Honey Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison brings a rich, slightly earthy depth to these meatballs that pairs beautifully with the subtle sweetness of grated apple and a warm blend of ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon. The trick of squeezing excess moisture from the grated apple before mixing keeps the texture tight and satisfying ā tender inside with a proper sear on the outside. A quick stovetop-to-oven method locks in that golden crust, then the real magic happens when you build a pan sauce from unsweetened apple cider, bone broth, and a splash of apple cider vinegar, scraping up all those caramelized bits for maximum flavor. The arrowroot slurry pulls the sauce together into something glossy and restaurant-worthy without relying on any sweeteners. So many savory sauces and glazes sneak in honey or maple syrup, but this one gets all its complexity from the cider reduction and fresh rosemary ā no added sweetener needed at any stage. It's a genuinely elegant weeknight dinner that happens to work beautifully for anyone keeping their plate free of added sugars and sweeteners.
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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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