Menu: A Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve

Celebrated by Italian-American families across the U.S., the Feast of Seven Fishes commemorates the wait for the midnight birth of Jesus, or the Vigilia di Natale. This year, start your own family tradition with these festive, Italian-inflected seafood recipes, from lobster fra diavolo (spicy lobster with pasta in tomato sauce) to saut�ed sole topped with olives. <

Credit: Todd Coleman

The Menu

More About This Menu

Inspiration for this menu comes from Greg Ferro's story about Christmas Eve with his Italian-American family in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, "The Feast of the Seven Fishes."
For antipasti ideas, see Dana Bowen's article "The Art of Antipasti."
The Saut�ed Sole, topped with a tapenade-like olive paste, tastes delicious paired with Roasted Potatoes.
A proper Italian-American holiday feast should feature plenty of desserts, from Tiramisu to Italian-American Christmas Cookies, and more.
See our Gallery of Italian-American Recipes for more ideas.

Comments (5)

by CASA-GIARDINO on 2011-12-07

I continue the tradition with variations.
http://casa-giardino.blogspot.com/2011/12/eel-in-tomato-sauce-capitone-in-salsa.html

by FRIEDNECKBONES on 2012-12-22

Sometimes it's very difficult to find seven dishes for seven fishes, or vice versa.
http://friedneckbonesandsomehomefries.com/2011/12/22/seven-fishes-for-seven-dishes/

by FOODIE58 on 2012-12-22

One year our family did 7 appetizers: 1Pickled shrimp 2Steamed Mussels 3Oysters on the Grill 4Italian Stuffed Clams 5Crab Cake Sliders 6Linguine with Lobster Sauce 5 7Romaine SAlad with Anchocy and Fresh Basil Vinaigrette

Simple Dessert: Pistacho Cranberry Icebox Cookies Italian Coffee and Limoncello

It was a big hit.

by MADAMEX on 2012-12-23

No eel?

by XPICASSOX on 2012-12-24

Renowned Cookbook Author Daniel Bellino has a Great Book just in time for Italian Christmas "THE FEAST of The 7 FISH" An ITALIAN-AMERICAN CHRISTMAS EVE FEAST ...
In Paperback and Kindle on Amazon
at
http://www.amazon.com/THE-FEAST-FISH-ITALIAN-AMERICAN-CHRISTMAS/dp/1481100394