Description
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a cherished Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition featuring a variety of seafood dishes. This recipe brings together seven delicious seafood preparations in one feast, combining flavors and textures to create a memorable holiday meal. From light appetizers to hearty main courses, this seafood extravaganza is perfect for a festive gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
For Classic Baccalà (Salted Cod Stew):
- 1 lb salted cod (baccalà), soaked and rinsed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup white wine
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Shrimp Scampi:
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Fried Calamari:
- 1 lb calamari rings
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornmeal
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Oil for frying
- Lemon wedges and marinara sauce for serving
For Clams in White Sauce:
- 2 lbs fresh clams, scrubbed
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Grilled Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter:
- 4 lobster tails
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Seafood Pasta (Linguine with Mixed Seafood):
- 12 oz linguine
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ lb mussels, cleaned
- ½ lb scallops
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Stuffed Flounder:
- 4 flounder fillets
- 1 cup crab meat
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
1. Prepare the Classic Baccalà:
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the cod and cook for about 15 minutes, or until flaky.
- Garnish with parsley and set aside.
2. Cook the Shrimp Scampi:
- Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add shrimp, red pepper flakes, and salt. Cook for 2 minutes per side.
- Pour in lemon juice; simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and set aside.
3. Fry the Calamari:
- Soak calamari in buttermilk for 30 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat oil in a deep pan to 375°F (190°C).
- Dredge calamari in flour mixture and fry for 2–3 minutes until golden brown.
- Drain on paper towels and serve with lemon wedges and marinara sauce.
4. Make the Clams in White Wine Sauce:
- In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add clams, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cover and cook for 5–7 minutes until clams open.
- Garnish with parsley and set aside.
5. Grill the Lobster Tails:
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Split lobster tails in half and brush with a mixture of melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Grill for 5–6 minutes until the meat is opaque.
- Serve with extra garlic butter.
6. Cook the Seafood Pasta:
- Cook linguine according to package instructions.
- Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté garlic and cherry tomatoes for 2 minutes.
- Add red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add shrimp, mussels, and scallops. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until seafood is cooked through.
- Toss with linguine and garnish with parsley.
7. Bake the Stuffed Flounder:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a bowl, mix crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Stuff fillets with the mixture and place in a baking dish.
- Brush with melted butter and bake for 15–20 minutes.
Notes
- You can prepare these dishes in advance to reduce cooking time on Christmas Eve.
- Serve with crusty bread, a side salad, and white wine for a complete meal.
- Feel free to swap out seafood based on availability or preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes per dish
- Cook Time: 10–30 minutes per dish
- Category: Holiday, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing, Baking, Grilling, Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250–500 kcal (varies by dish)
- Sugar: 1–4 g
- Sodium: 300–900 mg
- Fat: 10–25 g
- Saturated Fat: 2–8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5–15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5–40 g
- Fiber: 1–5 g
- Protein: 20–40 g
- Cholesterol: 50–150 mg