A few years in the past our household adopted the custom of the Feast of Seven Fishes for our Christmas Eve vacation feast. It’s definitely modified through the years, however it’s nonetheless a enjoyable household custom we love doing. In case you’re questioning what meals to make for Christmas Eve dinner, give this a attempt!
And sure … there actually are seven sorts of seafood!
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A Option to Preserve Custom Alive
I wish to move on the perfect of our household tradition, traditions, and heritage. For the Italian facet, this usually means passing on the meals and recipes.
Attempting to have a wholesome life-style isn’t about throwing traditions centered round meals out of the window. Removed from it! As an alternative, I’ve modified meatball recipes, pasta recipes, and even Christmas cookie recipes to suit our allergy symptoms and dietary wants.
One Italian-American custom specifically was simple and enjoyable to proceed with our household. It’s referred to as “The Feast of the Seven Fishes” within the US however merely “La Vigilia,” (the vigil) in southern Italy. Because the identify suggests, this custom actually entails making seven (or extra) varieties of fish on Christmas Eve.
Feast of the Seven Fishes: It’s What’s for Christmas Eve Dinner!
There’s a lot debate as to the historic origin of this custom, although we proceed it merely due to its connection to household. Consuming fish on Christmas Eve traces again to the Roman Catholic custom of abstaining from meat on Fridays and particular Holy Days. Abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve would have signified ready in anticipation of the Christ Baby’s arrival on Christmas morning.
Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, there have been a whole lot of southern Italian immigrants to America (particularly New York). They introduced with them the custom of serving fish dishes on Christmas Eve. Many Italian-American households nonetheless proceed this vacation season custom.
The quantity seven can be up for debate, as many households serve fewer varieties of fish (and a few function many as 13!). Seven is probably going the commonest quantity due to its sturdy historic and cultural significance in lots of components of Europe, together with Italy. In biblical historical past, the quantity seven represents completeness and perfection. There are additionally seven sacraments and 7 lethal sins in Catholic teachings.
Does it Need to Be Fish?
Some individuals actually do stick with seven varieties of fish at their seafood feast. Others (like myself) simply goal for seven totally different sorts of seafood.
NOTE: You don’t need to make all the dishes without delay to do that custom! I definitely didn’t begin making all seven in the beginning. Choose only one or two and also you’ve received a festive, significant, and scrumptious Christmas Eve meal.
Our Household’s Model of “La Vigilia“
It’s taken me virtually a decade to lastly get into routine for this particular Christmas Eve meal. As you’ll be able to think about, there may be a whole lot of prep work and cooking concerned! I added a dish every year till I received to the total seven.
Now to make it even simpler I make a seafood stew that has most (or all) of the seven fishes in it. There are a whole lot of totally different choices, however listed here are our favourite dishes and ones I’ve usually made for Christmas Eve dinner.
Appetizer Seafood Dishes
Cooking so many dishes can simply get overwhelming and contain an excessive amount of meals. Small appetizers are a great way to honor this Italian-American Christmas Eve custom with out going overboard. Any of those may very well be served as an appetizer or as a part of the principle meal.
Crab and Clam Arancini
Arancini is a standard Italian meals, however I’ve added two varieties of seafood to make it match with this meal. The identify means “little orange” they usually’re small fried balls of rice that resemble an orange as soon as cooked. They’re historically full of mozzarella cheese and meat, however I exploit seafood, herbs, and peppers for a flavorful various.
Mussels in Wine Sauce
A dish that appears actually fancy however couldn’t be easier to make. Since this meal has so many programs, we solely make 2-3 of those per particular person. The children assume they’re enjoyable and luxuriate in serving to make them. I exploit this recipe and blend up the herbs and spices a bit every year.
Scallops in Browned Butter
I like scallops they usually’re an ideal a part of a vacation meal. Our favourite strategy to make them is with a bit browned butter, olive oil, and contemporary herbs. Since there are such a lot of different dishes at this meal, we solely make one per particular person. My recipe may be very comparable to this one (I simply omit the capers).
Shrimp Cocktail
This straightforward appetizer couldn’t be simpler to organize. Boiled after which cooled shrimp are dipped in a zesty, tomato-based sauce. In case you don’t have a wholesome premade cocktail sauce out there, then attempt this do-it-yourself one. Primal Kitchen has an unsweetened ketchup that will work nicely on this recipe.
Skillet Bang Bang Shrimp with Sriracha Dipping Sauce
All of the flavors of the well-known bang-bang shrimp with out the deep frying! I saute shrimp in butter till cooked and serve with a candy chili and sriracha sauce.
Canned Fish
Canned sardines are one other simple (and wholesome) appetizer to whip up for this meal. You may mash them within the can and serve them on prime of crackers with a slice of cheese. Canned fish actually cuts down on the prep time for this dinner. Listed below are a couple of different concepts for how you can eat sardines.
Major Dishes
Pasta dishes usually accompany this seafood unfold, however it’s not one thing we usually do.
If you wish to cook dinner some pasta in your meal, listed here are some choices. Typically we’ll use gluten-free rice noodles for pasta, or I’ll usually make veggie noodles. Add some do-it-yourself marinara sauce and also you’re in enterprise! In case you’re feeling spicy, attempt some fra diavolo sauce as a substitute.
Baccalà- Salted Cod in Butter & Wine Discount
Baccalà is a standard essential course for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Historically, that is made with true Baccalà cod that’s been preserved in salt and dried. Earlier than I moved to the south this was arduous to search out so I received artistic.
I’ve made my very own model utilizing contemporary cod and salt in a butter and wine sauce. Right here’s a traditional Baccalà recipe if you wish to make your personal.
Soups, Salads, and Sides
Because the meal is extra advanced we maintain the edges tremendous easy on this night time. I’ll usually simply make a contemporary salad and roast some broccoli. You would even make a seafood salad with this tasty Caesar salad. The dressing is made with salty anchovies and I prefer to prime it with some sardines.
Shrimp Bisque
A household favourite recreated from a soup we had in a restaurant. This straightforward shrimp bisque is very easy to make and has superb taste. Making this one at Christmas at all times jogs my memory how good it’s and to place it again within the household meal rotation.
Seafood Stew
Through the years our Christmas Eve dinner routine has modified loads. Whereas I nonetheless make a few of these recipes for the meal, I’ve simplified the method due to this soup. Historically referred to as cioppino, seafood stew options hearty fish fillets like halibut and shellfish. It’s a straightforward strategy to pack most (or all) of the 7 varieties of seafood into one essential dish.
You may also make one thing like this hearty seafood chowder. I’d use arrowroot powder as a substitute of the all-purpose flour although.
Feast of the Seven Fishes Serving Suggestions
In case you’re not counting on a seafood heavy soup, there may be fairly a couple of meals to organize without delay. Happily, it’s simple sufficient to do most of it forward of time. I usually put together every part besides the scallops beforehand. I gently reheat the dishes, sauté the scallops, toss the salad, and we’re able to go!
One other strategy to make the meal extra festive is to have some particular wines available. Since I found Dry Farm Wines, I additionally make sure that I’ve a few of their white wine to serve for an ideal pairing. The children get some glowing fruit-infused water in fancy glasses!
For dessert I’ll often simply serve some contemporary fruit with a bit whipped cream on prime. If you wish to go all out on dessert although, listed here are some tasty dessert recipes to attempt.
Do you’ve got any particular traditions for Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner?
