Crispy Gingered Beef with Hot Smoky Cornmeal Cakes

1 pound thinly sliced round steak, cut into 2” pieces

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water

1 egg yolk

½ cup cornstarch

¼ cup cooking oil

2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves minced garlic

¼ cup diced onion

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 teaspoon paprika

½ cup sherry or sake

½ cup cream or half and half

Place cut up beef in a bowl and mix with the tablespoon each of soy, cornstarch and water and let marinate about 30 minutes. Remove beef from bowl and dredge both sides in cornstarch. Heat up oil and fry beef until browned and crispy on one side and then turn it over and do the same for the other side. You will probably need to cook the beef in two batches unless you have a really big skillet, just make sure you don’t over crowd the meat while browning. Remove beef from pan and place on paper towels and drain oil out of pan and wipe cornstarch out of it. Add butter to the pan and sauté the garlic and onions for a couple of minutes. Then add the ginger, paprika and sherry or sake.  Cook this for several minutes until the liquid bubbles and turn off the heat and add the cream. Place the beef of a platter with the fried cornmeal and pour sauce on top of them. Can be briefly heated in the oven if needed.

Hot Smoked Cornmeal

2/3 cup yellow corn meal

2 cups beef stock

2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce

½ cup grated Jack cheese

1 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring

Olive oil

Place water in a saucepan and add the cornmeal, stock and hot pepper sauce. Turn heat to medium high and when the mixture starts to simmer reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until the dish is thick and bubbly. Turn off the heart and stir in the cheese and liquid smoke. Taste and adjust hot sauce to desired hotness. Pour into a loaf pan and refrigerate. This can be done the day ahead so that the mixture has time to set up. Dump out the cornmeal and slice it and fry the slices in hot oil. Serve alongside the beef and top both with the sauce. This can also be served fresh out of the sauce pan if you don’t wish to fry it and it is very good. Just place the fresh cooked cornmeal/polenta on the platter next to the fried beef and drizzle sauce over all.