Single-Pan Global Curries

Featured in: Cinnamon Desserts

Discover a vibrant trio of curries inspired by Indian, Thai, and Caribbean culinary traditions. Each dish features wholesome ingredients like chickpeas, lentils, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and aromatic spices. Using just one pan, you’ll create flavorful meals perfect for busy weeknights. Simple instructions, flexible for vegetarian and vegan diets, and easily customizable for different heat levels or proteins. Serve with rice or bread and enjoy global comfort food at home.

Updated on Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:16:00 GMT
Vibrant Indian Chickpea Curry simmering with spices and garnished with fresh cilantro.  Pin
Vibrant Indian Chickpea Curry simmering with spices and garnished with fresh cilantro. | cinnamonnest.com

A vibrant collection of three easy, one-pot curries inspired by different world cuisines. Perfect for weeknights, these curries are packed with flavor and can be made with minimal fuss in a single pan.

Testing these curries for midweek meals brought delightful variety to dinner. I discovered just how approachable making rich and flavorful curries from different cuisines can be, all in a single pan.

Ingredients

  • Indian Chickpea Curry: Vegetable oil (2 tbsp), medium onion finely chopped (1), garlic cloves minced (2), fresh ginger grated (1-inch piece), ground cumin (2 tsp), ground coriander (2 tsp), turmeric (1 tsp), garam masala (1 tsp), diced tomatoes (1 can, 14 oz/400 g), chickpeas drained and rinsed (2 cans, 14 oz/400 g each), coconut milk (1 cup/240 ml), salt (1 tsp), fresh cilantro for garnish
  • Thai Red Lentil Curry: Coconut oil (2 tbsp), medium onion diced (1), garlic cloves minced (3), Thai red curry paste (1 tbsp), red lentils rinsed (1 cup/200 g), coconut milk (1 can, 14 oz/400 ml), vegetable broth (2 cups/480 ml), medium carrot sliced (1), red bell pepper sliced (1), soy sauce (1 tbsp), juice of 1 lime, fresh basil or cilantro for garnish
  • Caribbean Sweet Potato Curry: Olive oil (2 tbsp), medium onion sliced (1), garlic cloves minced (3), Scotch bonnet or habanero chili deseeded and minced, optional (1), curry powder (1 tbsp), large sweet potatoes peeled and diced (2), coconut milk (1 can, 14 oz/400 ml), black beans drained and rinsed (1 can, 14 oz/400 g), vegetable broth (1 cup/240 ml), thyme (1 tsp), salt and pepper to taste, fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Indian Chickpea Curry:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger. Sauté 1 minute. Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala. Cook 1 minute until fragrant. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, coconut milk, and salt. Stir well, bring to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Thai Red Lentil Curry:
Heat coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and curry paste. Cook 1 minute. Stir in lentils, coconut milk, broth, carrot, and bell pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender. Stir in soy sauce and lime juice. Garnish with basil or cilantro.
Caribbean Sweet Potato Curry:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and chili. Cook 1 minute. Stir in curry powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sweet potatoes, coconut milk, black beans, broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender. Garnish with fresh parsley.
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| cinnamonnest.com

My kids love tasting the world from our kitchen, and these curries always spark fun stories about different cultures around the dinner table.

Required Tools

Large skillet or Dutch oven, chefs knife, cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, wooden spoon

Allergen Information

Contains coconut (tree nut allergen). Soy sauce in Thai curry may contain soy and wheat (gluten). Use tamari for gluten-free option. Always check curry paste and broth labels for allergens.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 360. Total Fat: 13 g. Carbohydrates: 48 g. Protein: 12 g (per serving, average)

Thai Red Lentil Curry in a pot, featuring colorful vegetables and creamy coconut milk.  Pin
Thai Red Lentil Curry in a pot, featuring colorful vegetables and creamy coconut milk. | cinnamonnest.com

Try the curries with your favorite garnishes for color and freshness. You can easily double any curry for big batch meal prep.

Recipe FAQ

Can I make these curries vegan?

Yes, all curries can be made vegan by using plant-based broth and ensuring curry paste is free from animal products.

What sides complement these curries?

