The Feast Of The Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve
If you're looking to add a new twist to your Christmas Eve dinner, look no further than the Feast of the Seven Fishes! This Italian American tradition has been around for decades and consists of serving seven different seafood dishes (or more!) on Christmas Eve - hence the name. It's a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends, enjoying delicious food while honoring long-standing traditions!
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Seven different seafood dishes might sound like a lot of work, but don't worry, this feast isn't as daunting as it may seem! It's the perfect opportunity to show off your culinary skills and collaborate with family and friends.
With a little planning and organization, you can host your own Feast of the Seven Fishes and bring this beautiful Italian tradition to your own Christmas Eve table.
As someone who has been hosting this feast for years, I'm sharing some of my favorite recipes that are sure to impress your guests and make your Christmas Eve dinner one to remember.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, or "La Vigilia," brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "seafood diet." As you might've guessed, the feast centers around not just one or two, but seven different seafood dishes.
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 birth of Jesus Christ.
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 was always a big deal for my Sicilian side of the family. My grandfather, his brothers and most of my uncles all made their living as commercial fishermen, so our Feast of the Seven Fishes wasn't just about seven fishes. It was a whole lot more!
They would come home with serval types of fish, crabs, lobster and other bycatch from the day.
Each family member contributed their own special dish, and with my grandfather having 12 siblings, you can imagine the feast we had!
Now that I have my own family, I've started hosting Christmas Eve and don't make it to the big family gathering anymore. But I still keep the tradition alive by preparing our family's favorite seafood dishes each year.
Some years I mix things up to keep it interesting, but you can never go wrong with the classics.
Note
Not everyone cooks exactly 7 specific seafood dishes for a 7 fishes dinner. It's really up to interpretation and can vary from family to family. What's a must-have at one Christmas Eve dinner may be unheard of at another.
In Italy, it varies from region to region, and in America, it varies from family to family. So, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to this tradition!
Seven Fishes Appetizer Recipes
What's a feast without some delicious starters to kick things off? Here are a few of my go-to dishes that always get the party started:
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.
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!
Calamari Fritti (Fried Calamari) with Cherry Peppers
Enjoy the perfect Italian-style fried calamari at home with this simple and delicious recipe! Serve with marinara sauce!
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!
Easy 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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Seafood Pasta Recipes
An Italian dinner isn't complete without pasta! Here are several seafood pastas that are perfect to serve as a pasta course, main or side.
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!
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 Main courses
Now onto the main event - the seven fishes! Here are several seafood dishes that are sure to impress:
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.
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!
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!
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.
The Best Flounder Francaise Recipe
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.
Maryland 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 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.
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
A Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner party is meant to be relaxed and fun, so there's no need to be nervous or stress out.
I recommend serving this feast in courses instead of all at once. This will not only make your life easier, but it will also give you more time to enjoy each dish and appreciate the different flavors and textures.
To help you get started, here's an example of a menu you could use:
- Start your holiday dinner with a variety of cold appetizers. An antipasto platter and small finger foods always work well. You could also serve cold salads like insalata di mare (seafood salad) or insalata di pulpo (octopus salad), as well as raw oysters and clams.
- Then, follow up with some more substantial hot appetizers like fried calamari, fried smelts or frito misto, crab cakes, and clams casino.
- Next is the pasta course! Keep it simple and plan for small portions since this is a big meal. Linguine alle Vongole is traditional, but so is lobster or shrimp fra Diavolo.
- Then, serve a main entree such as a seafood stew like cioppino, clam chowder or a rich lobster bisque, steamed clams or mussels, steamed or stuffed lobster, and baked, grilled, or sautéed fish.
- Always finish with dessert! Try my pignoli cookies or ricotta cheesecake.
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:
- 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.
- Fried Calamari: Crispy, fried calamari rings are always a hit with everyone - even picky eaters! Serve with lemon wedges and marinara sauce for dipping.
- 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.
- 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.
Tips for Success
- Create a cooking schedule and begin with items that can be made ahead or served chilled.
- Try to cook and prep as much as you can in advance. Be mindful when selecting recipes so that they don't need any last-minute or on-the-spot preparation, especially when feeding a large group of people.
- Lists, lists, and even MORE lists! They are key to keeping things in order when there's a lot going on. As you make your way down your list, check or cross them out as you finish to stay on track. It feels so satisfying!
- Lean on easy store-bought appetizers to feed your guests while you work on preparing the main courses. Buy ingredients to make an Italian antipasto, such as cured meats and Italian cheeses, olives, roasted Italian peppers, dips, and spreads, along with your favorite crusty bread and crackers.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help or delegate tasks to your guests. Hosting a big feast can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be if you have some helping hands. Ask for their help prepping or adding the final touches. Or, delegate recipes and have everyone contribute a dish to the feast.
- Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the celebration! Hosting a Feast of the Seven Fishes is all about bringing people together for good food and great company. Embrace the chaos and cherish the memories that you'll make with your loved ones.
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.
