Italian Christmas: Feast Of The Seven Fishes Recipes

Italians know how to celebrate Christmas Eve! Tradition holds that no meat should be consumed on Christmas Eve (vigilia di Natale), so Italians eat seafood. But they don't just eat one dish, they typically eat seven (the number is thought to represent the seven sacraments). And some families take it to the extreme and serve even more. So just in case, we've given you 21 dishes to choose from!

The following collection of recipes includes all the classics you'd expect as well as a few simplified versions. You'll find all your favorites, including shrimp scampi, linguine with clam sauce, fish in acqua pazza and the Italian-American favorite cioppino. So, what are you waiting for? Let the feasting begin!

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Comments

[Addicted2Italy]

09:44 PM on 12/21/2011

A great tradition with the 7 fish, but it's mostly an Italian-American tradition these days. Another theory is that 7 represents the days of the week. The Baccala is a must have for Christmas eve. Panettone (fruit-cake) is another good tradition, but not necessarily for the 7-fish meal.

[James Giarelli]

01:11 AM on 12/20/2011

italian xmas is deep fried smelt and breaded bacala,thats italian

[beck121952]

06:41 PM on 12/19/2011

A lot of those dishes your are talking about are American Italian.My husband comes from the south of Italy and never had any of those dishes that they are showing,

[Dolores DiBiase]

05:44 PM on 12/19/2011

Canned clams?? Never.

[WillowBreeze]

05:33 PM on 12/19/2011

A wonderful tradition.

[escapeartists]

11:38 PM on 12/18/2011

Thanks for sharing all these great recipes. Each year I like to create 7 different recipes as I try to use the bounty of the sea and mix it up a bit. This year I think I will include the Grilled Mussels with Salsa Verde for a starter.

[ohwhen]

09:47 PM on 12/17/2011

I am thankful that my Italian in-laws are from central Italy (less sea food oriented) and the family lost any desire for calamari a generation ago.

I love being Italian by marriage. I make a Baked Ziti (using M-I-L's leftover sauce) that makes the whole family happy.

The best thing about Italians & Christmas? La Florentine Panettone. (Don't you dare call it fruitcake!)

[seabeeutcn]

03:06 PM on 12/19/2011

Dont worry, this is not an Italian thing, it is an American Italian thing. There are some loose resemblence in Italy, but this is all American.

[maria52]

03:42 PM on 12/20/2011

Oh, yes, the imported Panettone in the fancy box. That is really special. Want to go now to my special store and get some. Oh, yes, it is good toasted and buttered, too....

[ohwhen]

08:49 AM on 12/21/2011

Ohmygoodness! Try it as French toast or, even better, bake it as a bread pudding. I tried a recipe from Giada on Food Network...so good!

[xkglady]

08:48 PM on 12/17/2011

Steamed seafood salad, fried & stuffed calamari, baked clams, mussel fra davolo, baked lobster tails(garlic & butter sauce), Lobster in a marinara sauce, fried shrimp stuffed with crab meat, fried scallops & filet, shrimp scampi, clam sauce(red & white) over linquini, baccola with onions, potatoes in a marinara sauce, wines, red/white(chianti, merlot, pino grigio, burgandy)cream soda, ginger ale, seltzers, trays of fried vegetables, mushrooms, cauliflower, eggplant, zucchini, trays of olives, celery, finucchi, marinated mushrooms, roasted peppers, Italian breads, frizzili, bread sticks, after midnight, the macaroni pie, pepperoni, supasada, cheeses, nuts, fruits, demi tase, with anisette, sambocca, amaretto, and other after dinner drinks.
desserts, Italian cheese cake, grain pie, struffler, Italian pastries, jello, puddings, fruit cocktail over sheberts, ice creams. This eating continues until 4am+, then beginning Christmas dinner, ham, turkey, duck, turnips, stuffed shells, sausage(sweet & hot Italian), braccoli(beef & pork), meatballs, sausage and broccoli rabe, baked candied sweet potatoes, roasted red potatoes, stuffed artichokes, trays of fried vegetables, tray of olives, celery, finucchi, marinated mushrooms, roasted peppers, breads, breadsticks, frizzili, just to name a frew dishes.
Then the fruit, nuts, candies, demi tase, coffee, after dinner drinks, desserts, and more picking! Dinner is served by 2pm, and company leaves by 4am+. Enjoy this!

[rpcinc]

09:27 PM on 12/17/2011

AND THEN YOU PRAY TO GOD TO HELP THE POOR PEOPLE WITH OUT FOOD

[seabeeutcn]

03:07 PM on 12/19/2011

Nope.

[xkglady]

07:26 PM on 12/19/2011

Besides praying, I do and have donated food to our churches' food pantry, for poverty stricken parishioners, neighbors, shelters and orphanages, and gift cards to grocery stores for their turkey, ham, or whatever they feel good about eating. My family, friends and acquaintances are most welcomed to eat with us, and I don't mind picking them up and driving them home if they're not sleeping over. Toys for Tots, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, and many other charitable organizations receive donations and items for children and all.

