Roasted and Whipped Bone Marrow Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Cara Nicoletti

November6,2014

4

1 Ratings

  • Cook time 1 hour
  • Makes about 1 cup

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Author Notes

This is my favorite simple way to prepare bone marrow—the herbs add a little freshness and whipping makes it look slightly more presentable than it does fresh out of the oven. Spread it on toast, cook eggs or roast vegetables with it, or let it melt over your steak while it’s resting. If it’s the main event and you’re just spreading it on bread, some acid (like a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar) will help cut the fatty richness. —Cara Nicoletti

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 beef femur bones, canoed
  • 1 tablespoonfresh parsley, minced
  • 1 tablespoonfresh thyme, minced
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • lemon wedges or white wine vinegar for serving
Directions
  1. Place canoed marrow bones, marrow side-up, on a roasting sheet lined with tinfoil and pre-heat your oven to 425° F. Roast for 25 minutes.
  2. When the bones have cooled enough to handle, scoop the marrow out into a bowl and place it in the refrigerator to cool (Save your bones to make stock! It will still be hearty without the marrow).
  3. When the marrow has cooled to the consistency of softened butter (like what you would use for making cookies), place it in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip it until it is white and fluffy, like whipped butter. Whip in herbs and season with salt and pepper to taste. You can cook with this whipped marrow like you would cook with butter, or you can spread it on toast with a squeeze of lemon.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Kasia Kowalski

  • David Lee Hicks

  • cucina di mammina

  • Panfusine

  • Julie Gomoll

Recipe by: Cara Nicoletti

Cara Nicoletti is a butcher and writer living in Brooklyn, New York. Cara started working in restaurants when she moved to New York in 2004, and was a baker and pastry chef for several years before following in her grandfather and great-grandfathers' footsteps and becoming a butcher. She is the writer behind the literary recipe blog, Yummy-Books.com, and author of Voracious, which will be published by Little, Brown in 2015. She is currently a whole-animal butcher and sausage-making teacher at The Meat Hook in Williamsburg.

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11 Reviews

Kasia K. January 27, 2021

How long does this last if stored?

David L. July 10, 2018

Beautiful.

patricia.k.jean January 7, 2017

Do you soak the marrow bones prior to roasting? Just wondering what happens to the coagulated grey matter if you don't.

Joe O. August 29, 2020

The use of soaking removes blood (Grey matter is not an opinion as the central nervous system is no longer intact)

Foodie52 November 23, 2014

I made this today, and it was delicious. This is now my preferred way of eating bone marrow. It's also perfect for introducing to roasted bone marrow to friends who find scooping marrow out of a piece of bone off putting.

cucina D. November 9, 2014

I love bone marrow! Never knew whipping it could look so different and I want to try this soon... i too need to find a reputable butcher where I know the bones are truly organic and fresh. Thanks for such a wonderful and tasty concept.

Panfusine November 9, 2014

wow, it whips up to a snowy white color?.. never imagined marrow in that shade! interesting to learn!

Julie G. November 7, 2014

How long will this last in the fridge? Can it be freezed?

Cara N. November 12, 2014

Hi Julie, it will last about 3 weeks in the fridge. Frozen it will last up to 6 months!

Pegeen November 7, 2014

What a great article. I haven't used marrow for a long time but my grandmothers who taught me how to cook used it often. It's hard to find a "butcher" these days, though, if you don't live in an urban area. I have to drive quite a while to get to a farm whose produce I would trust.

Pegeen November 7, 2014

...should have said, whose "animals" I would trust (not "produce")

Roasted and Whipped Bone Marrow Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to soak bone marrow before roasting? ›

Cover the bones in enough salt water to cover, and let brine and refrigerate for 24 hours. This will help draw out the impurities in the bones and leave the marrow nice and white.

Is roasted bone marrow good? ›

Bone marrow is full of collagen, which improves the health and strength of bones and skin. It is also rich in glucosamine, a compound that helps against osteoarthritis, relieves joint pain, and reduces inflammation in the joints.

