The Feast Of The Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is my favorite Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition. It's all about gathering family and friends around the table to enjoy multiple delicious seafood dishes. From classic Italian recipes to family favorites, it's a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas Eve, share great food, and keep old traditions alive whether your family is Italian or not.
This post may contain affiliate links.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the Italian-American tradition of serving a big seafood feast on Christmas Eve, known in Italian as "La Vigilia." Traditionally seven distinct seafood dishes are served, but many families choose to make just a few or combine all seven into one big pasta or seafood stew.
This tradition originates from Southern Italy, where it's believed that abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve allows you to fully appreciate and focus on the true meaning of the holiday.
The number seven is said to represent the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, and eating seafood also serves as a form of fasting before indulging in a big Christmas meal the next day.
What began as a religious tradition has now turned into a foodie celebration eagerly awaited by both Italian and non-Italian seafood enthusiasts.
How my family hosts this holiday feast
Christmas Eve is a big deal in my Sicilian-American family. My grandfather, his brothers and most of my uncles were commercial fishermen, so our big Christmas Eve spread always had at least seven types of seafood!
We'd enjoy fresh fish, crabs, lobster, scallops, clams and whatever else they caught or traded for that day. Everyone contributed a dish, and since my grandfather having 12 siblings, there was always a lot of food.
These days, I host Christmas Eve for my own family and keep the tradition alive with some of our favorite seafood recipes. I stick to a few classics and mix things up each year, but the best part is there really are no rules.
Every family celebrates a little differently, and you don't have to make exactly seven dishes - or even more than one - to enjoy the tradition.
Seven seafood dishes might sound like a lot of work, but with a little planning and some help from family and friends, it's completely doable.
I've rounded up some of my favorite recipes to help you put together a delicious Christmas Eve feast of your own!
Seven Fishes Appetizer Recipes
Every great Feast of the Seven Fishes starts with a few good appetizers. I love putting out a variety of small bites for everyone to enjoy while we gather around, catch up, and get ready for the big meal. Pick a few favorites, mix in something new, and don't feel like you have to make them all!
Calamari Fritti
Enjoy the perfect Italian-style fried calamari at home with this simple and delicious recipe! Serve with marinara sauce!
Baked Clams Oreganata
This classic Italian dish is simple, flavorful, and oh-so-delicious. You can't go wrong with crispy breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice on top of freshly steamed clams.
Mussels Marinara
This classic Italian dish is perfect for the Feast of the Seven Fishes! Fresh mussels are steamed in a garlicky tomato sauce with white wine, herbs, and a little butter for extra richness. It's simple, affordable, and full of flavor. Serve the whole pot at the table with plenty of crusty Italian bread to soak up every last drop of that delicious sauce!
Classic Tuna Carpaccio
Topped with with coarse sea salt, buttery pine nuts, tangy capers, and a mound of peppery arugula dressed simply with lemon and extra virgin olive oil to really highlight the delicate flavor of raw tuna. Ready in 20 minutes!
Panko Fried Scallops
These panko fried scallops are quick, satisfying, and surprisingly simple to make, with no fancy equipment or frying experience necessary. They're sweet and buttery on the inside with a crunchy panko coating on the outside.
Tuna Tartare with Capers and Tomatoes
This authentic recipe for tuna tartare is mixed with sharp lemon juice, capers and tomatoes, then topped with garlicky toasted breadcrumbs for the ultimate mix of textures and flavors. This simple preparation really highlights the delicate flavor of fresh tuna and is easy to make, yet so impressive!
Sicilian Tuna Crudo
This recipe for Sicilian style tuna crudo is so delicious and only takes 15 minutes to make. Fresh raw tuna is topped with coarse sea salt, lemon, Sicilian olives, fresh basil, crunchy pistachios and plenty of olive oil. It's a simple, flavorful preparation that highlights the delicate tuna and is so stunning on a plate.
Grilled Scallops with Prosciutto
These tender, juicy grilled scallops wrapped in salty, savory prosciutto are an Italian-inspired take on the classic Angels on Horseback and make the ultimate summer appetizer. It's an easy, crowd pleasing recipe that can be on your table in under 25 minutes!
Panko Fried Shrimp
This recipe for panko crusted fried shrimp makes perfectly seasoned, ultra crispy shrimp that cook up golden and light every time. They're easy to prepare at home, ready in minutes, and taste just like the crispy fried shrimp you'd find at your favorite seafood restaurant.
