A healthier, lower sugar version of the Panda Express Broccoli Beef dish using lean ground beef- Perfect for those following a paleo or gluten free lifestyle!
I’m prefacing this by saying an Asian style gravy and ground beef paired together may be the most un-photogenic foods ever. So switched things around again- Instead of posting a Copycat recipe on a Friday as promised– I’m posting this Monday instead!
When people think Asian take out, I don’t think many would choose Panda Express as their ‘go to’. In fact, most suburbs would have a local Asian take out shop which would have the standard fare- Think fried rice, orange chicken or my sister’s favourite- sweet and sour chicken (which the ones they serve here in Australia probably don’t have any chicken in it).
One perk Panda Express has over your standard take out place is that they provide nutritional information- One which just shows how much sugar is in each meal. While their calorie counts are generally quite low, their sugar content was another story. Ironically, it’s their Broccoli Beef which is on the lower end of the sugar rainbow (3 grams per serving), they have some other favourites like their Beijing Beef which clocks in at 25 grams….per serving! Also having eaten there- The serving sizes aren’t that generous!
I ate at Panda Express twice and both were in limited situations- The first time, I was craving Chinese food and was in the middle of Union Square in San Francisco. I asked a guy at Starbucks where you could get quality Chinese food and he said nothing beats Panda Express. I went to the one located in some underground Mall and the line was huge so I assumed it must be good. I got the Broccoli Beef and the Beijing Beef with noodles and tucked into it. It was delicious but definitely was a fast food style meal. The sugar was also VERY evident in both dishes and I actually started craving more sweets after it- A typical reaction after I eat overly sweet foods.
The second time, I was on a layover in Orlando and was once again craving Chinese food. Surprise Surprise, there was a Panda Express there and I half heartedly went to queue up and got the Broccoli Beef and Beijing Beef again.
Okay, it wasn’t half hearted, it was pretty delicious. I admit it. I enjoyed it in all it’s high sugar glory.
When I decided to start recreating my favourite foods, I knew these two had to be recreated, albeit with a healthier spin on them. I also wanted them both to be simple. Very simple. This recipe uses ground beef instead of beef strips as they absorbed the ‘gravy’ much better and had a quicker cooking time. The sauce combination is on point and the perfect amount of sweet to salt! One up on Red Panda is that this is also is paleo, gluten free and grain free– Also suitable for diabetics!
So next time you have an Asian take out craving, whip this up. It’s easy, breezy beautiful- Covergirl.
I mean, it’s delicious.
- 500 grams ground beef (I used 90% lean/4 star)
- 1 large head of broccoli, chopped into florets
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 T minced ginger
- 1/4 cup liquid aminos (can sub for gluten free soy sauce if not paleo)
- 1 T vinegar
- 1 T honey
- 1 T natvia natural sweetener (can sub for another granulated sweetener)
- 2 tsp coconut flour (can sub for 1 tablespoon of cornstarch if not paleo)
- 1 T black pepper
- 1 T red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sea salt to taste
- Rice or noodles to serve
- In a microwave safe bowl, add an inch of water and add the chopped broccoli and carrots and heat for 2 minutes, until very lightly cooked. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the liquid aminos, vinegar, honey, Natvia natural sweetener, pepper, red pepper flakes and sea salt until combine. Add the coconut flour and mix very well- mixture should slightly thicken. Set aside.
- Heat a deep frying pan or wok on medium heat generously covered with coconut oil. Once hot, add the ground beef and allow to brown slightly. Once browned, add the broccoli, carrots and the sauce and mix very well until fully incorporated. Stir occasionally until meat is fully browned and sauce mixture has reduced completely (approximately 5-6 minutes). Remove from the heat and serve immediately over rice or noodles.
- I ate this over several days and similar to a curry or stew, it tasted better the longer it sat.
- This freezes really well and can be frozen for up to 4 weeks in portions.
- Please adjust salt to self preference- I like things quite salty so was generous with it.
