Savory Squash with Spinach and Coconut Milk

A word derived from the English “stew,” ishto is a favorite type of curry in Kerala. This coconut milk-based savory dish can include meat, seafood, vegetables, and even grains. This vegetarian version, combining bottle gourd squash and spinach, is incredible when poured over freshly steamed rice noodles. A starchy long-grain white rice is equally tasty with this spicy-sweet ishto, and so is the more unusual nutty-black variety called bla