Steamed Clams with White Wine and Garlic
This is the easiest way to make restaurant-quality steamed clams at home. The clams open just enough to release their briny juices, blending with the garlic, wine and butter for a broth you'll want to drink straight from the bowl. Don't forget plenty of crusty bread for sopping up every last bit!
Crab Dip
This rich, creamy Maryland crab dip is loaded with sweet lump crabmeat, plenty of Old Bay seasoning, and melty cheese. It's baked until hot and bubbly, and it's always one of the first appetizers to disappear! Best of all, you can prepare it ahead of time and pop it in the oven just before your Christmas Eve feast.
Clams Casino
A classic seafood dish that's made even better at home! Tender fresh clams nestled in the bottom shell, topped with crispy bacon, buttery golden brown breadcrumbs, and fresh parsley and lemon.
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
This recipe for Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Whole Grain Mustard sauce is an easy and elegant twist on the classic.
Seafood Pasta Recipes
Seafood pasta is always a big part of our Christmas Eve feast. From classic Italian dishes to rich, buttery lobster and shrimp pastas, there are so many delicious ways to work seafood into the menu. These are some of my favorites, and you really can't go wrong with any of them.
Lobster Fra Diavolo
This classic Italian-American dish is a real showstopper! Sweet, tender lobster is tossed with linguine in a spicy tomato sauce simmered with lobster shells for incredible flavor. It's one of my favorite recipes for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and it's easier to make than you might think!
Linguine alla Vongole
This recipe for linguine alle vongole, aka pasta with clam sauce, is an easy and delicious classic Italian seafood dinner that uses mostly pantry ingredients and only takes 30 minutes to make.
Crab Gravy (Crabs in Red Sauce)
This recipe for red crab sauce (gravy) is an Italian American South Philly classic that makes the best Sunday dinner in the summer. Local blue crabs get simmered for hours in a big pot of tomato sauce until the flavor becomes rich and sweet. It's a Jersey shore tradition!
Lobster Fettuccine
Sweet, tender lobster and perfectly cooked fettuccine are tossed in a silky, Alfredo-inspired cream sauce that's rich without overpowering the lobster. This pasta feels extra fancy but is surprisingly easy to make, especially with precooked lobster meat. Perfect for a special Christmas Eve feast!
Crab Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This elegant crab pasta combines sweet lump crabmeat, juicy cherry tomatoes, and linguine in a silky butter sauce with cognac, white wine, and lemon. It's rich and flavorful without being heavy, and comes together in just 30 minutes. Perfect for a special Christmas Eve dinner!
Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta
This buttery shrimp and broccoli pasta is inspired by one of my family's favorite Italian restaurants at the Jersey Shore! Tender shrimp, broccoli, and linguine are tossed in a rich, garlicky butter sauce that's absolutely delicious. It's an easy Italian-American classic that comes together in under 30 minutes!
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
This classic Southern Italian pasta is loaded with bold, briny flavors from anchovies, olives, capers, and garlic, all tossed in a rich tomato sauce. It's one of my all-time favorite pasta dishes, and the best part is that it comes together in just 30 minutes! A great way to add something simple but flavorful to your Christmas Eve feast.
Pasta con le sarde
This classic Sicilian pasta is full of bold, sweet, and savory flavors from sardines, anchovies, fennel, saffron, raisins, and pine nuts. It's finished with crispy toasted breadcrumbs instead of cheese, just like they do in Sicily! My version uses canned sardines to make it easier to prepare at home, and it's a wonderful way to bring a little Sicilian tradition to your Christmas Eve table.
Spaghetti with Clams and Pistachio Pesto
Inspired by a dish I had in Sicily, this pasta combines two of my favorite things: spaghetti alle vongole and pesto. Tender littleneck clams are tossed with a creamy homemade pistachio pesto, white wine, and spaghetti. It's a unique twist on a classic that's absolutely delicious and perfect for a special occasion.
Sicilian Style Fish Pasta
This easy Sicilian inspired fish pasta recipe delivers bold flavors in under 40 minutes. Made with simple pantry ingredients like tomatoes, capers, garlic, and leftover white fish, it turns humble ingredients into something seriously delicious.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
This recipe for lobster mac and cheese is truly is the best you'll ever have! It's one of my most requested recipes and I'm finally sharing all of my expert chef tips so you can make it exactly the same way at home. It's an over-the-top delicious recipe that gets rave reviews every time!
