Walnut Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison is a leaner, richer alternative to beef, and paired with grated Honeycrisp or Fuji apple, it produces meatballs that are juicy, subtly sweet, and packed with warm spice. The apple gets squeezed dry before mixing in, which is a smart little trick that keeps the texture tight and satisfying rather than soggy. Cassava flour binds everything together without any grain or nut-based fillers, so the ingredient list stays clean from start to finish. A quick sear in coconut oil builds a gorgeous crust before the meatballs finish in the oven, locking in all that flavor. The real showstopper is the pan sauce ā unsweetened apple cider, bone broth, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and fresh rosemary reduce down into something glossy and deeply savory, thickened with arrowroot for a silky finish. This is the kind of dish that feels special enough for a dinner party but is genuinely straightforward to pull off on a weeknight. Scatter some fresh parsley over the top and serve straight from the skillet.
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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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