Gelatin Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison is a naturally lean, rich protein that brings real depth to these warmly spiced meatballs, and the grated apple folded right into the mix keeps every bite surprisingly juicy and just a little sweet. Cassava flour stands in as the binder here, which means there's no need for breadcrumbs or any hidden thickeners that might sneak in unwanted additives. The spice blend ā ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon ā gives the whole thing a cozy, aromatic quality without tipping into anything heavy or overpowering. After a quick sear in coconut oil and a short finish in the oven, the meatballs come out with a gorgeous crust and a perfectly cooked center. The pan sauce is where things really come together: unsweetened apple cider, bone broth, and a splash of apple cider vinegar reduce into something glossy and bright, thickened naturally with arrowroot starch instead of any gelatin-based product. It's the kind of weeknight dinner that looks and tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
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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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