Marrow- healthy or unhealthy?
I've heard several conflicting reports about marrow bones and their nutritional value. One opinion is that it's pure fat in them thar bones. I've also heard it's 100% protein, and therefore very low in fat and in fact quite good for you. Any expert opinions out there?
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16 Comments:
Anthony Bourdain calls marrow "God's Butter" an I happen to agree with him !
onepercent99 at 4:36PM on 10/15/08
Oooooh! I have always been afraid to try marrow!
izatryt at 4:41PM on 10/15/08
If its a calorific cholesterol nightmare, just eat less of it, less frequently but enjoy it when you do!
fuuchan at 4:44PM on 10/15/08
Well my 2 year old daughter loves it,sucks it right out of the bone. lol I on the other hand do not. She absolutley loves it. Coming from an old school italian family they say its good for you so go for it.
PPina at 5:08PM on 10/15/08
Bone marrow is high in both protein and fat, which was why it was such a valued food in struggling civilizations.
Health food? Probably not in the sense of whole grains and fresh veggies.
Bad for you? Probably not as bad as a whole slew of other stuff out there.
Marrow is rich like liver is rich. Some say liver is very good for you (high in iron and protein), others stay away from it because it's high in cholesterol.
Personally I love marrow and I do think it's the best part of osso bucco. But I only make osso bucco about twice a year, so I figure it's okay to eat the marrow. But I figure something that rich tasting isn't going to be a guilt-free indulgence.
wookie at 5:57PM on 10/15/08
Marrow is one of those things that makes life worth living. I really couldn't give less of a crap about whether it's good for me or not, I must eat it three-four times a year. How many times a year do you eat bacon?
SqueezeBottle at 6:31PM on 10/15/08
It is one of those foods that made humans what we are today... Upright... well most of us anyways. That being said, it is packed with calories from both fat and protein. Everything in moderation as most have eluded to here would be a wise suggestion... filling a kiddie pool with marrow and bringing a 55 gal. bag of crustini would be my idea of moderate.... you may have your own meaning. Bon Chanc!
Pavlov at 7:26PM on 10/15/08
Marrow is a rare thing on menus, especially here in LA, but I recently found a bar nearby my office that serves them. They're a very inexpensive thing to make at home too. Nice parsley salad and crostini's and you've got a treat.
mattatouille at 8:40PM on 10/15/08
I don't care....that and foie gras make life worth living. Oh, and chocolate, Chatuaeneuf du Pape, and anything pork fat related.
Chef Jo at 8:42PM on 10/15/08
Oh Chef Jo ~ Foie and I have a torrid love affair! If it is put in front of me, I become weak in the knees and just can not say no! I am still afraid of marrow. Somebody convince me, please! How should it be prepared? What do I look for when I order it?
izatryt at 9:10PM on 10/15/08
@Pavlov i love your idea of moderation!
huneybumper at 8:38AM on 10/16/08
@Pavlov a kiddie pool with marrow and crustini sounds heavenly. Also, for those too timid to try it... you're really missing out. It's pretty much one of the best things on earth. I suggest going to Blue Ribbon Bakery (NYC) and having their appetizer. Delicious!
avideater at 11:44AM on 10/16/08
@izatryt, if you are in new york, go to blue ribbon restaurant on downing street and order the bone marrow with oxtail marmalade. i had a few bites of my companion's portion six years ago and can remember every silken, molten, gooey, fatty, delectable morsel.
or go to a great italian restaurant and ask for osso bucco.
or go to a classic french brasserie or bistro in a large cosmopolitan city and hope they have it on the menu.
or-- consult mastering the art of french cooking for instructions on how to prepare and serve it at home -- just make sure you have the butcher saw through the bone for you.
when i was a meat eater, i used to seek out the lamb shoulder chops that had the biggest marrow bones in them. anyone knows that the little slurp of marrow contained within is by far the best part of the chop.
cybercita at 11:54AM on 10/16/08
If you've ever roasted marrow in your oven, you would have nothing to question. It is almost purely fat.
burnzes at 3:57PM on 10/16/08
i've heard it's both high in protein and fat. i've also heard that beef marrow is high in cholesterol. when you cook it at home, you'll see a considerable amount of fat around the bone so i only eat it once a month.
gastrodamus at 6:32PM on 10/16/08
It's an occasional treat; I suspect it's pretty fatty, but once a month or so makes life worth living. Don't be afraid, it's delicious. That said, I try to stick to lamb or veal marrow. The risk of BSE (mad cow disease) is really low, but can get transmitted in the marrow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/background_briefings/bse/224426.stm
bialy at 9:24PM on 10/18/08