Christmas Eve Dinner – Recipes & Wines

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as the spirit of Christmas Eve” Charles Dickens

Many American families, not just Italian-American families, celebrate Christmas Eve (La Vigilia di Natale in Italian) with an elaborate seafood dinner: the so-called Feast of the Seven Fishes. This tradition can be traced back to Southern Italy, where it is believed to honor the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on certain holy days, including Christmas Eve.

Why seven dishes? Some believe that it symbolizes the seven sacraments; others claim it’s a reminder of the seven biblical days of Creation. Whatever the historical significance, we say seven courses is beyond the pale. Bingeing on a streaming show like “The Crown” is one thing, but seven courses at dinner goes well past epicurean. How about two or maybe three courses?

To assist with this, we have listed below 13 different seafood dishes with links to our posts where you will find the recipes (with wine pairing) from our blog. Surely one or two of these will hook you.

Wishing you a safe, happy Holiday Season!

Shellfish:

• Lobster Stew with Chardonnay: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/shellfish/lobster-stew-and-wine-pairing/.

• Lobster Pasta with Fiano di Avellino: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/shellfish/lobster-pasta-with-tomato-red-or-white-wine/

• Shrimp Scampi with Vermentino: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/chardonnay/vermentino-and-shrimp-scampi/

• Shrimp Marinara with Tuscan Red: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/sangiovese/shrimp-marinara-wine-pairing-from-maremma-toscano-italianfwt/

• Linguini and Clams with Vermentino or Barbaresco: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/pasta/linguini-with-clams-red-or-white-wine/

• Seared Scallops with Sauvignon Blanc: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/sauces/sauvignon-blanc-and-seared-scallops/

Fish Fillets:

• Black Cod with Vouvray: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/chardonnay/vouvray-black-cod-with-pea-sauce/

• Salmon and Creamy Tarragon Sauce with Fiano di Avellino: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/sauces/grilled-salmon-with-creamy-tarragon-sauce/

• Salmon and Spiced Onions with Gewürztraminer: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/fish/salmon-with-spiced-onions/

• Sea Bass and Sauce Vierge with Rhone Blanc or Beaujolais: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/sauces/sea-bass-with-sauce-vierge-wine-pairing/

• Swordfish and Roasted Red Pepper Aioli with Pinot Gris: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/sauces/swordfish-kabobs-with-roasted-red-pepper-aioli/

Mixed Seafood

• Cioppino with Montepulciano di Abruzzo: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/shellfish/montepulciano-and-cioppino/

• Brodetto di Pesce with Verdicccio: http://wineandfoodpairings.net/soups/brodetto-di-pesce-wine-pairing-italianfwt/