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.

Tags:

  • Condiment/Spread
  • European
  • American
  • Beef
  • Game
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Grill/Barbecue
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Christmas

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.

Popular on Food52

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

What does whipped bone marrow taste like? ›

This condiment is so rich and delicious I can't believe how easy it is to make. And it's a serious upgrade to generic unsalted butter (which, granted, is pretty good, but this is way more impressive!) It has a rich, tongue-coating umami taste that makes everything you eat it with seem infinitely more decadent.

Do you have to soak bone marrow before roasting? ›

Ensure the marrow has a faint pink color; the scent should be fresh and slightly meaty but not pungent or overpowering. 2. Soak the bones. Soaking the bones before roasting bone marrow isn't necessary, but it can help remove any remaining blood.

What food goes well 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!)

Does roasted bone marrow taste good? ›

Humans have been enjoying delicious and nutritious animal bone marrow for centuries. It has a sweet, rich taste and a hearty texture, and is used mostly to flavor broths and soups. Recently, it has become a main course item at gourmet restaurants around the world.

Why does bone marrow taste weird? ›

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.

Is bone marrow good for you to eat? ›

Bone marrow contains several health-promoting compounds, including collagen, conjugated linoleic acid, glycine, and glucosamine. While research is limited on the health benefits of bone marrow itself, these compounds have been linked to decreased inflammation, better skin health, and improved joint function.

What makes bone marrow taste good? ›

Due to its high fat content, bone marrow is extremely flavorful and rich, so don't hesitate to try it if you have the opportunity! Umami is one of the five basic tastes alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Umami refers to savory flavors, like meat, fish, and cheese.

How do you know when bone marrow is done cooking? ›

Cooking bone marrow

Put the tray in a preheated oven at 350ºF/180ºC for about 15-20 minutes. The marrow will be done when it is a nice golden-brown colour and springy to touch. You're looking for the marrow to slightly pull away from the bone – if it's too hard, they haven't been cooked for long enough.

What pairs with bone marrow? ›

Bone Marrow is an excellent dish to serve as a first course or light meal when company comes over. It goes excellently with cheese and wine, and is a cinch to make.

What flavors go well with bone marrow? ›

Use other bitter or assertive greens besides parsley such as watercress and arugula, and pair with thinly sliced radishes. Onion, shallot or garlic confit. Or onion, shallot, or garlic marmalade. A jam-like aromatic is great to have on hand for a number of things, not just marrow.

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? ›

Serve bone marrow as an appetizer or as a main dish with steak. You can scoop out a little bone marrow and spread it on a piece of toast, or you could spread a little onto a piece of steak. It works wonderfully as an accompaniment to a great piece of protein, or you can use it as an appetizer before the main course.

What flavor is roasted bone marrow? ›

When cooked yellow marrow softens and acquires a jelly-like, buttery texture with a sweet, mild beefy and nutty flavor. Prolonged cooking results in complete liquification. Beef marrow bones from the femur of cows are by far the most common choice for roasting simply due to their sheer size vis-a-vis other bones.

Is bone marrow high in cholesterol? ›

Ruminant brain and marrow contains around 2037mg /100 g [129] and 119-6mg/ 100g [130] cholesterol respectively.

What does bone marrow tastes like? ›

Bone marrow has a delicate, complex umami (savory) flavor with a creamy texture and nutty undertones. Roast bone marrow on its own and scoop it out with a spoon. Spread the marrow on a cracker or bread if you'd like. Turn roasted bone marrow into bone broth by simmering it in a pot with water, veggies, and seasonings.

Does bone marrow taste like butter? ›

Beef marrow tastes incredibly rich, like the most buttery butter you've ever tasted with hints of beef.

Does bone marrow add flavor? ›

Sauces and Gravies: Similar to stocks and broths, bone marrow adds a rich aromatic, umami flavor! Braising and Slow Cooking: Using bone marrow helps moisten your food during the cooking process. It provides a rich savory flavor while adding a silky texture.

How long does whipped bone marrow last? ›

You can refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze for up to 6 months. Just like butter, it'll become hard when chilled. Let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours to soften before serving.

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