[maria52]

05:01 PM on 12/20/2011

That's Italian-- oh boy! You reminded me of homemade braciole.... thanks :)

[william garritano]

08:43 PM on 12/17/2011

When i was growing up my family fried dough in balls for the holidays in oil then poured honey over each one,they were the size of half dollars, does anyone have the receipe for them?????

[xkglady]

08:59 PM on 12/17/2011

Struffler Recipe

1 lb flour
6 eggs to a lb of flour
1/2 cup crisco(spry)
Mix all together, roll into long ropes, then cut about 1 inch slices.
Deep Fry in oil
Watch, until lightly browned. They can burn easily.
Pour honey over them, optional, use dry citrine
crush almonds and confetti over the mound.
Enjoy!

[william garritano]

12:49 PM on 12/19/2011

are they round like balls?????????????

[xkglady]

09:00 PM on 12/17/2011

Go to an Italian Bakery, they're sold during this time of year!

[riobravo30]

07:12 PM on 12/17/2011

There is no food like Italian food. I will always love it.

[oceanview136]

09:20 PM on 12/17/2011

It's my favorite too !! It is also pretty healthy.

[rpcinc]

09:27 PM on 12/17/2011

ESPECIALLY THE PORK SAUSAGE

[Tess DelGrosso]

05:49 PM on 12/17/2011

Aah the real Italian Christmas Eve supper starts with Baccala Antipasto,followed by Baked Clams casino,Stuffed calamari W/ Spaghetti or Maaarinara Gravy with Spaghetti for the ones who don't like Calamari.Oh yes Fried Zeppole's.We used to have fried Eels years ago,but everyone who liked them have passed on.That's my Family Chritmas Eve traditional Dinner.Then of course our annual Christmas Dinner.

[isisreptiles]

07:46 PM on 12/17/2011

Can you tell me what is the reason behind the 7 fishes tradition? My Italian family didn't do that but I've always wondered the reason for it.

[rpcinc]

09:28 PM on 12/17/2011

THEY COULDN'T AFFORD MEAT

[seabeeutcn]

03:09 PM on 12/19/2011

No known actual reason, it is believed to symbolize the sacraments, some believe it symbolizes sins. It is also not from Italy, this started in America by Italian immigrants and descendents.

[risingsongs]

11:24 PM on 12/19/2011

Sounds quite similar to Christmas Eve feasts of my youth. I remember Scungilli being a must-have in my family also, and octopus when we could get it. Good memories. Living way inland now, I have to make do with what I can reasonably get.

[lgtaper]

05:29 PM on 12/17/2011

My Italian christmas is bring an italian woman to meet my family....merry Christmas to all...Buon Natale

[henry1964]

04:23 PM on 12/17/2011

We use to eat the seven fishes...and many other things for HOURS! What wonderful memories of Christmas. A house full of relatives talking loud, ( come on now, my fellow Italians know what I mean lol) eating and drinking for hours and celebrating Christmas and being together.I am VERY proud to be ITALIAN!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

[lneslusan]

04:43 PM on 12/17/2011

Buon NAtale Mi Ameche! Although I am scottish, my husband is ITALIAN and we still do the 7 fishes on Christmas Eve. I love cooking all the Christmas faves including Smelts, Linguine with Tuna Sauce stuffed calalmari, clams in GARLIC wine sauce and of course apple fritters. And we do eat for hours, His cousins bring their homemade wine and beer, I make annisette cookies and pizzelles. I miss his Mom and Dad. His Mother taught me all the recipes.

[henry1964]

04:55 PM on 12/17/2011

Let's not forget the cannoli. Lol lol ( sorry about spelling if wrong!)

[suesuern]

07:16 PM on 12/17/2011

Yes, the memories. The best part is the loudness.
I remember the first year I brought my (future) husband to our "Italian" family Christmas Eve. Spaghetti and squid in red sauce and fried halibut; I'm not sure what he was more surprised by: The menu or the loudness and chaos. My father approved of him, even though he was an "American boy".
Then we went to his parents house for an "American" Christmas, where his mother had place cards and cloth napkins and three forks at each place setting (OMG, which one do I use?). I had never seen anything like it before. Each of us even had our own butter knife. And everyone was so quiet and polite.
My husband called us "The Loud Family" LOL
35 years later and my husband and I are still together. My parents has passed on, and I often fondly think back of those loud, loving Christmas Eve dinners!

[gloriadel]

09:29 PM on 12/17/2011

Yes , you are right on Suesuern. My husband came from the same tye of family yours did .At first he din't know who to listen to because 2 or 3 were each telling him something different, but he loved it!! He learned to be just like them sisters and cousins. Now that so many are gone and memories go there, he gets the biggest smile on his face, he loved all the fun, food, wine and chaos. We made
''bonia coulda'' (not sure of spelling) New Years Eve.

[rpcinc]

09:31 PM on 12/17/2011

AND THE QUIET PARENTS ARE ALIVE?