Soy Free Apple & Sage Beef Meatballs
These meatballs hit a genuinely unexpected flavor note ā earthy sage, warm Ceylon cinnamon, and a hint of ginger wrapped around juicy ground beef, with grated apple tucked right into the mix for subtle sweetness and moisture. Squeezing the excess liquid from the apple before combining is a small step that makes a real difference, keeping the texture tight and satisfying rather than soft and dense. Cassava flour binds everything together without any grain or legume-based fillers, so there's no soy hiding in the structure of the meatball itself. The pan sauce is where things get really good ā unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those caramelized bits from the skillet, and a touch of arrowroot starch pulls it into a glossy, spoonable glaze that coats every meatball beautifully. For anyone navigating soy-free eating, the ingredient list here is refreshingly straightforward: no tamari, no soy-based broth, no hidden additives to second-guess. This is the kind of recipe that feels special enough for a dinner party but is honestly approachable enough for a weeknight when you want something a little more interesting than the usual 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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