Steamed rice, naan, flatbread, or quinoa pair well with the curries and help soak up the flavorful sauces.

How spicy are the curries?

Spice levels vary by cuisine. The Caribbean curry can be adjusted by using less or more chili, while the Indian and Thai curries are milder.

Can I substitute ingredients?

Absolutely. Try white beans instead of chickpeas, split peas for lentils, or use different vegetables to suit your preferences.

What kitchen tools do I need?

You’ll need a large pan or pot, a chef's knife, cutting board, measuring tools, and a wooden spoon for cooking these curries.

Are these dishes gluten-free?

Most are gluten-free if you use tamari instead of regular soy sauce and check labels on curry pastes and broths.

Single-Pan Global Curries

Try delicious one-pan curries full of global flavors, with vegetarian and vegan options for easy weeknight meals.

Prep duration
15 min
Cooking duration
30 min
Total duration
45 min


Difficulty Easy

Origin Indian, Thai, Caribbean

Yield 12 Servings

Dietary requirements Vegetarian, Dairy-free

Ingredients

Indian Chickpea Curry

01 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
02 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
05 2 teaspoons ground cumin
06 2 teaspoons ground coriander
07 1 teaspoon turmeric
08 1 teaspoon garam masala
09 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
10 2 cans (14 ounces each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
11 1 cup coconut milk
12 1 teaspoon salt
13 Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Thai Red Lentil Curry

01 2 tablespoons coconut oil
02 1 medium onion, diced
03 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
05 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
06 1 can (14 ounces) coconut milk
07 2 cups vegetable broth
08 1 medium carrot, sliced
09 1 red bell pepper, sliced
10 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 Juice of 1 lime
12 Fresh basil or cilantro, for garnish

Caribbean Sweet Potato Curry

01 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 1 medium onion, sliced
03 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero chili, deseeded and minced (optional)
05 1 tablespoon curry powder
06 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
07 1 can (14 ounces) coconut milk
08 1 can (14 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
09 1 cup vegetable broth
10 1 teaspoon thyme
11 Salt and pepper to taste
12 Fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions

Step 01

Prepare Indian Chickpea Curry: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 02

Sauté Aromatics for Chickpea Curry: Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet; continue cooking for 1 minute.

Step 03

Spice Blooming for Chickpea Curry: Sprinkle in ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala. Stir constantly for 1 minute until the spices become aromatic.

Step 04

Simmer Chickpea Curry: Incorporate diced tomatoes, chickpeas, coconut milk, and salt. Mix thoroughly and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 05

Finish and Garnish Chickpea Curry: Top with fresh cilantro before serving.

Step 06

Prepare Thai Red Lentil Curry Base: Heat coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, around 4 minutes.

Step 07

Add Curry Paste and Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and Thai red curry paste. Continue cooking for 1 minute.

Step 08

Combine and Simmer Red Lentil Curry: Introduce rinsed red lentils, coconut milk, vegetable broth, sliced carrot, and bell pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring at intervals, until lentils are tender.

Step 09

Season and Garnish Lentil Curry: Stir in soy sauce and lime juice. Garnish with fresh basil or cilantro.

Step 10

Prepare Caribbean Sweet Potato Curry Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté sliced onion until softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 11

Add Garlic and Chili to Sweet Potato Curry: Introduce minced garlic and chili; cook for 1 minute.

Step 12

Bloom Curry Powder: Add curry powder and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 13

Simmer Sweet Potato Curry: Add diced sweet potatoes, coconut milk, black beans, vegetable broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.

Step 14

Cook Sweet Potato Curry: Cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.

Step 15

Garnish Sweet Potato Curry: Finish with fresh parsley before serving.

Necessary tools

  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups and measuring spoons
  • Wooden spoon

Allergy information

Review ingredients carefully for potential allergens and consult with a healthcare provider if you're uncertain.
  • Contains coconut, a tree nut allergen.
  • Soy sauce may contain soy and wheat; use tamari for gluten-free preparation.
  • Check curry paste and broth labels for potential allergens.

Nutritional information (per serving)

These values are approximate guidelines only and shouldn't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 360
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbs: 48 g
  • Protein: 12 g