Cod Curry with Pumpkin

This easy Cod Curry with Pumpkin is made with a spiced pumpkin-tomato sauce, fresh spinach, and gently poached cod.

How do you feel about fall?

Do you love it, with its bright leaves and crisp air?

Or does it fill you with a little bit of anxiety, because you know that winter is just around the corner?

I used to dread fall, since it inevitably meant icy winter was coming-- but for a few years now I've decided to embrace the changing weather.

Yes, it's true-- showy, bright autumn is followed by a quieter, colder winter.  

But that also means that nature has a time to breathe, just before new life bursts out in spring.

For me, part of embracing fall has meant celebrating the foods that make it so special.

One of those foods is pumpkin.

I love cooking with seafood and pumpkin! It's delicious in pumpkin scallop alfredo, pumpkin broiled scallop gratin, and of course, this curry.

This pumpkin cod curry is made with warming spices, delicately poached fish, and a flavorful pumpkin and tomato sauce.

If you've got extra cod in your fridge or freezer, check out these recipes too: broiled cod with lemon sauce, pan-seared cod with bourbon, spiced cod with sweet potato mash, and this cod Reuben.

How Do I Poach Fish?

Have you tried poaching fish yet?

Poaching fish is, in my opinion, without a doubt, absolutely the EASIEST way to cook fish.

Here's why.

When you bake fish, you have to watch the cook time carefully to keep the fish from drying out.  

When you sear fish, you have to make sure the fish has been dried off, brought to room temperature, and is placed in a hot pan.

When you grill fish, you have to (as with baking) watch the cook time so that it doesn't dry out, and take steps to keep it from sticking to the grill plate.

When you poach fish, you don't have to do ANY of that.  

You simply have to add the fish to a sauce, and let it simmer until it's cooked through.

Since you're cooking it inside a liquid, the fish won't dry out.  

Even better, when you cook it in a sauce that you'll be eating, such as a curry or a soup, it's a-okay if you accidentally forget about the fish, and it starts to fall apart a little into the soup.

What Spices Do I Need?

You need mustard seeds, smoked paprika, and garam masala.  

Mustard seeds and smoked paprika should be in the spice aisle at your grocery store.

Garam masala is an Indian spice mixture.  

If you’ve got a Kroger, a spice store, an international market, or a Whole Foods nearby– you can find garam masala.

You can also buy garam masala online.

You'll also need some green onions, a little garlic, fresh spinach, and a can of tomatoes.  

How to Make Cod Curry

Start by frying the spices in a little oil.

Add the onions, and then the tomatoes and pumpkin.  

Let everything simmer for a few minutes, then add the cod.  

Cover the pan, and check back about five minutes later.

When the cod is opaque it's done cooking, and you're ready to eat!  

Serve your cod curry with some crusty bread, or with rice.  

You could even eat this pumpkin cod curry outside while you enjoy fall's crisp, cool breeze!

Try swapping homemade pumpkin purée for canned! Make this Instant Pot Pumpkin Purée or use your oven for Roasted Pumpkin Purée!