BHA & BHT Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison is a naturally lean, clean protein, and paired with freshly grated apple and warm spices like ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon, it becomes something genuinely special ā savory, subtly sweet, and deeply aromatic. The trick of squeezing excess moisture from the grated apple before mixing keeps the meatballs tender and well-structured rather than dense, so every bite holds together beautifully. Cassava flour binds everything without any grain-based fillers, and coconut oil gives the sear a gorgeous golden crust before the oven finishes the job. The real showstopper is the pan sauce ā unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those caramelized bits from the skillet, then a splash of apple cider vinegar and fresh rosemary bring brightness and depth before arrowroot starch pulls it into a glossy, restaurant-worthy finish. For anyone navigating synthetic preservative concerns, the ingredient list here is refreshingly straightforward: whole foods, fresh herbs, and pantry staples with no processed shortcuts that could sneak in unwanted additives. This is the kind of recipe that feels indulgent but is built entirely on real, recognizable ingredients from start to finish.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
For the meatballs
- 1 lb ground bison
- 1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled and grated
- 2 tbsp cassava flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- Ā½ tsp ground ginger
- Ā¼ tsp ground turmeric
- Ā¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- 1 cup apple cider (unsweetened, no additives)
- Ā½ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tbsp cold water
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400Ā°F (205Ā°C). Grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in your hands 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 bison, squeezed grated apple, cassava flour, garlic, parsley, thyme, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and salt. Mix with your hands until just combined and uniform ā do not overwork the mixture.
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