- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 pound ground beef chuck
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
- 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 ounces coarsely grated sharp Cheddar
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 1/2-inch (6-cup capacity) pie plate.
- Cook onion in 2 tablespoons oil in a deep 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until edges are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add beef and cook, breaking up large lumps, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Add sugar, spices, and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juice and briskly simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes.
- While beef simmers, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together milk, egg, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl, then stir into cornmeal mixture until just combined. Fold in 1/2 cup cheese.
- Spoon cooked spiced beef into pie plate with a slotted spoon, reserving juices in skillet. Skim off and discard fat from juices if desired, then pour juices over beef in pie plate.
- Spoon 4 mounds of corn bread batter over beef, then sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons cheese over batter. Bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted into center of corn bread comes out clean, 15 to 25 minutes.
- Serve cobbler warm.