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animal based porcupine meatballs
AIP,  Animal Based Recipes,  Beef,  Main Course,  Paleo

Animal-Based Porcupine Meatballs (Paleo AIP Option)

These Animal-Based Porcupine Meatballs are a spin on a great depression classic recipe. Includes both Paleo and AIP options!

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I must admit that these may not be the prettiest Animal-Based meatballs right out of the oven…but man, are the flavors downright delicious. Once you toss the meatballs in the oven-simmered sauce everything aesthetically changes. You’re going to totally appreciate that this comes together in about an hour, with much of your time in the kitchen being passive and waiting for the oven timer to go “beep!”

These can be easily customized if you are on a full Paleo diet or if you are on the elimination phase of the Autoimmune Protocol. I’ve got you covered, my fellow food-sensitive friend, with some simple swaps that you can find in the recipe’s ingredients section.

Read on for this frugal, old-timey main course that’s full of protein, healthy fat, and comforting flavors.

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animal based porcupine meatballs

Nightshade-Free, Nut-Free, Seed-Free

The traditional Porcupine Meatball recipe from the great depression era (cir. 1930’s) includes ingredients most people would have on hand because they were cheap and easy to get ahold of. Folks also needed to stretch out pricier items like meat, so they would use grain to bulk up items like ground meats.

In the OG recipe you might find ingredients like canned tomato soup or tomato sauce, dehydrated or fresh onion, water, rice, brown or white sugar, and maybe a pinch of Worcestershire sauce. Fast forward nearly 100 years (man…I feel old now) and we now know about food intolerances and food toxins; and many of us choose to avoid preservatives and immune system triggering additives on our journeys to better health.

These animal-based magic meatballs have much healthier, anti-inflammatory ingredients than their nearly century old counterpart. The combination of maple vinegar, apricot jam, and pumpkin puree create a mock tomato sauce that is out of this world!

They can be customized to fit your dietary needs, too! If you need to keep these juicy rounds of grass-fed beef grain-free and Paleo, use grated plantain in place of white rice, add the garlic powder, onion powder, and dried chives, then skip the cheese. To make them AIP, make them as if you were opting for Paleo, then also omit the egg. 

TRULY GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF – DELIVERED TO YOUR DOORSTEP

ground beef
animal based porcupine meatballs

Want more low-toxin carnivore recipes like these Animal-Based Porcupine Meatballs?

Go wild and reclaim your Primal nature with these tasty eats:

animal based porcupine meatballs
animal based porcupine meatballs
carnivore code book

Need More Paleo or AIP Ground Beef Ideas? You’re going to love these from the blog archives:

Is there a recipe you’re craving on this WOE? Let me know in the comments and I’ll see if it’s something I can create for you!

Animal-Based Porcupine Meatballs (Paleo AIP Option)

Animal-Based Porcupine Meatballs are a nightshade-free spin on a great depression classic recipe with Paleo & AIP options!
Course AIP, animal based, Main Course, paleo
Cuisine main course
Keyword animal based meatballs, animal based porcupine meatballs
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

SAUCE

  • 1 15-oz BPA-free can pumpkin puree
  • 2 heaping Tbsp all fruit apricot jam (or 1 Tbsp honey)
  • 1/3 cup maple vinegar (or vinegar of choice)
  • 1/2 cup bone broth or water
  • Redmond fine salt to taste (~ 1.5 tsp)
  • Paleo AIP only: 1/2 tsp each onion powder and garlic powder

MEATBALLS

  • 1 large egg (for AIP: omit)
  • 1 tbsp all fruit apricot jam (or 1 tsp honey)
  • Redmond fine salt to taste (~ 1.5 tsp)
  • Paleo AIP only: 2 Tbsp dried chives*
  • 1 cup cooked organic white basmati rice (Paleo / AIP: sub 1 large finely grated plantain)
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • Grated raw cheese, optional for topping (for Paleo / AIP: omit)

Instructions

  • Prepare the rice for the MEATBALLS according to package instructions, then set aside to cool slightly.
  • Heat oven to 350 F.
  • Whisk together all SAUCE ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then use a silicone scraper to transfer the sauce into a 9×13” baking dish.
  • Use the same mixing bowl to make the meatballs in. Whisk together the egg, jam, and dry seasonings.
  • Stir in the cooked rice, then add the ground beef and mix with your hands or a meat chopper until well combined.
  • Use your hands or a mini ice cream scooper to make 2 Tbsp-sized meatballs, adding them in a single layer to the baking dish on top of the sauce.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and meatballs are golden brown on top and cooked through.
  • Gently stir the meatballs with the sauce, then top with optional cheese and enjoy!

Notes

*Dried chives are not recommended if you want to keep this strict Animal-Based.
PRODUCTS USED IN THIS RECIPE:
St Dalfour Apricot Jam
Pumpkin Puree
Maple Vinegar
Farm Foods Grass-Fed Ground Beef
Redmond Fine Salt (SAVE 10%! USE CODE CAVEWOMAN)

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