Super Greens is a simple side dish, a fresh feel-good copycat recipe from Panda Express. With broccoli, cabbage, and kale steamed until crisp-tender, then tossed in a light garlic-ginger sauce that’s savory yet bright, this promises to be on regular menu rotation!
Copycat Panda Express Super Greens
Panda Express Super Greens are my go-to side whenever we order at the restaurant. And now, with this excellent copycat recipe, our family enjoys this easy veggies side at least once a week at home – it’s incredibly fresh and delicious, nobody can resist!
If you’ve never had super greens from Panda Express before, you’re in for a treat. Super greens are Panda Express’ veggie side dish, made with broccoli, cabbage, and kale. The veggies are steamed briefly, so they’re softened, yet still a bit crisp with a vibrant green color. And they’re flavored super simply with soy sauce, rice vinegar, plus some fresh garlic and ginger.
These greens have been an unexpected favorite for our entire family, now in regular veggie rotation. This simple recipe is absolutely fresh and vibrant and so very tasty. And it pairs perfectly with any Asian meal.
Serve these steamed vegetables with another side, such as fried rice or cilantro lime rice. And then pick a main entrée – like honey walnut shrimp or cashew chicken or Hunan beef – and you have one heckuva delicious homemade take-out meal!
I remember my first Super Greens at Panda Express.
Our family was on our way home from Tessa’s volleyball tournament in Milwaukee a few years ago. Her team had played into the evening that Sunday night – we were tired from the long weekend of volleyball, and we still had 5 hours in the car to get back home.
Tessa’s request was Panda Express. We ordered it to go, ate in the car. After not eating all that well for a couple days, I was craving vegetables. Only vegetables. So I ordered a double order of Super Greens. And I was blown away by how good they were. I could have eaten another double order!
Why You’ll Love These Steamed Veggies
This is one of my favorite side dishes to prepare, and to eat – for many reasons:
- Quick and easy. Once the veggies are chopped, I can have this on the table in under 15 minutes. It only takes 4 minutes to steam the veggies!
- Easy to prep ahead. When I get home from the grocery store, I like to immediately prep all the fresh ingredients. I chop the broccoli, cabbage, and kale, then mince the garlic and ginger – and store each item in their own separate ziploc or container. I usually have enough to make this recipe at least 3 times during the week, a welcomed time-saver on busy weeknights!
- Super nourishing. There’s a reason this recipe is called “super” greens! Not only does it taste amazing, but it’s also one of those recipes that helps you feel amazing too. It’s low in calories, high in nutrients, and has a good amount of protein.
- A great lighter side option. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood for rice or noodles as a side to one of our homemade Asian meals. These greens are PERFECTION when I’m craving a fresh side.
- Awesome flavor. With fresh ginger and garlic, plus soy sauce and rice vinegar, these veggies are packed with wonderful savory flavor. This dish is so fresh and YUMMY!
What You’ll Need
Besides the veggies, you’ll need just a few additional ingredients to add flavor to your Panda express super greens.
- Butter – The garlic and ginger are sauteed in a bit of butter, which adds a lovely light richness and flavor. You can always use your favorite neutral cooking oil or a vegan butter if desired, or sub out half the butter for oil.
- Garlic & ginger – Fresh garlic and ginger give these super greens extra flavor and deliciousness. I often add even more than the recipe calls for, as I’m a super big fan of both of these ingredients.
- Vegetables – Panda Express uses broccoli, cabbage, and kale in their super greens so that’s what I stick to. If you’d like to switch it up, check out some other options in the Tips & Variations section below.
- Broth – Vegetable broth helps steam the greens so they become tender and don’t burn. Water or chicken stock would also work.
- Soy sauce – Soy sauce adds a salty, umami flavor to the greens.
- Rice vinegar – Rice vinegar adds a bit of acidity to lighten and brighten the flavor of the vegetables.
How to Make Panda Express Super Greens
When it comes to veggie side dishes, this one comes together extra quick and easy.
- Cook the aromatics. Melt the butter in a large skillet, then stir in the garlic and ginger. Cook until fragrant.
- Steam the veggies. Add the veggies and broth, fold to combine, then cover. Steam for 2 minutes, quickly fold, then cover and steam for 2 more minutes.
- Add the soy sauce. Add the soy sauce and vinegar. Stir, top with sesame seeds if desired, and serve.
Tips & Variations
Here are some helpful tips for making these Panda Express stir fried vegetables, plus a few variations.
- Avoid overcooking the veggies. You want the veggies to be cooked lightly, so they are softened yet still have some crispy bite. They only take a few minutes to steam, so keep a close eye on them.
- Adjust the sauce to your preferences. Our family prefers this with a little more fresh ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar so feel free to add more if you do too.
- Use chicken broth. If you don’t need to keep this vegetarian, use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth. It adds a nice, subtle flavor that we really like!
- Try using other veggies. You can customize your steamed vegetables to include anything you like. Try using snow peas or snap peas, asparagus, green beans, or thinly sliced onion, bell peppers, or carrots, etc. Any of these would be a delicious addition.
- To prep ahead. I usually buy enough veggies so I can make this recipe at least 3 times during the week. So when I get home from the store, I chop the broccoli, cabbage, and kale, then mince the garlic and ginger. I store each item in their own separate ziploc or container, then just pull out what I need to make a batch of Super Greens whenever I like!
What to Serve with Panda Express Steamed Vegetables
We love to serve this with pretty much any Asian entrée, especially those inspired by Panda Express. A few of our favorites include:
- Cashew Chicken
- Mandarin chicken
- Honey Walnut Shrimp
- Hunan Beef
- Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
- Beijing Beef
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Easy Korean Beef
- Bánh Mì Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Beef
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Reheat your super greens gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More Side Dishes:
- Honey Garlic Carrots
- Chili Stewed Tomatoes
- Roasted Asparagus
- Quick Kimchi
- Cucumber Kimchi
- Quick Pickled Beets
- Cucumber Salad
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Panda Express Super Greens (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 3 cups medium sized broccoli florets
- 3 cups chopped green cabbage leaves in 1-2” pieces
- 3 cups chopped curly kale leaves in 1-2” pieces (discard tough stems)
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce I often add a little more
- ½ tablespoon rice vinegar I often add a little more
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add butter and allow it to melt.
- Stir in garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add broccoli, cabbage, kale, and vegetable broth. Fold to combine. Cover skillet with a lid and steam the vegetables for 2 minutes. Lift the lid and quickly fold the greens a couple times, then cover and steam for 2 more minutes – or until crisp-tender and bright green. The vegetables will shrink down considerably in size.
- Add soy sauce and rice vinegar. Stir to combine, sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
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