Roasted Marrow Bones



You know, I've done a lot of traveling in my time. And I've really enjoyed it. Especially the food - sampling food from all over the world is probably the most fun I've had in my life so far.



But I am now experiencing an odd drawback of that travel. When this baby gets cravings, this baby gets some WEIRD, foreign-y cravings!



Kim chi, carne asada with the perfect salsa roja (not so strange perhaps, but devilish hard to get in the whitewashed northwest), pad thai loaded with lime (me at the restaurant this week, wanting to yell at the little Thai girl running the place: you don't have LIMES? have you ever even BEEN TO THAILAND??).



And now, bone marrow.



I first had bone marrow in Mexico, on something like a dare. We were all gathered around eating delicious, fresh barbacoa (I always picture the making of barbacoa involving a group of Mexicans sneaking up on an unsuspecting sheep and pushing it into a pit) pulled and piled on hot corn tortillas with yes, that perfect salsa roja. And there were bones in the mix of meat. And sticking out of the bones was an intriguing whitish material.



Of course, staying with the family we were staying with, I couldn't take notice of something without them insisting I eat it (and a lot of it!). So I tried it.



And it was GREAT. Thick, a consistency not too different from butter, with a mild, mellow taste that spreads over the tongue.



Now Americans rarely eat the stuff, for whatever reason. We're picky (some would say wasteful) fellows. But in other parts of the world, bone marrow is a delicacy. Something special, particularly recommended, they told me, for pregnant women. It is fatty, yes, but it is also very nutritious and great brain food. Some scientists even trace the rise of intelligent humanoids to the rise of bone marrow in the diet!



Anyways, long story short, this week I had a dream where I was hungrily munching sheeps' bones, and they were so delicious in the dream that I woke up with marrow on the brain. Surprisingly I didn't have to go too far to find some good, thick marrow bones, either. I think most grocery stores have them, although they might sell them as "soup bones." Which they are great for, as well. I boiled mine for a fantastic broth after scooping out the marrow.



And after I ate it, spread on a nice ciabatta from the bakery I haven't visited in weeks, I felt so ridiculously good. Almost like my old, pre-pregnant self. And I've felt good since then. Could it be the marrow?

Roasted marrowbones. (taken from The Hungry Mouse)

4 center-cut beef or veal marrow bones, about 3 inches long (mine were about 5 inches long, so I roasted them a little longer)
kosher salt
Thick slices of crusty bread, toasted

Place marrowbones in a pan with a lip to catch the drippings. Roast in 450 degree oven about 20 minutes, or until no longer pink inside. Spread marrow over toasted bread, top with salt and pepper to taste.

These are also nice, I've read, with a small parsley salad on top. I didn't have parsley on hand, but if you are interested click on the link above.

Serves about 4

2 comments:

jeannesioux said...

ooooooohhhhhh.
Sorry Anna,
I'm not sure I can handle this one.
Certainly Justin has not been converted.
I can't imagine him eating this.

Ug.
I guess it would be worth it if it got rid of the morning sickness. ;=

amlamonte said...

i hear it's catching on??? somewhere in america?