Roasted bone marrow (2024)

Bymiakouppa

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Roasted bone marrow (1)

A luxurious spread for crackers and crostini

If you consider the current bone broth craze you might conclude that deriving food from animal bones was a new phenomenon. It’s not. Bones, and more specifically bone marrow, have been consumed in Europe and Asia long before their present popularity in mainstream North America. Even within our continent however, Native Americans and the Indigenous people of Canada have included bone marrow in their diets for ages. And long before this there is evidence that our paleolithic predecessors chomped on animal bones; it’s no surprise that proponents of the bone broth movement are following the Paleo diet.

We can assure you that our parents were not ahead of any health food trend when they served us roasted bone marrow as kids. They probably did have health in mind however, and were aware of the health benefits often associated with eating bone marrow.

In case you don’t know much about bone marrow, here’s a primer. Consider this, Bone Marrow 101.

  1. Bone marrow is found in the center of bones; the larger the bone, the more marrow you can expect. The leg bone, or femur, of large animals is particularly rich in bone marrow.
  2. Bone marrow contains stem cells which produce white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, which in turn help fight infections, help carry oxygen throughout the body and help with blood clotting.
  3. Bone marrow is composed almost entirely (97%) of fat.
  4. Along with the healthy fats found in bone marrow, it contains amino acids, vitamins E, B1 and A, and minerals. It has been said that bone marrow may improve immunity and aid in digestion.
  5. Bone marrow also contains a group of compounds called alkyglycerols, immune boosting lipids which are also found in breast milk.
Roasted bone marrow (2)
Roasted bone marrow (3)

Facts, fads and potential health benefits aside, roasted bone marrow is absolutely delicious. It’s not surprising then that it is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Slightly buttery in taste and simply luxurious in texture, roasted bone marrow is definitely worth a try.

Pin this recipe if you like it!

Roasted bone marrow (4)

Helpful hints

Aside from being delicious, bone marrow tends to be economical particularly when compared, cost per pound, to the cost of meat. Beef bone marrow will usually give you the best value for your money.

If you don’t find marrow bones readily available at your supermarket, simply ask your butcher if he has any large marrow bones. If they are cut as ours are in the pictures in this post, great. Otherwise, ask your butcher to split the bones lengthwise. The last thing you want is to struggle to get the marrow out of the bones. Of course, you can always splurge and buy yourself a marrow spoon!

If you do find a good supply of marrow bones, stock up. Uncooked they freeze very well. Also, it’s sometimes hard to know how much marrow you will actually get out of any given bone, so it’s good to have extras.

Your marrow bones should be free of meat and the marrow should be a pale pink colour. If you see blood spots on the surface, that is fine.

Roasted bone marrow (5)

Our favourite way to enjoy bone marrow is roasted as explained in this recipe. Spread on crackers or thin slices of crostini they are just perfect. At the same time, you can roast your bone marrow and then add it to soups and stews for extra flavour and texture.

The recipe which follows does not indicate amounts on purpose. The recipe, or technique, is basic and you can roast as many bones as you like.

Looking for other recipes that pack a punch? How about these:

Fried liver

Grilled steak

Stewed rooster with okra and potatoes

We love hearing from you! If you have made our recipes, or if you have a question or comment, or simply want to say Hi!, please leave a comment below!

Roasted bone marrow (6)

Roasted bone marrow (7)

Roasted bone marrow

A luxurious spread for crackers and crostini

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Light meal, meze

Cuisine: Greek

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Author: Mia Kouppa

Ingredients

  • Marrow bones
  • salt, to taste
  • dry oregano to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Place your marrow bones in a roasting pan. If they are cut crosswise, place them standing up. If they are cut lengthwise then place them in the roasting pan so that the marrow side is up.

  • Season with salt, pepper and oregano to taste.

  • Place in the middle rack of your oven for 15 - 20 minutes. The marrow will have puffed up a bit and there should be no resistance when you insert a skewer or toothpick into the middle of it.

  • Once done, remove from the oven and serve immediately with crackers or crostini.

  • Enjoy!

About Us

Yia sas! Welcome to our family! Get ready to explore the vast, delicious, and varied world of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. We are (from left to right) Billie, Mama Dimitra, Baba George and Helen, and here you will find all of our amazing family recipes, and more! We take pride in presenting recipes that we know will help you succeed in the kitchen, and which you will be proud to serve to your family and friends. Enjoy!

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Roasted bone marrow (17)
Roasted bone marrow (2024)

FAQs

Is Roasted Bone Marrow good for you? ›

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.

Are roasted marrow bones safe? ›

As long as the meat reaches a safe temperature, it's perfectly safe to eat the marrow inside the bones. Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb, and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source.

Do you need 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.

Do bone marrow supplements work? ›

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.

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 bad for high cholesterol? ›

The researchers found that large number of bone marrow stem cells create excessive numbers of white blood cells, which flock to cholesterol deposits on the artery wall, enlarging and inflaming them.

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.

Should I eat bone marrow raw or cooked? ›

There is no one right way to eat bone marrow. You can cook it and enjoy it straight from the bone, spread it like butter on bread, melt it over your steak, cook it in the oven, or make a delicious broth with it.

What to do with leftover roasted bone marrow? ›

Marrow bones freeze well, and I typically even buy them frozen from the butcher shop. You can also freeze bone marrow out of the bone after it is cooked. Just store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and warm.

How to eat roasted bone marrow? ›

Eating bone marrow

This is the easy part – just grab a spoon and dig in. Scrape out the beautiful marrow with a spoon and spread it onto the toast. Think of it like a trough of garlic butter. Delicious!

What pairs 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 bones are best for bone marrow? ›

Marrow Bones are Femur Bones, Tibia and Shank Bones. All three main broth bones contain plenty of marrow, collagen, fats, and micronutrients but due to their size and irregular shape, the marrow is not easily accessible to eat directly which you can in round straight Femur Bones or Tibia Bones.

Is bone marrow a superfood? ›

Bone marrow is one of nature's most underrated superfoods. Rich in collagen, saturated fat, B vitamins, and other nutrients, bone marrow offers eaters a wide variety of health benefits: Improved body composition.

Is bone marrow good for your gut? ›

Bone marrow broth's rich composition of collagen, amino acids, and gelatin provides essential nutrients that support the repair and maintenance of the gut lining. By incorporating bone marrow broth into your daily diet, you can take significant steps toward improving your gut health and overall well-being.

Why does bone marrow taste so 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.

Is bone marrow better than meat? ›

The body's many tissues benefit from the strength and suppleness of collagen, an abundant structural protein. While bone marrow soup may not be as high in protein as meat, it does include amino acids like glycine and proline that help the body absorb more protein.

What are the best bones for eating marrow? ›

A Marrow Bone is the culinary and butchery term for either the Femur, Shank or Tibia bone of a steer that is cut for eating. As the Femur is the largest bone in the animal, it has the best Marrow to Bone ratio.

Is the marrow in chicken bones healthy? ›

Bones also contain bone marrow, a fatty substance that is extremely nutrient dense and considered one of the original “superfoods”, that is released into the meat during the cooking process, amplifying the meats nutrients density.

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