Bone marrow was considered a luxurious ingredient that was hard to come by in the market, often requiring a visit to certain restaurants to enjoy. However, bone marrow has become increasingly common now, and you can even buy it at meat stores and market. Is it worth spending tens of dollars on a piece of bone?
What is Bone Marrow?
Some people who are unfamiliar with bone marrow may mistake the white substance inside beef bones for fat or grease. They may not be entirely wrong, but there are certainly misconceptions involved. Bone marrow is the soft tissue that produces blood cells, rich in nutrients like omega-3, calcium, and collagen, alongside some amount of fat. Ultimately, while consuming bone marrow regularly may not be healthy, occasional enjoyment in moderation is fine. The key is to consume it in moderation.
How to Handle Bone Marrow?
Many people who buy beef bone marrow and cook it at home may encounter a strong gamey taste, leading them to reject it. This isn't the fault of the bone marrow itself but often due to inadequate preparation beforehand, resulting in the waste of delicious bone marrow. Before roasting or baking bone marrow, a crucial step is to purge the blood from the marrow. One effective method is to soak the bone marrow in saltwater overnight. The saltwater helps draw out the blood. The next day, you'll notice the water has turned red, indicating the successful removal of blood. This purging step is essential to prevent any gamey taste when you cook and enjoy the bone marrow.
What does Bone Marrow Go Well With?
My experiences of eating bone marrow were absolutely unforgettable. The rich aroma of the marrow's fats is intoxicating. Scooping a spoonful of the marrow along with the roasted ingredients and spreading it slowly on a piece of crispy toasted bread gives a luxurious mouthfeel that brings happiness. Enjoying this dish occasionally is truly delightful. Today, I'm introducing two toppings to go with it: garlic mushrooms and maple bacon. Each has its unique charm. Which one do you prefer?
After enjoying the beef bone marrow, remember to keep the bone shafts—don't discard them! They serve as the ticket to getting the most out of your beef bones. Even after eating, are the beef bones valuable? Absolutely. These bones are treasures because in another recipe, we'll use these two bones to simmer an incredibly rich Vietnamese-style beef bone soup. You can click on my "Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup" to check out the recipe!
Ingredients
With Maple Bacon：
Beef Bone Marrow | 1 pc |
|---|---|
Onion | ½ bulb |
Bacon | 4 slices |
Maple Syrup | 2 tbsp |
Salt | ½ tsp |
Ground Black Pepper | ½ tsp |
Parsley | to taste |
Baguette | to taste |
With Garlic Mushroom：
Beef Bone Marrow | 1 pc |
|---|---|
Shijime Mushroom | 80 g |
Garlic | 8 cloves |
White Wine | 2 tbsp |
Salt | ½ tsp |
Ground Black Pepper | ½ tsp |
Parsley | to taste |
Baguette | to taste |
Steps
1.
Take a large dish, add a little hot water and 1 teaspoon of salt, mix until the salt dissolves. Then mix in more room temperature water to submerge the entire beef bone marrow. Let it soak overnight.
2.
Peel and chop the onion; peel and chop the garlic; finely chop the shiitake mushrooms; slice the bacon into strips; finely chop the parsley.
3.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F).
4.
After soaking overnight, pour out the blood water, then trim away any sinew or meat attached to the beef bones. Sprinkle a little salt and black pepper over the beef bone marrow. Place directly in the preheated oven at 200°C (392°F) and bake for 15 minutes.
5.
For the Maple Bacon flavor: Heat a pan over medium heat, add a little oil, sauté the onion briefly, then add the bacon and sauté until golden brown. Add black pepper, maple syrup, and parsley, mix well until thickened, then set aside.
6.
For the Garlic Wild Mushroom flavor: Heat a pan over medium heat, add a little oil, add the garlic and shiitake mushrooms, sauté until slightly softened. Add white wine, stir well, then add a little salt, black pepper, and parsley, sauté until the liquid is reduced, then set aside.
7.
After baking the beef bone marrow for 15 minutes, remove from the oven. Fill each bone with the prepared Maple Bacon and Garlic Wild Mushroom mixtures. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
8.
Slice the baguette, drizzle with a little olive oil, and toast in a pan over medium-low heat until crispy. Serve the toasted bread with the beef bone marrow for a delicious meal!
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