Beef cheeks are the tender, fall-apart and flavoursome cut of meat that makes the hearts of those in the know beat a little faster when spotted in dishes on restaurant menus.
Despite being a cheaper cut of beef, this is the off-cut that promises to deliver on both flavour and texture, when long and slow cooking is in order. It's easy to see why it has fallen into fashion with Michelin-starred chefs, so why not try elevating your home menu with it too?
Step away from the sirloin and try out some simple recipes inspired by Michelin-starred chefs, like pan-searing and slow-cooking beef cheeks in red wine and serving with Joel Robuchon's mashed potatoes for a heart warming, show-stopping dinner.
Take a look at the recipes below.
How to cook beef cheeks
Angela Hartnett's slow-cooked beef cheeks and creamy polenta
British chef Angela Hartnett, from Italian restaurant Murano in London, encourages home cooks to champion beef cheeks in this dish for a dinner party with maximum wow-factor and minimum effort. Two hours' cooking, and you'll be able to cut the cheeks with a spoon, she promises. Alongside it, she serves a rich and coarse polenta.