Lupin 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 cassava flour binds everything together without any grain or legume-based fillers. That matters a lot when you're navigating recipes that typically sneak in lupin flour as a protein booster or binder, since it can hide in places you wouldn't expect. The pan sauce is where things get truly special ā unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those caramelized bits, then reduce into something glossy and aromatic with a hit of rosemary and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Arrowroot starch thickens it cleanly at the end, keeping the whole dish free of anything problematic. Serve these straight from the skillet with a scatter of fresh parsley and watch them disappear fast.
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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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