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Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · · · 🗨 35 Comments

Recipe ▼

Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice.

Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice. | RotiNRice.com

One of the most versatile and abundant fall produce is the pumpkin. Out here in the West, pumpkins are mainly used in soups and desserts. As far as I can remember, they are frequently used as a vegetable in savory dishes in Malaysia. One popular dish is pumpkin rice similar to the Spiced Rice and Squash I made recently. They are also used in stir-fries and curries.

Pumpkin in Curry

I bought a perfectly shaped pie pumpkin home from the store last weekend but wasn’t sure what to make with it. Looking at my Recipe Index, I spied a recipe under the Malaysian section and knew instantly what’s for dinner that evening. I figured the sweet pumpkin would be delicious in the tangy and fragrant Nyonya curry sauce coupled with shrimps. I was very happy with the outcome and so was the rest of the family.

Two days later, I made the curry again using chicken as per my Chicken Curry with Kaffir Lime Leaves recipe and decided to update the post with fresh write-up and pictures. The recipe remains the same. The other curry recipe that you may enjoy is Labu Lodeh. Do check them out.

This delicious Nyonya Chicken Curry with Kaffir Lime Leaves is rich, creamy, spicy, and tangy. Kaffir lime leaves make the curry very aromatic. | RotiNRice.com This Labu Lodeh is based on the popular Indonesian sayur lodeh with the addition of cubed pumpkin to the mix of vegetables simmered in coconut milk. | RotiNRice.com

Now, let us get back to today’s Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry recipe. This curry turned out to be relatively mild as the red chilies found here are not that spicy and the sweet pumpkin did neutralize the heat a little. Ro-Jiro who has a mild palate had no problems eating this at all.

Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice. | RotiNRice.com

Similar Tools Used in Making This Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry

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“Terre D’Umbria” 1-Handle Casserole Made of Terracotta (Earthenware) 21 Cm (8.5 Inches)
9″ Coconut Shell Long Handle Wooden Kitchen Cooking Ladle Spoons Utensils Set of 2
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Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice. | RotiNRice.com
5 from 4 votes

Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry

Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice.
Author : Linda Ooi
Course : Main Dish
Cuisine : Malaysian
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings : 4
Calories : 514kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1½ cup coconut milk (360ml)
  • 6 Kaffir lime leaves
  • 3 pieces asam gelugor (3 tbsp lime juice)
  • 1 pie pumpkin (peeled, seeds removed, and cubed) (2½ lbs / 1.12kg)
  • 8 oz shrimp (peeled and deveined) (225g)
  • Salt to taste

Spice Paste

  • 5 red chilies (cut into small pieces)
  • 6 shallots or 1 medium sized onion (peeled, and cut into small pieces)
  • 1 stalk lemongrass (sliced bottom third into rings)
  • 1½ in galangal or ginger root
  • 3 cloves garlic (peeled, and halved)
  • ¾ tsp ground turmeric

Instructions
 

  • Blend spice paste ingredients in a blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons of water until fine.
    Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry-7
  • Heat vegetable oil in a pot and stir fry ground spice paste until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  • Add coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, and asam gelugor (if using).
    Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry-8
  • When sauce comes to a boil, season with salt to taste. Reduce heat to medium low and allow sauce to simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add cubed pumpkin and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes, until pumpkin is tender but not mushy.
  • Add shrimp and cook for another 3 minutes.
    Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry-9
  • If you did not use asam gelugor, stir in lime juice now. Turn off heat and allow curry to sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 514kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @RotiNRice or tag #RotiNRice

Curry normally thickens and the flavor develops when allowed to sit. The oils will float to the surface, giving it a nice glistening and very appetizing look. Serve warm with lots of steamed rice.

Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice. | RotiNRice.com

Aromatic Nyonya Style Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry in a creamy, spicy, and tangy sauce. Very appetizing and delicious served with rice. | RotiNRice.com

Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎


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Comments

  2. Lyndsey says

    I just picked up 2 pie pumpkins this weekend…planning on doing something with it. This curry looks so good, and special! I hope my pie pumpkin is sweet enough!

    Reply

  10. tigerfish says

    How I wish I can eat some pumpkin now. I will be missing pumpkin a lot this fall due to my injury and difficulty in cutting the hard-core of pumpkin 🙁

    Love your nyonya style cooking for this dish. Very appetizing!

    Reply

  11. Lucy @ Lucy eats says

    I’ve always grown up with pumpkin being a sweet, desserty kinda food and the idea of putting spices in it makes me cringe. I am still trying to get used to the idea of pumpkin soup but your addition of yummy shrimp intrigues me..

    Reply

  15. Devaki @ weavethousandflavors says

    This is has my name written all over Biren – infact I was just thinking of a similar pumnpkin and shrimp dish we make but with mustard and I haven’t made that is ages either.

    But this too heavenly to miss. I must get on this month’s menu 🙂

    chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

    Reply

    • Biren says

      Good to see you again, Devaki. 🙂 In Malaysia, pumpkin is often paired with the intense flavor of dried shrimps. The two go together really well. Shrimps work well too!

      Reply

  16. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    Pumpkin and curry is a great combination – I actually found that out from my favorite Thai restaurant… it’s seasonal but they had it and oh my it was really delicious! Adding shrimp will make my husband happy because he needs meat or seafood in the meal. Oh looks so delish Biren!!!!

    Reply

    • Biren says

      Yes, pumpkin and curry is definitely a great combination. Adding a little shrimp makes it even tastier! It is understandable that the curry dish is seasonal here as fresh pie pumpkins are seldom found outside of the fall season.

      Reply

  19. Blackswan says

    Biren, I must say this is such a mouth-watering dish & I’m already salivating now! OMG, I can feel the sourness in my mouth. Stop it, Biren!! U’re making me drool! Lol!

    Reply

  27. Diana says

    I have some left-overs pumpkin that I used for traditional cake last weekend and just bought some shrimp. How lucky I felt today to get to know your blog. This recipe come in so handy. Will love to try this.

    Reply

  28. Lyn says

    This recipe is interesting to me bcoz I’ve never try adding pumpkin to curry nor have I tasted it before! Yours looks so appetizing and I love its beautiful color! 😉

    Reply