# Slow-Roasted Marrow Bones with Oxtail Marmalade
*Buttery, roasted bone marrow topped with a sticky, savory-sweet shredded beef reduction*

## Headnote
The first time I had roasted marrow, I was sitting in a dimly lit tavern in London, scraping the "god’s butter" from the bone with a tiny silver spoon. It was life-changing, but it lacked a counterpoint—something to cut through that profound, lip-coating richness. This recipe solves that by pairing the marrow with a concentrated oxtail marmalade. The oxtail is braised until it collapses into a jam-like consistency, providing a deep, beefy acidity that makes the marrow taste even more like itself.

Don't let the "marmalade" label fool you; there isn't a shred of orange peel in sight. This is a pure carnivore’s preserve. The secret to success here is the soaking of the marrow bones. Skipping the salt-water soak leaves you with gray, bloody marrow. Twenty-four hours in brine draws out the impurities and leaves the marrow pearly white and perfectly seasoned before it even hits the oven.

**Prep time:** 30 min (plus 24-hour soak)
**Cook time:** 4 hours
**Total time:** 4 hours 30 min (active)
**Yield:** 4 servings
**Difficulty:** Medium

## Ingredients

**For the Oxtail Marmalade:**
* 2 lbs oxtail pieces, patted dry
* 1 tsp coarse sea salt
* 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper (optional)
* 2 cups beef bone broth (no-salt-added)
* 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
* 2 tbsp unsalted butter

**For the Roasted Marrow:**
* 4 large beef marrow bones (3–4 inches long), center-cut or canoe-cut
* 1 tbsp coarse sea salt (for brining)
* 1 tsp flaky sea salt (for finishing)

## Method

1. Place the marrow bones in a large bowl and cover with cold water and 1 tablespoon of coarse salt. 
2. Refrigerate the bones for 24 hours, changing the water twice, until the marrow appears pale and clean.
3. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
4. Season the oxtail pieces generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
5. Place a heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the oxtails in a single layer.
6. Sear the meat until a deep, dark brown crust forms on all sides, about 4 minutes per side.
7. Pour the bone broth and apple cider vinegar over the oxtails, scraping the bottom of the pot to release the browned bits.
8. Cover the pot tightly and transfer to the oven for 3 to 3.5 hours, or until the meat literally falls away from the bone at the touch of a fork.
9. Remove the oxtails from the liquid and let them cool slightly on a plate.
10. Increase the oven temperature to 450°F (230°C).
11. Shred the oxtail meat into fine strands using two forks, discarding all bones, cartilage, and excess fat.
12. Place the remaining braising liquid in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to a thick, syrupy glaze.
13. Fold the shredded meat and the butter into the glaze, stirring until it reaches a sticky, jam-like consistency.
14. Pat the soaked marrow bones completely dry with paper towels and place them upright (or cut-side up) on a foil-lined roasting pan.
15. Roast the marrow bones at 450°F (230°C) for 15–20 minutes.
16. Check the marrow by inserting a metal skewer; it should feel soft like warm butter, and the fat should just be starting to bubble and leak from the bottom.
17. Spoon the warm oxtail marmalade generously over the top of each roasted bone.
18. Finish with a heavy pinch of flaky sea salt.

## Variations

**The Smoked Version**: After the 24-hour soak, place the marrow bones in a smoker at 250°F (120°C) for 45 minutes instead of roasting. The fat absorbs the wood smoke beautifully, pairing perfectly with the acidic marmalade.

**Spicy Beef Jam**: Fold 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and a tablespoon of liquid amino acids into the oxtail marmalade during the reduction phase for an umami-heavy kick.

**Tallow-Fried Garnish**: If you have extra oxtail fat from the braising liquid, chill it until solid, then use it to fry small pieces of steak trimming until crispy to sprinkle over the top for added texture.

## Storage & Reheating

The oxtail marmalade can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight glass jar in the fridge. To reheat, warm it gently in a small saucepan with a splash of water. Marrow bones, however, must be roasted and eaten immediately; once the marrow cools and re-solidifies, the texture becomes unappetizingly waxy.

## Pairing Suggestion
Serve this with a small pile of dressed arugula or simply as it is, using a narrow spoon to ensure you get a bit of marmalade and marrow in every single bite.