Citrus Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
These meatballs are the kind of cozy, impressive dish that makes a weeknight feel like something special. Ground bison brings a rich, slightly earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with grated apple and warm spices like ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon — the result is savory with just a whisper of sweetness. Cassava flour holds everything together without any grain or gluten, and the technique of squeezing excess moisture from the grated apple is the small but crucial step that keeps the texture perfectly tender rather than dense. The pan sauce — built from unsweetened apple cider, bone broth, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and fresh rosemary — reduces into something glossy and deeply flavorful that coats every meatball. For anyone navigating a citrus-free lifestyle, this recipe is a genuine win: the brightness and acidity you'd normally get from lemon or orange juice come entirely from the apple and vinegar, so nothing feels flat or like it's missing something. Sear them on the stovetop, finish them in the oven, and you've got a dish that looks and tastes like it took far more effort than it did.
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Learn more →Ingredients
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
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- 1 cup apple cider (unsweetened, no additives)
- ½ 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 400°F (205°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 — 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 — do not overwork the mixture.
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