Nitrate & Nitrite Free Apple & Sage Beef Meatballs
Savory, warmly spiced, and finished in a glossy cider pan sauce, these meatballs hit every note you want from a cozy, satisfying dinner. The combination of fresh sage, Ceylon cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger gives the beef a depth that feels almost autumnal ā and the finely grated apple woven into the mix keeps every bite surprisingly juicy without adding any sweetness you'd notice. For anyone navigating processed meat concerns, the beauty here is that everything comes straight from whole, recognizable ingredients: ground beef, fresh herbs, and spices you measured yourself. No cured meats, no packaged sausage blends, no label-reading anxiety ā just clean, real food from start to finish. Cassava flour binds the mixture gently, and the arrowroot-thickened sauce made from unsweetened apple cider and bone broth pulls the whole dish together with a silky, restaurant-worthy finish. Squeezing the moisture out of the grated apple before mixing is a small step that makes a big difference, keeping the meatballs firm and beautifully browned when they hit the hot coconut oil. This is the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in your weeknight rotation.
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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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