3 roasted sweet potatoes fresh figs Recipes

sweet potatoes (2 1/4 lb / 1 kg in total ), olive oil, scant 3 tbsp / 40 ml balsamic vinegar (you can use a commercial rather than a premium aged grade), superfine sugar, green onions , halved lengthwise and cut into 1 1/2-in / 4cm segments, red chile, thinly sliced, ripe figs (8 1/2 oz / 240 g in total), quartered, soft goat s milk cheese (optional), maldon sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

bone-in beef short ribs *, 3/4 to 1 lb. each, onion, coarsely chopped, garlic cloves, smashed, fresh thyme sprigs, rosemary sprigs (7 to 8 in . each), dried bay leaves, kosher salt, fresh fig leaves, stems trimmed, rinsed; or use 4 (12- by 12-in.) pieces thawed frozen banana leaves, cabernet sauvignon, balsamic vinegar, dried mission figs, stems trimmed, mole sauce* (preferably oaxacan-style mole negro ); or use 1/4 cup mole paste mixed with 3/4 cup beef broth, molasses, beef broth, sweet-potato chips or other root-vegetable chips (optional), cacao nibs, salted roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas), salt