On Christmas Eve every year for many years, my family has celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fishes (festa dei sette pesci). This is a tradition if you are from Southern Italy or in many of the Italian-American homes on Christmas Eve, especially in the Northeast.
In Southern Italy, traditional dishes can include: anchovies, sardines, dried salt cod, smelts, eels, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels, and clams paired with pastas, vegetables, baked or fried kale patties, baked goods, and homemade wine. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia) and is a commemoration of the wait, Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.
“It’s what Italians do when they say they’re fasting.” More precisely, the Feast is a meal served in Italian households on La Vigilia (Christmas Eve). In many parts of Italy, the night is traditionally a partial fast, during which no meat should be served. But in true Italian style, this proscription has morphed into something very unfastlike indeed: course after course of luxurious seafood dishes, often as many as 7, 10, or even 13. “No one’s quite sure of the significance of the number,” says Batali. “Some families do seven for the sacraments. Some do ten for the stations of the cross. And some even do 13 for the 12 apostles plus Jesus.”
My family is not Italian, but so many of our family and friends who are Italian-American celebrate and it has been adapted as a beloved tradition. I even extend the Italian influenced noshing to Christmas Day where I lay out a full antipasto, make two kinds of lasagna, plus sausage and peppers!
For Feast of the Seven Fishes, my Mom leads the menu planning several weeks ahead of time, brainstorming the best feast possible and confirming what everyone is bringing. The base dish tends to be her cioppino with shrimp, white fish, king crab and clams, but the cold seafood salad has also been a winner in recent years. I can also guarantee that there will be a smoked fish dip too – so scrumptious!
Check out my Feast of the Seven Fishes Pinterest board and below are scrumptious seafood recipes from The Hungry Goddess to inspire your own Feast of the Seven Fishes!
See the Feast of the Seven Fishes sample menu
Buon Natale!
My Dad was famous for bringing the grill out even in the winter! If you want some tips on grilling fish for your Feast of the Seven Fishes celebration, click here for Grilling Fish Tips.
Almond Crusted Salmon with Black Rice and Fruit Salsa
Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Sriracha Dipping Sauce
Baked Rainbow Trout with Roasted Vegetables and Lemon Rice
Chilean Sea Bass with Orange Sauce
Fennel Pollen Scented Quinoa & Tilapia
Grilled Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa
Lemon Oven Roasted Salmon with Fennel and San Marzano Tomatoes
Lemon Tarragon Salmon with Greek Yogurt Dressing
Paella Mixta with Sardines, Chorizo, Shrimp, and Chicken
Poached Cod in Spring Vegetable Broth
Roasted Red Peppers and Anchovies with Bruschetta
Salmon Oscar with Purple Asparagus and Blender Bearnaise Recipe
Shrimp with Spiralized Zucchini in Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Spicy Mustard Crab Cakes with Lemon Garlic Aioli
Did this one year for husband and friend. Lot of work, but well worth it. Had 7 different wines with it. Dinner lasted about 4 hours. Will not do again.