Linking up with these amazing parties- #recipeoftheweek, RealfoodWednesdays, simple supper Tuesdays, Gluten Free Wednesdays, what’s cookin’ Wednesdays, Saturday Sharefest, DIY With the SITS and some weekend pot luck lovin
What is your favourite Asian take away/take out meal?
Do you crave more sugar after eating sugar?
What is your favourite take away/take out cuisine?
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Mmmm this beef dish looks yummy- and so much more appealing than the one at Panda Express. I’m all for the sweet & savoury combo but having 20g+ of sugar in an otherwise savoury meal is just absurd! I’m so with you about craving more sugar after eating sugar. I remember when I did Whole 30, I completely lost the craving for my otherwise daily dose of chocolate…and suddenly fruit started tasting “too” sweet! As for my favourite Asian take-out, obvi sushi gets my vote!
I know, right! and that’s for an 85 gram serving. So one mouthful!
Sushi totally gets it’s own stream!
I totally see your sister eating Sweet an Sour without chicken. LOL.
This looks so good, Arman. I am always a little disgusted by our Chinese Take outs, cause normally, everything is just drenched in that slimy Sweet and Sour Stuff.
I didn’t have ground beef in forever, must change!
Definitely get some ground beef! And stupid Niki….totally something she would do.
Yum! I haven’t had Asian take-out in forever, but there’s a great place near my work that I’ll go every now and then and order their beef and broccoli.
I definitely find myself craving more sugar after having sugar. I don’t eat sweets all the time, so I do notice that the second I have one cookie I suddenly want another!
YES! Well, maybe I did eat cookies for weeks but that was totally under the guise of recipe testing….
I love chinese food but I hate all the sugar! Eating sugar definitely leads to more cravings though. I’ve noticed that things are way too sweet most of the time and crave fruit for sweetness! I would love to learn how to make authentic chinese food. Not just the sugary Americanized version!
I’ll steal some of my dad’s recipes- He’s Chinese Malaysian and his cooking is amazing! 🙂
I totally used to eat beef and broccoli years ago when we got Chinese take-out (when I still ate red meat, haha!) Chinese food was always the best!
So good….especially when it’s extra greasy and filled with MSG!
I loooooove Chinese takeout when I’m seriously craving something salty (aside from pizza, of course!). Yikes about the sugar…
Oh man, the amount of salt I eat. I love salt on oatmeal, pancakes…yep, all the sweet foods!
i’ll take this over panda express any day. I actually fear that place now –> um, MSG laden and plus I got food poisoning. ARMAN takeout please!
Definitely. Arman Panda coming right up.
Nothing beats Thai takeout! I love pad thai and tom yum soup!!! I can’t do chinese takeout though. Gives me the worst stomachache ever! Which, sometimes, the stomachache is worth it!
I could swim in Tom Yum Soup! (When it’s cooled down).
Hmmm…I can’t say I’ve ever eaten at Panda Express, but this looks delicious, Arman!
DON’T eat at Panda Express. You’ll lose any respect you had left for me after I proclaimed love for Starbucks…
I haven’t actually eaten this dish at Panda Express but have cetainly been tempted by it. I love broccoli and beef and have never had it with ground beef, only shaved roasted beef. I am gonna try this! Thanks.
i reaaaaaally like the sound of this!
Thanks buddy! Hope you and the little guy have a great Christmas 🙂
I personally think that it is the food that is the hardest to photograph is the best tasting. As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters.
I think more dishes should have broccoli in them.
YES. OH man, I made a bacon cheeseburger concoction and was dying to post it…but then no one would make it. haha.
Haha, I love that you have the gluten-free label on there! Really helps me out :p
But this is amazing and looks exactly like the meals that my grandma would make me as a kid… albeit healthier. Will try this one day when I’m craving something from my childhood
Definitely give it a go. #Asianpride.
Since I’m by myself for Christmas, I’m thinking about grabbing some Chinese takeout on my way home from work – but now I don’t have an excuse not to make it at home. We’ll see though. I do love broccoli beef! I think I’ve only eaten at Panda Express once that I can remember.
