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Fish, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Marinière cockles with potatoes

Marinière cockles with potatoes are a dish from the north and west coast of France, for 4 people, ready in 40 minutes, easy, at €3.30 per serving. The key to success is soaking the cockles in salted water, which removes all the sand before cooking them in white wine.

Tonight, cockles from the Bay of Somme cooked in white wine, with potatoes to dip in the sauce.

Marinière cockles with potatoes
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
430 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

The cockles open one by one in a white wine and shallot broth, letting their briny juices mingle with the melted butter. The meat stays tender, lightly briny, and the parsley scented broth makes you want to mop up every last drop with the steamed potatoes.

This is a weeknight dish that breaks from the usual seafood routine, ready in 40 minutes with no tricky technique. Kids usually love dipping bread or potatoes into the broth, and Mon Chou reminds you that a good soak makes all the difference in the final result.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Cockles 2.5 kg

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shallots 3
  • Parsley 1 bunch
  • Potatoes 900 g

Pantry

  • Dry white wine 20 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 40 g

Allergens Mollusks, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Rinse the cockles in cold water, stirring them well.

    Discard any that are open and don't close back up.

  2. Steam or boil the peeled potatoes in salted water. 20 min

    Cut them into large, evenly sized pieces.

  3. Melt the chopped shallots in the butter in a large pot. 4 min

    Don't let them brown, they should just turn translucent.

  4. Pour in the wine, bring to a boil, add the cockles, cover and shake the pot. 5 min

    Shake the pot instead of stirring, so the cockles all open.

  5. Sprinkle with parsley, pepper, and serve right away with the potatoes.

    Discard any cockles that stayed closed, they're not safe to eat.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick cockles that are tightly closed from the start, with no strong smell, a sign of freshness.
  • Save the strained cooking broth if you want to use it later in a seafood soup or sauce.
  • Serve the potatoes while still warm, they soak up the broth better than once they've cooled.

The variations

  • Swap the cockles for mussels for a more classic version that's just as quick.
  • Stir a splash of heavy cream into the broth at the end of cooking for a richer result.
  • For kids, serve the potatoes mashed instead of in chunks, so they soak up more of the broth.

What to serve it with

  • Fresh bread for dipping
  • A simple green salad
  • A glass of dry white wine

Storage

Cockles are best eaten the same day, their texture suffers in the fridge. If needed, store the broth and potatoes separately in a sealed container for up to 2 days. Gently reheat the broth without boiling before adding back the already cooked cockles.

Questions about this dish

How can you tell if cockles are still good before cooking?

Fresh cockles are closed or close up when you touch them. Discard any that stay open or smell strong, they're no longer good to eat.

Can you prepare this dish ahead of time?

You can soak the cockles an hour in advance, but cook them at the last minute. Cockles lose their texture if they sit too long after cooking.

Can cockles be frozen?

No, cooked cockles don't freeze well, their meat turns rubbery once thawed. It's better to cook them the same day you buy them.

What white wine works best for cooking?

A simple dry white wine is enough, like a muscadet or a gros plant. There's no need to open a good bottle, the cooking mostly uses up its acidity.

How long does it take to make marinière cockles with potatoes?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in marinière cockles with potatoes?

About 430 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does marinière cockles with potatoes cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains mollusks, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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