Pochas with Clams Recipe: Hearty Navarra Bean Stew 2026

Pochas con almejas is a traditional spoon dish from Navarra that pairs tender, creamy pochas beans with briny clams in a garlicky white wine sauce. The beans cook gently with onion, green pepper and whole garlic, then the vegetables are blended into a silky purée that thickens the broth without any cream.

This dish shines during the short fresh pocha season, usually from July to September depending on the growing area, but frozen shelled pochas available at the supermarket let you make it any time of year. Red clams work beautifully here, though any clam variety you like will do.

The key is cleaning the clams thoroughly so no sand sneaks into the pot, and discarding any that stay shut after cooking. With a sofrito of garlic, chili, flour and white wine, the stew comes together in about 80 minutes for a deeply satisfying main course.

Ingredients for Pochas with Clams

For 2 servings

• 300 g clams
• Salt
• 250 g shelled pochas beans (fresh or frozen)
• 4 garlic cloves
• Half an onion
• 100 g green pepper
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 dried chili
• 6 g wheat flour
• 100 ml white wine
• 2 sprigs parsley

How to Make Pochas with Clams Step by Step

1. Clean the clams

Place the 300 g of clams in a bowl with cold water and a small handful of salt. Leave them submerged for 45 minutes, then drain well; they are now ready to use and free of any sand.

2. Start cooking the pochas with vegetables

In a pot, combine 250 g shelled pochas with 2 whole garlic cloves, half an onion and 100 g green pepper cut into 2 pieces. Add enough water to cover the beans by about 2 fingers, set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then add salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil.

3. Simmer for 20 minutes

Cook the pochas over medium-low heat, keeping a gentle simmer, for about 20 minutes until tender.

4. Blend the vegetables and return to the pot

Remove the garlic, onion and green pepper from the pot and place them in a blender cup. Blend until you have a purée, then add it back to the pot with the beans.

5. Mix with a gentle swirling motion

Stir the pot with circular, back-and-forth movements to combine, cook for 3-4 minutes and set aside.

6. Sauté the garlic and chili

Set a skillet over medium heat with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When hot, add 2 finely chopped garlic cloves and 1 dried chili, and sauté for 1-2 minutes, taking care not to burn the garlic.

7. Add the flour and white wine

Add 6 g wheat flour, mix well and cook for 1 minute. Raise the heat slightly, pour in 100 ml white wine, stir and cook another minute so the wine reduces.

8. Add the clams and cook until they open

Add the clams and a ladleful of the pochas cooking water. Cover the skillet and wait 3-4 minutes for the clams to open.

9. Add parsley and transfer to the pot

Scatter 2 sprigs of very finely chopped parsley over the top and pour everything into the pot of pochas.

10. Mix and cook 2 more minutes

Stir again with circular, back-and-forth movements and let the whole dish cook for about 2 minutes over medium-low heat.

11. Serve

Ladle the pochas with clams into bowls and serve hot, discarding any clams that did not open.

Tips for the Best Pochas with Clams

Choose and clean your clams

Red clams work well, but any clam variety is fine. Soaking them in salted water for 45 minutes is essential to release sand, and always discard clams that remain closed after cooking.

Use frozen pochas out of season

Fresh pochas have a short season from July to September. Frozen shelled pochas from the supermarket are an excellent substitute and let you enjoy this stew all year round.

Keep the simmer gentle

Cook the beans over medium-low heat so they stay whole and creamy, and stir with a swirling motion rather than a spoon to avoid breaking them. The blended vegetables thicken the broth naturally.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

On nights when I want something rich and indulgent, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds good, this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I keep coming back to.

For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

When tapas and Mediterranean flavors are calling, I move between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is also a favorite of mine to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more special.

For filling lunches and cozy dinners, these are the ones I always point people toward: this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. And if I'm after something even heartier, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street food and party-style plates are another mood I cook for often, and that usually means this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I like to set out as a no-fuss appetizer or snack.

And when I'm building drinks and a full spread for company, dinner often gets paired with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works great on the side, and this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe makes a beautiful finish.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Traditional dishes from around the world are another thing I love to share, among them the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is a category I turn to often too, since it saves time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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