We’ve tried Vieira a la plancha several times. Still, when we saw it in a new format at El Papatorio in Santiago de Compostela – as Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas- we had to order it and see how it tasted. We were not disappointed!
Quick facts about Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas
- Also known as: Scallops in a Seafood Cream and Mushrooms
- Definition: Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas is a Spanish tapa made with scallops, usually pan-seared, served hot, and known for its sweet and earthy flavor.
- Where we ate it: El Papatorio, Santiago de Compostela
- Context: The famous Camino de Santiago, which ends in front of the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, has the Vieira (scallop) shell as its symbol. Some say it’s because pilgrims brought it back as proof of reaching the city where Saint James is buried. Others believe the scallop’s lines resemble the different roads pilgrims take from all over Spain to get to the same destination. No matter the reason, the Vieira is important in the gastronomic scene of Santiago de Compostela.
- Served: hot
- Texture: tender
- Flavour: sweet and earthy
- Pronunciation: vyay-ee-rah en kreh-mah deh mah-rees-koh ee seh-tahs
- One-line verdict: The perfect dish to try an iconic ingredient from Santiago de Compostela, prepared in a more modern and complex way.
Why it’s worth ordering
You should order the Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas at El Papatorio in Santiago de Compostela because it’s a different way of trying the iconic Vieira. We’ve seen this ingredient pan-seared a lot of times, especially paired with a puree, but this was the first time we tried it with a seafood cream. If you’re a fan of trying new dishes, you should order this Vieira.
Taste and texture
Just thinking about it, and never having tried it, you’d think scallops and mushrooms aren’t the perfect match. But the Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas at El Papatorio in Santiago de Compostela comes with a delicious seafood cream that brings all the ingredients together. The dish is a little sweet from the fresh scallops, and the seafood cream and the mushrooms bring an earthy flavor.
More than that, the mushrooms add a nice texture to the dish. While the scallops are soft, the mushrooms still have a bite to them.
How to order it
Ordering the Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas at El Papatorio in Santiago de Compostela is as simple as asking the waiter: “La Vieira en Crema de Marisco, por favor”. Keep in mind that a portion has only one Vieira.
Quick decision guide
You’ll like it if: you like seafood, especially scallops
Frequently asked questions
Vieira á la Gallega is cooked with tomatoes and other vegetables, then gratinated. Vieira en Crema de Marisco y Setas is different: it has a seafood cream and mushrooms.
