Olympic rower serves up stir-fried spicy beef

Bronze medalist Bryan Volpenhein shares his other passion: cooking

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updated 11:07 a.m. ET Aug. 21, 2008

Bryan Volpenhein, a member of the bronze medal men's eight rowing team, shows off his other passion: cooking. The Olympian takes some time off from rowing to slice and dice with TODAY and share his stir-fried spicy beef with summer tomatoes and purple basil.

Stir-fried spicy beef with summer tomatoes and purple basil

Bryan Volpenhein

INGREDIENTS

Beef

• Beef flank steak, trimmed and cut into strips

Marinade

• 1 tablespoon soy

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon chili oil

Aromatics

• 1 tablespoon fine-minced ginger

• 1 tablespoon garlic

• 1 tablespoon minced red chili

• 3 tablespoons scallion rings

Sauce

• 1 1/2 cups reduced chicken stock

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1/2 cup fresh peas (any type - snow, shell, snap)

• 1 cup corn oil for velveting

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch for velveting

• 1 yellow onion, cut into wedges and separated

• 1 red or yellow bell, cut into julienne

• 5 tomatoes(wedged) or 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)

Garnish

• 1 cup loose-packed Asian basil

• 1/2 cup bias-cut scallions, white and green

Recipe continues below ↓

DIRECTIONS

Make marinade, and toss in beef, allow to sit for 3 to 4 hours.

Combine and mix aromatics, set aside. Combine sauce components.

Blanch peas and chill, set aside with prepped vegetables.

Velvet the beef.

Drain all but 2 teaspoons of the velvet oil from the pan. Heat the pan and oil to high heat.

Add aromatics and stir 20 seconds. Add onion, toss for 2 minutes. Add pepper, toss for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and toss to mix.

Stir the sauce and add to the pan; stir till glossy.

Add the beef, peas and half the basil.

Serve immediately garnished with the basil and scallions.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES

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Olympic rower serves up stir-fried spicy beef

Bronze medalist Bryan Volpenhein shares his other passion: cooking