get the thick or thin part)
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and let the garlic cook until it starts to turn blonde.
- Add the garam masala and turmeric. Stir well, then add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until the paste starts to slightly darken, about 2-3 minutes. Add the kale and saute for a couple of minutes.
- Add the pasta and stir well to mix. Add 5 cups of water and salt and ground black pepper to taste.
- Bring the pasta to a boil over medium heat, then cover with a lid and let the pasta cook 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, take the lid off, give the pasta a good stir, and let it continue to cook another 2-4 minutes until the pasta is cooked al dente. The mix will still look a little soupy, but it will thicken upon standing.
- Stir in the coconut milk. Check seasoning. Serve hot. This pasta is best eaten just after cooking because that's when it will be creamiest, but if you need to reheat later, pop it into the microwave until warm, and then stir with a fork.
Leslie
Hi, Vaishali. Love the sound of this and just going to make it. Can you clarify whether the coconut milk is full fat or lite, please?
Vaishali
Hi Leslie, I use full fat coconut milk. You can use a lite coconut milk but the result won't be as creamy.
Susanna
This is fabulous!!!
Zelda
This recipe is now a bi-weekly staple! Did up the chili flakes to 2 tsp, increased turmeric to 1 tsp, changed out the tomato paste to 1/2 jar of spicy red pepper pasta sauce, kale can be changed out with whatever young greens I get at half-price (today is spinach and arugula), and changed out the spaghetti with zucchini noodles (also half price). With the "zoodles" not so much of a carb overload! And did learn my lesson to stick with a spaghetti style noodle - the rotini just sucked up too much liquid:(
Anonymous
This came out very good. Filling and quick.
Vaishali
So happy to hear!
Nan
I go back to this recipe often- it's one of my favorites.
Vaishali
So great to hear, Nan! ❤️
Anonymous
Have you tried doubling this recipe?
Vaishali
You can definitely do that!
Rory
Do you think this would work with zucchini noodles and less water?
Vaishali
I don't see why not, but zucchini noodles would likely need less time to cook. And yes, definitely use less water because the zucchini will express a good deal of liquid. Let me know how it turns out, if you try!
Nan
This recipe was delicious, and I was able to make it with what I already had on hand. My favorite part was eating the leftovers cold for lunch for the next two days. Perfect for a hot summer day lunch.
Alexis
I made this according to the instructions but mine never thickened up..:(
Vaishali
Hi Alexis, that is surprising because this proportion always works for me. Did you use regular pasta? Next time try reducing the water by a cup.
Jamie
Thanks, Vaishali! I love the easy one pot weeknight recipes! When do we add the kale to the pot? I think this step is missing in the instructions?
Vaishali
Sorry, Jamie, it's in Step 2. Added now.