Description
Celebrate Christmas Eve with the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, featuring seven seafood dishes that are indulgent, flavorful, and customizable.
Ingredients
- Fresh littleneck clams
- Large, deveined shrimp
- Squid rings
- Large sea scallops
- Lobster tails or whole lobster
- Cod or halibut
- Black mussels
- Breadcrumbs
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Parsley
- White wine
- Lemon juice
- Fresh herbs (parsley, basil, thyme)
- Crusty bread
- Green salad
Instructions
- Clean all seafood thoroughly. Soak clams and mussels in cold, salty water for 20 minutes to remove sand. Peel and devein shrimp. Cut squid into rings.
- Steam whole lobster in a large pot for 8-10 minutes until bright red and fully cooked. Set aside to cool slightly before serving.
- Steam clams in a pot with white wine, garlic, and parsley for about 5-7 minutes, until they open. Discard any that stay closed.
- Sauté garlic in olive oil, add a splash of white wine, and simmer mussels until they open (about 5 minutes). Serve with crusty bread.
- Coat squid rings in seasoned flour and fry in hot oil until golden and crispy. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet and sear scallops in butter, garlic, and a sprinkle of sea salt for about 2 minutes per side.
- Place white fish on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with herbs, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Sauté shrimp in olive oil, garlic, and butter until pink and tender. Add a splash of lemon juice for brightness.
Notes
[‘Prep seafood the day before to save time.’, ‘Watch seafood closely to avoid overcooking.’, ‘Use fresh herbs for better flavor.’, ‘Balance light and rich dishes for variety.’, ‘Add festive touches like candles and chilled white wine.’]
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Varies by dish
- Calories: 40060
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Feast of the Seven Fishes, Italian seafood recipes, Christmas Eve dinner, seafood feast, holiday recipes