CarneAtlas

Cabeza de cerdovsPork cheek

pork · Approximate equivalent

Anatomical subset — the cheek (cachete / carrillada / guancia) is part of the head, butchered out separately and sold as the most-prized portion.

Translation takeaway

These are related cuts, but not perfect swaps. Use the table below to judge how close your local option is before buying.

Open Cabeza de cerdoOpen Pork cheekSee substitutes
Raw Cabeza de cerdo — Pork Head cut
Cabeza de cerdo
Pork · Head

The whole pork head — a foundational ingredient in nose-to-tail butchery worldwide and the source of multiple regional specialties. In Mexico, the head goes into *carnitas*…

HeadBladeArm ShoulderLoinLegRibsBellyHock
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Raw Pork cheek — Pork Jowl cut
Pork cheek
Pork · Jowl

Pork jowl is the cheek of the pig, a fatty, well-marbled cut with a silky texture when cured or braised. When cured it becomes guanciale, the Italian cured meat essential to…

HeadBladeArm ShoulderLoinLegRibsBellyHock
Full details →
Keep Cabeza de cerdo and Pork cheek together in your notebook.

Names by country

CountryCabeza de cerdoPork cheek
🇺🇸United StatesPig headPork jowl
🇬🇧United KingdomPig headPork cheek
🇫🇷FranceTête de porcJoue de porc
🇪🇸Spain—Carrillada de cerdo
🇦🇷Argentina—Carrillada de cerdo
🇲🇽MexicoCabeza de cerdoCachete de cerdo
🇵🇹PortugalCabeça de porcoBochecha de porco
🇧🇷BrazilCabeça de porcoBochecha suína
🇮🇹ItalyTesta di maialeGuancia di maiale
🇩🇪GermanySchweinekopfSchweinebäckchen

Would you know it at the counter?

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