Mushroom Free Apple & Sage Beef Meatballs
Savory, warmly spiced, and finished in a glossy cider pan sauce, these beef meatballs are the kind of weeknight dinner that feels genuinely special. Grated apple folded into the meat mixture adds a subtle sweetness and keeps every bite tender, while fresh sage, ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon build a layered, aromatic flavor that's anything but ordinary. Cassava flour binds everything together beautifully, so the texture is firm enough to sear without falling apart in the pan. The searing step is worth every minute ā those deep brown, caramelized edges are where a lot of the flavor lives, and the browned bits left in the skillet become the backbone of the sauce. Unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze the pan into something rich and tangy, thickened with arrowroot for a clean, glossy finish that clings to each meatball. For anyone navigating a diet that rules out fungi-based ingredients, this recipe is completely straightforward ā every component is a whole food or pantry staple with no hidden extras to second-guess. Serve them straight from the skillet with a scatter of fresh sage and something simple alongside to soak up that sauce.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
For the meatballs
- 1 Ā½ lb ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled and finely grated
- 3 tbsp cassava flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- Ā½ tsp ground turmeric
- Ā½ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
For searing
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- Ā¾ cup apple cider (unsweetened)
- Ā¾ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Grate the apple on the fine side of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in your hand or in a clean kitchen towel over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible ā this keeps the meatballs from becoming dense and wet.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, squeezed grated apple, cassava flour, garlic, chopped sage, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and salt. Mix with your hands until just combined and uniform ā do not overwork the meat.
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