Do You Eat Bone Marrow?

August 16, 2010

Bone marrow is so hot right now. It used to be that this offal — technically, tissue found inside large beef bones — could only be found in the occasional osso buco. Not anymore: I've seen the unctuous, rich filling pop up this year on dozens of restaurant menus, often served with toast for spreading. The latest fad? Bone marrow pizza.

I've thought about sharing a simple recipe for preparing this comfort food dish at home — but first, I wanted to see how many of you find the ingredient appetizing.

Source: Flickr User gruntzooki

40 Comments

Eutheria 2 years 28 weeks

I LOVE marrow. Delicious, nutrient-dense meat butter!! Poultry marrow is the secret, health-giving ingredient sick meat-eaters enjoy in their chicken soup, why broth is made with bones or a carcass. The evolution of our enormous brain size has been associated with our discovery that even scavenged bones can be tapped for a significant nutritional boost. The saying "to suck the marrow out of" something means to experience it fully, so you meat eaters who think marrow is icky are missing out! My dog finishes my Cheerios or mashed potatoes as happily as he eats pan drippings or raw meat. We share a lot of the same tastes, which is why his ancestors started hanging around ours.

2 years 29 weeks

if someone eats an animal, is it not their responsibility to respect the animal and not waste any part of the animal, if a vegetarian drinks milk isn't it wrong that they leave veal to be wasted since it is just a biproduct of the dairy industry, it is the same with marrow, all who eat meat should not waste the marrow, it is disrespectful to the animal.

2 years 33 weeks

Made a shoulder roast with a large section of bone containing maybe 5 tablespoons of marrow. I simply mixed the marrow in with the drippings and juices. It was delicious.

2 years 37 weeks

I will eat it when served at a restaurant because I know how good it is for me however, I've never prepared it at home.

2 years 37 weeks

Yes, and I eat afterbirth too!

2 years 38 weeks

Many yrs ago there was a story in the old Gourmet magazine that told of parents in London who belonged to an epicurian society. They had found a set of marrow spoons, so vowed to serve marrow at their next dinner. They found the perfect marrow bones, coached the cook on how to prepare them, but when they were served, the cook had cleaned them out -- (did she eat the marrow or just discard it?) When there was marrow in the roast my mother fixed, my dad would spread it on bread, the the bread was passed around the table for everyone to take a bite. Great memories!!

2 years 39 weeks

Beef, Pork , lamb Bones cooked in tomato sauce made from scratch cooked for hours on end Until the meat falls off the bones ( meat sauce )those bones cleaned of all meat and marrow is the best part of Sundays pasta after devouring a plate off spaghetti . Bon Appetit Ther is nothig like it for your taste buds

limelindsey 2 years 39 weeks

Never tried it. Looks interesting though.

Bailey Bloom 2 years 39 weeks

I know it's kinda late to respond. But it's soooo good. I don't know why some of people posting here have a problem with people who like to eat it like we're hurting the animal. HELLO! The animal is dead and the meat is gone. So what's left are the bones and the marrow inside. It's not like we kill animals just to take the marrow so we can eat it. Geez people.

2 years 39 weeks

@ #22 It's great that you have strong beliefs about consumption of animal products, but that is your personal belief. Please do not start comparing carniverous diets to cannibalism simply because you do not agree with others' dietary choices.

2 years 39 weeks

My dog will lick ice cream residue out of the empty container - should I be grossed out about eating ice cream?

loveisblind 2 years 39 weeks

I think some of you guys who think its gross did not have any yet! haha. How do you know how bad it is unless you tried it. Don't knock it till you try it! =D

Vanonymous 2 years 39 weeks

Onlysourcherry, i totally hear you with the ick factor. There are definitely meats that i find less appetizing than others. My comment was mainly directed at comments like #22. My point is that if you're anti- eating meat for ethical/moral reasons, then i can't understand why eating marrow is worse than filet mignon. However, if you are anti-eating meat b/c you just don't find it appetizing - i can see how the marrow would be even less appetizing.

onlysourcherry 2 years 39 weeks

Vanonymous-- I agree that there's nothing philosophically different about eating an animal's muscles vs. its eyes vs. its bone marrow. But there's definitely an added "ick" factor to eating some body parts over others, which is what i was reacting to.

sourcherries 2 years 39 weeks

Waste not, want not.

Vanonymous 2 years 39 weeks

My mom takes the marrow out of chicken bones and loves it. As children, my sisters and I used to think it was so gross. I'll have to let her know how hip she is now. :) I haven't tried it, but I'm open to trying anything once. To some of the veggie's being a bit harsh and judgmental about this... I get where you're coming from. However, if people are going to eat meat, wouldn't you prefer they leave nothing to waste?

Sundaydrive 2 years 39 weeks

Yeah... My dog eats those bones, so its not really something I'd want on my own dinner plate. Yuck!

2 years 39 weeks

".......pry it out of lamb bones .....: ok clarice whatev i knows you are not kidding but that statement make me ballistic i wonder how some one would feel about sucking the marrow out of OUR bones.... never mind burnt out = butt/fork/dunzo

amber512 2 years 39 weeks

I can't even eat regular meat without dry heaving, just looking at that picture is GROSSING me out!

GummiBears 2 years 39 weeks

I used to but I lost the taste for it now that I am older. I don't look down at those who loves it.

Spectra 2 years 39 weeks

Ok, even if it tastes fantastic, I could never wrap my brain around eating something that my dog really likes. It's just psychologically wrong to me.

WarEagleNurse 2 years 39 weeks

sxybtch0280 2 years 39 weeks

My dad introduced me to bone marrow as a little girl and I've been hooked ever since! It definitely makes it onto my "last meal" menu!

kurniakasih 2 years 39 weeks

Ooooh it's SO GOOD. I just drool at the pic. I miss the soup/stew my mom used to make for me..oh good day..good time. My husband and kid will not touch this so I can never make this at home. My kid is (I think) vegetarian while my husband isn't into 'exotic' stuffs (YAH, he'll consider this 'exotic').

Mee-shell 2 years 39 weeks

@partysugar I agree. The bone marrow at Alembic is some of the best I've ever had.

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