The Chilean sea bass really isn’t a bass at all, but rather a fish with a less appetizing-sounding name: the Patagonian Toothfish. Despite its name and fearsome, pointy teeth, the Chilean sea bass is prized for its firm, oily texture and excellent flavor. The cheeks of the Chilean sea bass are considered a delicacy with a flavor akin to that of scallops. Lightly poach or gently grill the cheeks and serve alongside a lovely butter sauce for a succulent, savory meal.

Soak the fish cheeks in a bowl of chilled, lightly salted water for approximately 5 minutes.

Rinse the fish cheeks under cold, running water and pat dry with paper towels. Bring a pot with a few inches of water inside to a simmer. Place the fish cheeks in a steamer basket and into the pot of simmering water, making sure the basket sits above the water.

Put a lid on the pot and gently steam the fish cheeks for around 5 minutes. Remove the fish cheeks from the pot and serve immediately with a butter sauce. Alternatively, if you plan on using the fish cheeks in another dish, briefly submerge them in cold water to halt the cooking process.

Preheat your grill to a low heat.

Prepare a simple sauce for your fish cheeks to cook in by melting a few tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a pan on the stove top. Add seasonings such as salt and pepper, chives, dill, lemon juice, white wine and minced shallot and garlic, if desired. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool.

Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and spoon some of the sauce onto it. Arrange the fish cheeks in a single layer on top of the sauce. Pour additional sauce over the top of the fish cheeks and wrap the foil tightly around them to create a foil packet. If you are preparing a large number of fish cheeks you may want to create more than one foil packet.

Place the packets on the grill, grilling for approximately 3 minutes on each side. Remove the foil packets from the grill and serve the fish cheeks with the butter sauce ladled over them.