5 Ways to Cook with... Bone Marrow

I first came head to head with bone marrow on a first date. Accompanied by warm sourdough. And that was the moment. This promising and potentially perfect date took a swift and plummeting nose-dive, never to recover.

The undiscovered innards of a bone; by far, the BEST ‘butter’ I had experienced. Salty with incredible depth of flavour. Combine that with the slightly under-cooked, chewy sourdough - its melting into every nook and cranny - and I completely forgot about my man.

I (literally) sucked out the last bits of goodness from the bone, ploughed my way through a bottle of red, and tumbled off the train onto the platform with a desolate wave.

Suffice to say, I never saw my date again.

BUT, the true love of my evening… oh, that was only the beginning.

Too oft neglected at the bottom of the butcher’s freezer, still to this day, it wards off potential suitors. Queried as to the breed of dog that I’m purchasing bones for, the conversation turns significantly stilted when I explain that, in fact, the bone is for me.

Yet, for all the ill-affected consequences, I maintain that it is so worth it. Shrug off your cares, and see to your local butcher, for I share with you my top 5 ways to cook with Bone Marrow.

1. Bone Marrow Beef Burger

There are few things as satisfying as a juicy burger. Add to that bone marrow, and it becomes even racier. Learn this trick: squelch your beef mince together with the marrow, season with salt & pepper, and plonk onto the BBQ. You’ll never lose a tooth over a parched and tough burger again.

2. Bone Marrow Sausage Rolls

Sausage and puff pastry are a winning combo. Create an additional layer of bone marrow between the two, slather with your chutney of choice, and bake for half an hour. You’ll have an irresistibly doughy and moist sausage roll that will steal the award time and time again.

3. Roasted Bone Marrow with Warm Sourdough

The moment of discovery. And the catalyst for a pre-relationship breakdown. Unforgivably easy, undeniably moreish, this will become your go-to, mid-week supper. ‘Posh-up’ with a scattering of breadcrumbs, finely chopped fresh herbs, and a crumble of goat’s cheese, and your simple supper can become a dinner-party-starter showstopper.

4. Bone Marrow Roasties

Your Sunday roast will become the talk of the town. Place the bone marrow in the middle of your spuds, and leave the ‘jus’ to leak out, enveloping the potatoes in the marriage of the century.

5. Bone Marrow Risotto alla Milanese

Surely the classic Risotto alla Milanese doesn’t need a make-over? Yet, this is exactly what I did with the help of Gobble Guzzle London. Parmesan, saffron, butter and bone marrow combine to create a rich, luscious and truly decadent slop of arborio rice. Fry the marrow up with finely diced white onion, make a risotto as you normally would, and serve with slow-cooked, porcini mushroom oxtail. A Friday night doesn’t get much better than this.

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This is only the beginning; experiment and embrace the neglected bone marrow. Share with me your creations!