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Photo: Giadzy / Elizabeth Newman, Getty Images / David Becker
Based on where you grew up, family traditions and what religion you practice, a wide variety of dishes say “Christmas” to families here in the U.S.Prime rib,turkey, ham or perhaps you opt for takeout; there’s far less universality to the Christmas menu than there is to, say, Thanksgiving menus.
The same holds true in Italy, according to theItalian food experts at Eataly. Panettone is as ubiquitous as our sugar cookies here in the States. Yet on the savory side, some regions celebrate with meat-filled pasta, while others dig into gnocchi and tuna. If you have Roman Catholic roots, chances are your Christmas Eve menu might riff on the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
This tradition dates back to the early 1900s when Catholics would abstain from meat on Fridays and on the days before certain holidays. There’s no certain answer to where the “seven” came from, but it’s said to possibly be a nod to the seven sacraments involved in Roman Catholicism. Italian-American families brought the tradition with them to the U.S. Each family seems to have their own lineup, and some menus feature a few fish courses alongside vegetable sides, starches and dessert. Commonly featured fishes include shellfish, calamari, clams, cod and more.
Giada De Laurentiis revealed her personal favorite lineup for the Christmas Eve feast, and we can’t wait to recreate it ourselves on December 24—and possibly sooner because we don’t want to wait that long!
14 Giada De Laurentiis Recipes We Can’t Stop Making
Known for its light and bright flavors and focus on fresh seafood, Capri is a dreamy guide for De Laurentiis' Christmas Eve menu.
“Like many Italian traditions, you could pop into different households in Italy, and each nonna would explain differing rules of what exactly constitutes a proper Feast of the Seven Fishes,” she says. “As an overarching whole, there are no hard rules that need to be adhered to; there’s no particular fish that must be eaten, there’s no specific preparation, not every dish needs to include seafood … and, no—you don’t actually need to make seven types of fish!”
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Giada De Laurentiis' Feast of the Seven Fishes Menu
Here’s what Giada has deemed worthy of the holiday spread.
Cozze al Forno
Calling for just 15 minutes of prep time, “These mussels are loaded up with flavorful ingredients and get golden brown and crispy in the oven for a perfect appetizer,” she says.
Get the recipe:Cozze al Forno
Calamari Panzanella
Panzanella isn’t just for summer, De Laurentiis believes. This creative twist features toasted bread, tomatoes, olives, arugula, basil and your choice of octopus or squid.
Get the recipe:Calamari Panzanella
Pan-Fried Zucchini
Take a break from the seafood with “this vibrant side dish [that] gets tons of flavor from an anchovy and caper dressing.” According to De Laurentiis, the 20-minute recipe is “about as southern Italian as it gets!”
Get the recipe:Pan-Fried Zucchini
Frutti di Mare
Get the recipe:Frutti di Mare
Acqua Pazza
“Crazy water” is the translation of this recipe name, which refers to the punchy spices and mix-ins (crushed red pepper flakes, capers, garlic and fennel) that spike the tomato-and-white-wine broth used to poach the sea bass. “My version isn’t insanely spicy, but it’s full of Italian flavor,” she says.
Get the recipe:Acqua Pazza
Torta Caprese
Get the recipe:Torta Caprese
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