Shellfish 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. Squeezing the moisture out of the apple before mixing is a small but brilliant step that keeps every meatball tender and perfectly formed rather than soggy. A quick sear in coconut oil builds a golden crust, and finishing them in the oven locks in that juicy interior without any guesswork. The real showstopper is the pan sauce ā apple cider, bone broth, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and fresh rosemary all come together into something glossy and deeply savory that you'll want to spoon over everything. Arrowroot starch thickens it just enough without dulling the bright, complex flavors. Every ingredient here is naturally free from shellfish and the usual hidden seafood additives that can sneak into store-bought sauces and broths, so you can cook with total confidence. This is the kind of weeknight dinner that feels special enough for company.
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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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