What flavor is roasted bone marrow? ›

What does bone marrow actually taste like? Many people say it has an umami flavor and tastes very buttery and creamy because of its high fat content. Cooked properly, it has a slightly sweet, savory full-bodied flavor.

What to do with leftover roasted bone marrow? ›

Bone marrow is loaded with good saturated fats, minerals, and proteins like collagen. It can be eaten straight out of the bone, spread on bread, or even used on tacos. The marrow bones can also be simmered with vegetables to make a nutritious bone broth.

How do you make bone marrow taste better? ›

While the oven is heating, you can season your marrow bones with salt. PRO TIP: The more meat on the bones, the more salt you will need to add flavor. Then, add your marrow bones to a sheet pan and freshly minced garlic. Shake the pan to mix the ingredients together and pop it in the oven for twenty minutes.

Should I defrost bone marrow before roasting? ›

It is not recommended to cook frozen bone marrow directly without defrosting it. Defrosting the bone marrow allows for more even cooking and better flavor development. It is best to thaw the bone marrow in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

How often should you eat bone marrow? ›

How often should I eat bone marrow? You should eat bone marrow twice per week for best results. It has important nutrients that we lack in our Western Diet that are beneficial for skin health, brain health, blood sugar, immunity ands stem cell formation.

Is bone marrow good or bad cholesterol? ›

Is bone marrow good or bad cholesterol? Since bone marrow is a form of fatty tissue, it does not contain cholesterol. It is, however, high in beneficial fats, such as monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to lower harmful cholesterol levels and improved heart health.

What goes well with bone marrow? ›

Roasted bone marrow served on toast is one of the classic gourmet dishes with origins extending at least as far back as France in the 1600s. The modern take on the dish often involves serving the roasted bones with toast, a small heap of grey sea salt, and an herb salad.

What to eat with roasted bone marrow? ›

You can pair this dish with anything; toast, veggies, rice, or just eat it straight from a small spoon (that's what we love to do!) Roasted bone marrow may seem intimidating, but it's actually super simple and has minimal ingredients, seasoned with only kosher salt and black pepper (no, really!)

What makes bone marrow delicious? ›

Bone marrow is just the spongy tissue found in the center of bones. It is mostly fat and has a rich, meaty flavor, making it ideal as a thickening agent and flavor booster. It's like concentrated meat goodness and is deadly on toast. Some people even call it the “butter of the gods”.

What is bone marrow dish called? ›

Beef bone marrow is also a main ingredient in the Italian dish ossobuco (braised veal shanks); the shanks are cross-cut and served bone-in, with the marrow still inside the bone.

How do you eat roasted bone marrow? ›

Roast the bones in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the marrow is soft and creamy. Remove the bones from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Using a small spoon, scoop out the marrow and serve it on toast or crackers.

How long does roasted bone marrow last in the fridge? ›

There's no reason why you shouldn't roast the marrow and simply spread it on lovely toast like butter. But you could also gussy it up with a little ease. Leftover roasted marrow will keep for 2 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer in an airtight container.

How long does bone marrow last in the fridge? ›

Frozen Marrow Bones will keep perfectly for at least 12 months if kept in a freezer friendly bag and stored in your freezer at a temperature below freezing ie 32 degrees F ( 0 Celcius). Raw Marrow Bones or Thawed from Frozen Marrow Bones should be kept in the refridgerator and used within 3 to 4 days.

Why do you soak bone marrow in water? ›

Soaking the bones before roasting bone marrow isn't necessary, but it can help remove any remaining blood. Add the marrow to a bowl of salted ice water and place it in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four hours, replacing the liquid with fresh water every four to six hours.

Why do you soak bone marrow in ice water? ›

To remove the blood from the marrow, place the bones in a bowl of ice water with 1 tsp coarse sea salt per 1 cup water. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours, changing the water every 4 hours and replacing the salt each time. Drain and refrigerate until you are ready to cook the marrow.

How do you prepare for bone marrow? ›

Bone marrow exams are often performed on an outpatient basis. Special preparation usually isn't needed. If you'll be receiving a sedative during the bone marrow exam, your doctor may ask you to stop eating and drinking for a period of time before the procedure.

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