Celery Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison brings a rich, slightly sweet depth that pairs beautifully with grated Honeycrisp or Fuji apple, and the combination here is genuinely surprising in the best way. The apple gets squeezed dry before mixing in, so the meatballs stay tender and hold their shape rather than turning soggy ā a small step that makes a real difference. Warm spices like ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon weave through every bite, while fresh thyme and parsley keep things bright and herbaceous. The pan sauce is where things get really good: apple cider, bone broth, and a splash of apple cider vinegar reduce down into something glossy and complex, finished with a quick arrowroot slurry for that perfect coating consistency. Every ingredient in this recipe is naturally free of celery and celery derivatives, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or swap anything out ā it's clean from the start. This is the kind of dish that feels special enough for a dinner party but is straightforward enough for a weeknight when you want something a little out of the ordinary.
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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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