Pasta with Anchovies, olives and breadcrumbs
Golden, garlicky breadcrumbs, juicy tomatoes, and briny olives come together in this quick, vibrant puttanesca inspired pasta that's packed with flavor and texture. It's fast and easy enough for a weeknight but flavorful enough to crave again and again.
Seafood Soups and Stews
A warm bowl of seafood soup or stew is a delicious way to start your Christmas Eve feast, especially when you're feeding a crowd. Whether you want something light and elegant or rich and satisfying, there are plenty of options to choose from. Many of these recipes can be made ahead, which is always a bonus when you're juggling a big holiday meal!
Cioppino
This recipe for authentic Cioppino is a classic Italian-American seafood stew from San Francisco that's loaded with clams, shrimp, mussels, crab, and white fish in a flavorful herbed tomato broth. It's warm, cozy and perfect with a big hunk of sourdough and a crisp glass of wine. This an impressive dish is far easier to make than it looks. Skip the restaurant and make this iconic mouthwatering seafood dish at home!
Cream of Crab Soup
A Jersey Shore favorite that's perfect for adding something special to your Christmas Eve menu, this cream of crab soup is loaded with sweet, tender lumps of crabmeat in a rich, creamy broth seasoned with Old Bay and a splash of sherry. It tastes like something you'd order at a fancy seafood restaurant, but it's surprisingly easy to make at home.
The Best Clam Chowder
Passed down through generations of fishermen's wives in my family, this classic New England clam chowder is a recipe that's especially close to my heart. It's loaded with tender clams, potatoes, and smoky bacon in a rich, creamy broth that's never too thick or heavy. You can make it with fresh or canned clams, and it tastes even better the next day, making it a great option for holiday entertaining.
Classic Lobster Bisque
Rich, velvety, and full of lobster flavor, my classic lobster bisque is made with lobster stock, cream, sherry, and tarragon, my little secret ingredient that really brings out the sweetness of the lobster. Serve it in small bowls as an elegant first course for your Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Corn and Crab Chowder
A longtime family favorite, my corn and crab chowder is a delicious addition to any Christmas Eve seafood feast! Sweet corn, tender lump crabmeat, potatoes, and a little Old Bay come together in a hearty, creamy broth with a splash of sherry. It's a little more substantial than the other seafood soups, so serve it in smaller portions to leave room for the rest of the feast.
Lobster Chowder with Corn and Bacon
A humble New England classic gets a special upgrade with this rich and creamy lobster chowder that's perfect for a Christmas Eve feast! It's loaded with big chunks of tender lobster, sweet corn, potatoes, and smoky bacon. Even better, you can make it ahead of time, so there's one less thing to worry about on Christmas Eve.
Shrimp Bisque
This classic shrimp bisque is made with shrimp, cream, sherry, and white wine. It gets its incredible seafood flavor from a technique I learned in culinary school that uses the shrimp shells to create a rich, velvety broth. It's a beautiful first course for Christmas Eve, and you can make most of it ahead of time.
New England Fish Chowder
This simple New England fish chowder is a recipe passed down from my mom, and it's one of my favorite comfort foods. Made with tender chunks of white fish, potatoes, and a little cream, it's lighter than most traditional chowders but still full of flavor. It's a great way to add a comforting course to your Christmas Eve feast without a lot of extra work.
Homemade Lobster Stock
Don't throw away those lobster shells after your Christmas Eve feast! They're packed with flavor and can be turned into a rich, homemade lobster stock that's perfect for making bisque, chowder, risotto, and seafood sauces. I like to stash leftover shells in the freezer until I have enough to make a big batch, then freeze the stock in smaller portions to use whenever I need it.
Seafood Main courses
Now onto the main event - the seven fishes! these recipes are sure to make your Christmas Eve dinner special. I like to choose one or two main dishes that complement the appetizers and pasta without making too much extra work in the kitchen.
Lobster Risotto
This rich, creamy lobster risotto is worth every bit of effort! Sweet, tender lobster meat and homemade stock made from the shells give it incredible flavor, while mascarpone makes it extra silky. It's a beautiful special occasion dish, and you can prep several components ahead to make entertaining easier.
