Nightshade Free Apple-Sage Turkey Meatballs

Total time45 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time25 min

Nightshade Free Apple-Sage Turkey Meatballs

Meatballs are one of those comfort-food staples that can feel completely off-limits when you're avoiding nightshades — tomato sauce is practically the default, and most store-bought or restaurant versions are built around it. This recipe sidesteps all of that with a pan sauce made from unsweetened apple cider and bone broth, delivering a savory-sweet depth that honestly doesn't miss the tomatoes at all. Grated Honeycrisp or Fuji apple gets worked right into the turkey mixture, adding subtle sweetness and moisture without making the meatballs heavy — a clever trick that also means no fillers or breadcrumbs are needed. Fresh sage, ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon give every bite a warm, aromatic complexity that feels anything but plain or restricted. The sear in coconut oil builds a golden crust, and finishing the meatballs in the simmering cider-broth sauce keeps them incredibly juicy all the way through. A quick arrowroot slurry pulls the pan sauce together into something glossy and spoonable, so nothing goes to waste. Serve them straight from the skillet with extra sage leaves and you've got a dish that looks and tastes like it took far more effort than it did.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

Learn more →

Ingredients

4 servings

For the meatballs

1 ½ lb ground turkey
1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled and finely grated
2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup green onions (green tops only), thinly sliced
1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
½ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp arrowroot starch
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Arrowroot Starch/Flour Namaste Foods Raw Goods Arrowroot Starch Gluten Free Starwest Botanicals Arrowroot Powder Organic Namaste Foods Raw Goods Organic Arrowroot Starch Gluten Free Spice Islands Arrowroot
See all

For searing

2 tbsp coconut oil

For the pan sauce

1 cup apple cider (unsweetened, unfiltered)
½ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp arrowroot starch, mixed with 1 tbsp cold water
1 tbsp cold water (for arrowroot slurry)

For serving

fresh sage leaves, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible — the apple should feel nearly dry. This keeps the meatballs from becoming dense or wet.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, squeezed grated apple, sage, garlic, green onion tops, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, salt, and arrowroot starch. Mix with your hands until just combined and uniform — do not overwork the mixture.

Want the full recipe?

Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!