Fish
Cheek
Cod cheek from head breakdown is a scallop-sized nugget of sweet white muscle. Yield is small; price per kilo can rival prime loin when demand is high. Pan-fry in brown butter or poach in court-bouillon. Serve three or four as a starter; residual heat firms the centre after they leave the pan.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
CookedFreshPreparedRoastedSimmeredStewed
Traits
CheekFull FlavourPortionPrep ReadyRichSlow CookTraditional
History
Head processing of cod systematically yielded cheeks for local cookery and specialty sale.
Iberian and Nordic markets established cod cheek as a named retail product.
Sustainable-menu campaigns pushed cod cheeks as a high-value use of the head.