Pesce all'Acqua Pazza
This classic dish from Naples is one of the easiest ways to cook beautiful, tender fish. Firm white fish fillets are gently poached in a light, garlicky broth with tomatoes, white wine, olives, and capers. It's rustic, full of flavor, and perfect with crusty bread to soak up all those delicious juices!
Ina's Baked Shrimp Scampi
This easy recipe for oven baked shrimp scampi is always a crowd-pleaser! It's rich, buttery, garlicky, lemony and super quick to toss together. It's a great option for holidays and special occasions, but it works just as well for weeknight dinners.
Lemon Caper Fish Piccata
This easy fish piccata is one of my favorite ways to dress up delicate white fish like flounder or sole. The fillets are lightly coated in flour, pan-seared until golden, and finished with a bright, buttery lemon, white wine, and caper sauce. Best of all, it takes just 20 minutes.
Pan Seared Tuna Steaks
This simple recipe for pan seared tuna is more than just a recipe, it's a foolproof method that results in the perfect sear every single time. Learn how to master this simple technique and watch the compliments come rolling in!
Flounder Oreganata
Tender flounder fillets are generously topped with lemony, garlic-infused breadcrumbs and baked until crispy. Ready in under 30 minutes!
Perfect Pan Seared Scallops
Learn how to make restaurant quality pan seared scallops at home! This easy recipe results in perfectly seared scallops that are caramelized on the outside and buttery tender on the inside.
Flounder Francese
This family recipe for flounder Francaise is easy to master and turns out perfect every time. Flaky white fish fillets are dipped in a simple egg batter, pan fried until golden brown and finished with a silky lemon butter sauce that will have you licking your plate clean.
Grilled Swordfish with Olive Pistachio Salsa
This simple Grilled Swordfish Recipe is fresh, flavorful and tastes like summer on the Sicilian coast! The fish gets a quick lemon garlic marinade before being grilled to perfection and topped with vibrant castelvetrano olive and pistachio salsa.
Butter Poached Lobster
If you really want to impress your guests, butter poached lobster is the way to go! Sweet lobster tails are gently cooked in a silky, buttery sauce that keeps them incredibly tender and succulent. It sounds fancy, but it's surprisingly simple to make with just a few ingredients in under 30 minutes!
Crab Cakes
Want to learn how to make an authentic Maryland crab cake from scratch? This recipe is perfectly seasoned with barely any filler and is ready in under 45 minutes. I have a few secrets to getting them just right, so keep reading to learn how!
Pan Seared Tilefish
The simple technique in this tilefish recipe results in perfectly golden brown pan seared fish with a buttery pan sauce that's seasoned with garlic and thyme. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end brightens the dish and makes the flavors sing.
Baked Salmon Sicilian Style
Sicilian Baked Salmon is an easy and elegant recipe that's perfect for entertaining! Tender, meaty fillets of salmon are coated with a flavorful breadcrumb crust and baked until golden brown on the outside and succulent and juicy on the inside.
Grilled Tuna with Lemon Caper Sauce
This Sicilian-inspired grilled tuna is all about letting fresh seafood shine. The steaks are quickly grilled until beautifully charred on the outside and tender and rare in the center, then topped with a bright lemon, caper, and oregano sauce. It's incredibly simple, full of flavor, and ready in just 15 minutes.
Lemon Herb Baked Fish
This easy recipe for Herb Roasted Fish with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette is an easy, healthy recipe that can be made in 20 minutes!
Slow Roasted Salmon with Orange + Fennel
This Slow Roasted Salmon with Orange + Fennel is a light and bright dish that is simple to prepare and tastes as good as it looks. Low and slow roasted salmon turns soft and buttery, while the crisp fennel orange salad cuts through the richness. It's a perfectly balanced, delicious and easy weeknight meal. Yes,
Sample Seven Fishes menu
Don't feel like you need to make seven elaborate dishes or serve seven separate courses. You can include multiple types of seafood in one dish, like a seafood stew or fritto misto, to reach your seven fishes without making seven different recipes.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes should be about enjoying good food with the people you love, not spending the entire night stressed out in the kitchen! The key is to plan ahead, keep portions small, and choose a mix of dishes that can be prepared in advance and others that are best served fresh.
I like to serve everything in courses rather than putting it all out at once. It makes the meal feel more special, gives everyone time to enjoy each dish, and keeps the kitchen from getting too chaotic.
