Stir Fry with Eggplant, Long Beans, Ground Beef and Thai Basil - Just Picked

Ingredients

• 2 lbs eggplants
• 8 oz long beans, green beans or Romano beans
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 bunch Thai basil (3-4 cups picked)
• 5 garlic cloves
• 6 oil-packed anchovy filets or 3 salt-packed anchovies
• 2 Thai bird's eye chilis, 1 habanero pepper or equivalent amount of other very hot chili pepper (optional)
• 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 3 Tbsp canola or other neutral tasting oil
• 2 cups white or, less traditionally, brown jasmine rice
• Fine sea salt to taste