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FRESH Alaskan Halibut Cheeks
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Friday, July 30 2010 --
FRESH Line-Caught Halibut Cheeks
What portion of the Halibut do Alaskan Fishermen consider the best part?
Believe it or not, those guys overwhelmingly prefer the cheeks.
Cheeks! Do Halibut even have cheeks?
Well, we know they have heads, and on each side of their head, just below the eyes, are cheeks.
The cheeks of cows, pig and lamb have long been a culinary delicacy, so why not the cheeks of a Halibut? Halibut cheeks are prized for their delicate sweet flavor, snow-white color and firm flaky meat.
Halibut are among the largest fish in the sea. They routinely grow to more than 8 ft long and 500 lbs. Most Halibut are sold in a product form known within the industry as “H & G.” Translation: Headed and Gutted.
As the fish land on the deck, the crew whacks off their heads just above the collar bone with a large, machete-like knife. This practice is a “coup de grace,” intended to halt the dangerous flapping that could easily throw a crewman into the icy sea.
Want to know a secret? This practice also reserves the head, along with the prized cheek meat delicacy. Most are kept by the Boat Crew and almost never hit the marketplace. The old joke goes “the only way to get Halibut cheeks is to sleep with a fisherman.”
Farm 2 Market to the rescue!
This season, we convinced our Halibut Fishermen to share available fresh Cheeks with Farm 2 Market customers.
We are proud to offer three pounds of FRESH Alaskan Halibut Cheeks, line-caught in the Gulf of Alaska for only $85.
Halibut cheeks will vary in size (depending on the fish) from the size of a half-dollar to as big as a hockey puck. Most are the size of a “silver dollar” pancake. On average, there will be 6-10 cheeks per pound. Often, large cheeks are cut in half or quarters before preparing.
Whether pan sautéed, simply grilled or baked, Halibut Cheeks are something you rarely see even in fancy Restaurants (See our recipe below for “Oven Fried” Cornflake Crusted Alaskan Halibut Cheeks).
For the remainder of the Halibut season, Farm 2 Market offers three pounds packs of FRESH Halibut Cheeks, line-caught in the Gulf of Alaska, for only $85. As always, Farm 2 Market’s flat shipping fee of only $15 to most locations makes FRESH Alaskan Halibut Cheeks an excellent choice.
Relish the delicate sweet flavor and flaky texture of FRESH Alaskan Halibut Cheeks.
Savor the Farm 2 Market difference and order now!
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“Oven Fried” Cornflake Crusted Alaskan Halibut Cheeks
3 tablespoon Olive or good quality vegetable oil
3/4 cup Cornflake Crumbs (or 2c Cornflakes crushed in food processor)
1/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/8 teaspoon Salt (to taste)
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper (to taste)
3 pounds Alaskan Halibut Cheeks, cut to uniform size
4 T Butter
1 whole Lemon sliced, for garnish
Direction:
Preheat the oven to 425f
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Brush with the oil.
2. Place the cornflake crumbs, paprika, salt and pepper in medium bowl.
3. Coat Halibut Cheeks in the cornflake crumb mixture, gently pressing the crumbs on to help them adhere.
4. Set the coated Cheeks on the baking sheet.
5. Place small piece of butter on top of each Cheek.
6. Bake the for 10 minutes.
To serve, garnish with lemon slices.
Sometimes fishermen or aquafarmers call us when they have a bargain to pass along. Our "Gem O' the Day" is reserved for products so rare, or with such short seasons, they can't appear as a regular selection. Check back often so you don't miss out.
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