Italian Christmas Eve - La Vigilia di Natale
In Italian, Christmas Eve is "La Vigilia," the eve. Many Italians also refer to it as The Eve of the Seven Fishes. Traditionally the dinner is meatless and fish dishes dominate. Every region, city, and country town in Italy has ritual foods that are served. Many people prepare Christmas Eve dinners with a required number of courses that range from 7 to 9. The number seven represents the seven sacraments and nine for the Trinity multiplied by three. Over the years the number of courses served by most Italian families has decreased, but fish still remains the main feature of the meal. If you are serving several courses, choose a well-balanced selection of dishes using a variety of different fish and shellfish - an appetizer, a soup, a salad, a fried fish, a baked, grilled, or stewed fish, and a pasta dish. For a simpler meal, prepare just one course and serve with a crusty Italian bread and a mixed green salad. MORE RECIPES FOR A TRADITIONAL ITALIAN CHRISTMAS










A collection of recipes including calamari, scungilli, clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, lobster, and more.
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More Suggestions for an Italian Christmas Eve Dinner
Roasted chestnuts are a big part of Italian get-togethers throughout the holiday season. They can be an ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes or simply eaten as a snack.
The silicone pocket securely grips the oyster to provide a safe, nonslip grip, and the curved knife tip slides easily through shell hinges. Pocket features a slot for knife storage.
SHUCK OYSTERS
LIKE A PRO
TRADITIONAL ITALIAN
CHRISTMAS BREAD
Panettone, the tall, cylindrical, fruit-filled sweet bread from Milan has become an essential part of the Christmas season. You can make panettone two months in advance, wrap it tightly in heavy-duty foil and freeze it.
Read about the romantic legend of panettone >>
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