Whisk together stay sauce, lime juice, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Set aside
Using a spray bottle, lightly spray okra. If you do not have a spray bottle, place okra in a medium bowl and gently toss with olive oil until evenly coated.
When the skillet begins to smoke, arrange okra in skillet making sure not to overcrowd it. if you do not have enough space, cook okra in batches
Once one side of the okra is charred, about 2 minutes, rotate 90 degrees and continue searing. Do so until all sides are charred
Transfer to proper towel lined sheet tray. Sprinkle with salt and cool
In a wok or saucepan over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil and swirl to coat wok. When wok is hot, add eggplant in a single layer.
Cook 2 minutes and flip each piece over so they cook evenly. Cook another 2-3 minutes, flipping occasionally. The eggplant should have changed in color, the skin wrinkled and the flesh soft.
Push eggplant aside in wok and add 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Add garlic, peppers, ginger and green onion. Stir these aromatics until they become fragrant.
Combine aromatics with eggplant and stir-fry for one minute.
Add soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and sugar and stir to combine all. Serve immediately and ENJOY!
On a foil lined sheet pan, place the squash cut side down. Roast for 30‐45 minutes. You will be able to poke the squash with a fork with out any resistance when it is done.
Remove the squash from the oven and set aside to cool for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together ginger, garlic, soy sauce and lime juice. Set aside.
Once the squash is cool enough to handle, flip over the squash, cut side up, and drag the fork against the squash’s flesh. It will resemble spaghetti.
Continue scraping the flesh, until only the skin remains, which you can compost.
Place the spaghetti squash in a large mixing bowl. Dress with ginger mixture and gently toss until the squash is evenly coated.
Divide squash among plates. Garnish with cilantro, mint, basil and peanuts. Enjoy!
Preheat oven to 400F. Roast the sweet potatoes until fully cooked & very soft – approximately 45 minutes or longer depending on the size. Cool to room temperature.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the sliced dried figs, vinegar, salt & pepper, and minced ginger. Lightly toss. Allow the figs to marinate for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
In a skillet over set on medium high, heat the banana leave pieces just until they become flexible.
Lay the banana leaves on a work surface.
Slice the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. (If using smaller sweet potatoes, split the sweet potatoes open & press lightly to flatten.) Place a piece of sweet potato on each banana leaf.
Distribute the fig mixture over the sweet potatoes.
Distribute the cashews over the sweet potatoes.
Place a piece of butter on top of each sweet potato. Fold up the banana leaf to enclose the sweet potato. Tie with a piece of string to secure.
Place the sweet potato packages in a broad skillet in a single layer. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the skillet – approximately 1/8 inch deep.
Cover the skillet with a lid or with aluminum foil. Heat the skillet to gently steam the sweet potato packages – approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the packages from the skillet. Cut the string and unfold on dinner plates keeping the sweet potato and any juices in the center of the banana leaf.
Sprinkle the minced Serrano chile (optional) and the crème fraiche & crumbled cheese over the sweet potato. Garnish with a wedge of fresh lime.
Recipe Notes
Substitutions: dried corn husks soaked in water until flexible or parchment paper.