Here's how I put together a traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve menu:
- Start with cold appetizers. Set out an Italian antipasto platter, along with seafood favorites like insalata di mare (seafood salad), octopus salad, raw oysters, or clams on the half shell. Most of these can be prepared ahead of time, so you're not scrambling when guests arrive.
- Bring out the hot appetizers. Fried calamari, fried smelts, fritto misto, crab cakes, and clams casino are all great choices. Pick one or two rather than trying to make everything, especially since fried seafood is best served immediately.
- Serve a small pasta course. Linguine alle vongole is a Christmas Eve classic, but lobster or shrimp fra diavolo are also great options. Keep the portions on the smaller side so everyone has room for what's coming next.
- Choose one main seafood dish. A big pot of cioppino, steamed clams or mussels, stuffed lobster, or sautéed fish makes a beautiful centerpiece. You could also serve clam chowder or lobster bisque as a separate course.
- Finish with something sweet. After all that seafood, I love ending the meal with traditional Italian desserts like pignoli cookies or ricotta cheesecake. Both can be made ahead, which is one less thing to worry about on Christmas Eve.
Bonus recipes for your Italian feast
Besides the recipes I shared above, there are countless other seafood dishes you can add to your Feast of the Seven Fishes menu. Here are a few more ideas to get you started:
- Fried Smelts: These tiny fish are a true delicacy in Italian cuisine. They're usually served whole and fried until crispy, then seasoned with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Baccala: This salted cod dish may be an acquired taste for some, but it's a staple at many Feast of the Seven Fishes dinners. Serve it fried with a side of aioli or cooked in a flavorful tomato sauce.
- Octopus Salad: Tender, thinly sliced octopus is marinated in a garlicky lemon dressing and served over a bed of greens for a refreshing and flavorful appetizer. A delicious insalata di pulpo!
- Shrimp Cocktail: This classic appetizer is a must-have at any seafood feast. Simply poach the shrimp, chill them, and serve with homemade cocktail sauce. You can also steam them and serve them as peel-and-eat shrimp for a more hands-on option.
- Stuffed Squid: This dish may seem intimidating, but it's actually quite simple to make. Tender squid bodies are stuffed with a flavorful mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, and parsley and then simmered in a rich tomato sauce until tender.
Tips for Success
- Choose your menu ahead of time and make a cooking schedule, starting with dishes that can be made in advance or served chilled. Seafood salads, sauces, and desserts are great things to get out of the way before Christmas Eve so you're not scrambling at the last minute.
- Make lists for everything! I'm a big believer in lists, especially when there are a lot of moving parts. Keep separate lists for shopping, prep work, and cooking so nothing gets forgotten. Plus, there's nothing more satisfying than crossing things off as you go!
- There's no shame in leaning on store-bought ingredients to make things easier. Put together an Italian antipasto platter with cured meats, Italian cheeses, marinated olives, roasted peppers, and plenty of crusty bread to keep everyone happy while you finish cooking.
- Don't try to do everything yourself! Ask family and friends to bring a dish, help with prep, or take care of setting the table and serving. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is all about coming together, so put those extra hands to work!
- Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the chaos! Things might not go exactly according to plan, and that's okay. Some of the best holiday memories happen in a crowded kitchen with everyone talking, laughing, and sneaking bites of food. At the end of the day, that's what this tradition is all about.
FAQs
The traditional 7 fishes for Christmas Eve are:
- Cod
- Smelts
- Baccala
- Calamari (squid)
- Shrimp
- Eels
- Clams
Both! It is a traditional Italian-American celebration of Christmas Eve, but it may have originated from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on certain holidays.
Over time, this feast has become more popular with people outside of these groups and is now celebrated by many different cultures around the world.
The tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates back to the Roman Catholic Church's practice of abstaining from meat or dairy products on holy days. As a result, Italian families began cooking fish-based meals on Christmas Eve, leading to the creation of this feast.
Some say that the number seven is a symbol of perfection or completeness in biblical terms, which is why this feast has become customary for Italians to eat on Christmas Eve. Others believe that it represents the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.
Ultimately, whether it's considered good luck or not, one thing is for sure - this feast brings plenty of blessings through delicious food, and that's all the luck we need!
No feast would be complete without dessert! Pignoli cookies and ricotta cheesecake with plums are two sweet treats are the perfect way to end your meal.
