Substitute mustard greens, Swiss chard, watercress or spinach. Okra, bitter melon, long beans, Asian eggplant and lima beans are staples. Many dishes start with garlic, onions and tomatoes, clearly a Spanish influence. Asian influences include Chinese black dried mushrooms, daikon, bok choy, bamboo shoots, Chinese celery, water chestnuts, and lemongrass. Banana leaves are used to wrap foods for steaming.
Heart of palm is fried in lumpia .
Purple yam, cassava, taro and sweet potatoes are used as a vegetable or cooked in sweets.