I’m by myself too (Well for half a day). Let’s eat Asian take out and pretend we’re eating turkey. OR whole foods.
Ohh the classic broccoli beef. The overdose of salt and sugar all at once. Thank you for this healthier recipe!!
The Halal Guys food cart in NYC is by far my favorite take away food. If you haven’t tried their food yet (it has to be the one on 53rd and 6th), you haven’t experienced the city. More reason for you to come back to America!!!
Nooo…we need to stick to our roots and add the extra msg 😉
I can’t believe you didn’t tell me the specific address. Add this to our list too. Geez, Al, we’re going to get fat. Cannot wait.
Love the ingredients and totally trying this. Asian style paleo friendly recipes are kind of a block for me for some reason! I have also prefaced a few of my recipes with how un-photogenic a food is. I think you made this look awesome, but I totally hear you! My chipotle chicken salad looks inedible in photos 🙂
Inedible and visually unfortunate recipes are the best tasting 😉
For some reason, whenever I see ground beef, I only ever think tacos. Weird, right? But this looks delicious.
I can’t say I’m a Panda Express fan, but I do love mongolian chicken from a local takeout place.
Thanks Kay! Haha, I can see that association but this was quicker than skirt steak…
Oh Mongolian chicken is epic. So little chicken. So so good.
Yummmm, Arman!! Did I mention I eat beef now? Like… a lot. And I am also avoiding sugar these days after being a former sugar addict (especially a fruit addict), so I will literally make this is week, tag you in a photo and boom!! Can’t wait to try. Miss ya. PS Panda Express kinda sucks soooo I have faith this is way better.
Dude. I eat kale now. Granted, it’s fried to a crisp but it’s still cale.
I MISS YOU MORE. Also, post Christmas you bet I’m on the sugar free challenge.
I have never eaten at panda express. I don’t think I have actually even seen a panda express before. This sounds like such an easy recipe and my husband would love it!
Definitely give it a go- I promise it’s super simple and delicious!
Man id feel like a covergirl eating this! Love the healthy take on it. I think Ive been to Panda Express once but either way I know your version kicks way more ass. I was reading thru the ingredient list and awesome. All stuff that will make me feel like a rockstar. saving this one for sure.
Thank you! Hope you give it a go!
I haven’t had any red meat in awhile but now I am a cravinggggggggggggg – bring on the cow, I will bring my knife!
Dude. Order. Now.
LOL at the easy, breezy, beautiful Covergirl line 😀 😀
Lolol I think you’re the only one who got it.
I definitely crave sugar the more I eat sugar! I try to save sweet treats for late in the day, so there is less of the day left to crave sweets, haha.
That is wise planning, Liz!
No way, I can’t believe someone in SF suggested Panda Express to you when you were really a stone’s throw away from Chinatown!
Where’s my bowl of rice so I can dip into this??
I KNOW.
..We ended up going to China Town for dinner to a Japanese Izakaya which was run by Chinese. Fail.
Considering it is definitely a tough dish to photograph, I think that you did a fantastic job!!!
Cheers, buddy! Meat just does not photograph well but tastes bloody epic.
Back in my carnivorous days, I used to order take out chinese and it was always Beef with Broccoli. Of course, I never actually ate the beef, just the the broccoli, but I liked the flavor or maybe it was just all the salt.
Oh man, we need to bottle MSG and drink it. Shots?
This looks like something I would love! I’ll be giving it a try soon.
Thanks Linda! It’s so simple and easy to whip up 🙂
Is there any way you could give nutritional data? Carb gr? Fat? Sugar? Calories per serving ?
Hi Rachel! I don’t count calories but if you plug the info into a nutrition calculator it should provide it for you 🙂 Enjoy!
Hey great work Arman. I had never tried Broccoli Beef from Panda. But after reading your blog and seeing the snap of the majestic food, I tried. Oh Boy! It was great. And now I am going to really try it out just like how you had done. Thanks man…I am simply going bazinga over this…Never thought beef would go this well with broccoli.
No worries at all- Glad you enjoyed it, Edgar!