What Kvarner speciality comes from the muddy bottom of the sea? Kvarner scampi, of course! Scampi are popular all over the Croatian coast, but the Kvarner scampi are renowned for their delicious and tender meat and nutritional value. 

The scampi is delicious and healthy simultaneously, and some fans of these tiny sea creatures even go so far as claiming that their meat is on par with lobster meat! So, what is so special about them?

‍Why Are the Kvarner Scampi So Special?

The general agreement is pretty straightforward: it’s due to their environment. The quality of the environment and the food that the scampi feast on in the Kvarner bay are exceptional. But they are also physically different from the scampi in the rest of the Adriatic. A local tale tells us that the origin of the Kvarner scampi can be traced back to the arrival of the scampi from the South China Sea. They interbred with the local scampi and produced a new type of scampi that will become famous as a Kvarner delicacy!

Kvarner Scampi and Their Greatest Predator, Overfishing

Today, decades of overfishing the Kvarner scampi has left its toll: there is not a lot of them, and they have become smaller. For example, for a kilo of scampi, you need to catch roughly twenty of them. For comparison, not that long ago, that number amounted to five. The effect that overfishing has had on the scampi population is so dramatic because overfishing doesn’t leave them enough time to properly grow and reach full maturity, as a singular scampi that weighs ⅕ of a kilogram is around ten years old! 

With all that in mind, it is no surprise that scampi are rare and expensive! A kilo of scampi goes for about thirty euros. Scampi fishermen, called škampari, rise early and spend a lot of time on the sea; their job is physically taxing. There are around 15 active škampari on Kvarner, and their craft is called škamparenje

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What Are the Most Popular Scampi Dishes?

One of the reasons for the popularity of scampi is that they go with everything: there are thousands and thousands of scampi recipes, and that way, everyone can find a dish for themselves! The scampi is a traditional dish served in almost every restaurant: scampi with pasta, scampi risotto, or scampi prepared using the traditional buzara method ― cooked in a saucepan with a dash of olive oil and the addition of tomato sauce and Mediterranean herbs. Škampi na buzaru is usually served with polenta as a side dish. Many restaurants love to experiment, and one of the most popular combinations is pairing scampi with cheese and honey! For those who want to revel in the sheer perfection of scampi taste, try raw scampi topped with just a few drops of extra virgin olive oil, salt, and lemon juice.

Restaurants are not the only place where you can taste the delicious scampi, as every year in the middle of June Festival of the Kvarner scampi is held in the Istrian town Rabac! It is the perfect manifestation for the local community to mark the start of summer and the tourist season, as everybody gathers on the Rabac Riva and enjoys the traditional scampi dishes and the other local specialities, like wine and cheese. So pour yourself a fine glass of wine, grab a plate of scampi risotto, and join the celebration! 

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