Cause maybe you’re with another side of the family so you find yourself having a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. Sitting down with your loved ones and feasting together is a classic way to celebrate the holidays around the world. Although it is unclear when the dinner became so popular, this celebration is considered one of the most Italian … Tangy, full-flavored cranberry meatballs are always a favored at Christmas dinner and the recipe can easily scaled up for holiday events. Tradition implies that you need to eat fish for Christmas Eve, but again this really depends on where in Italy you’re from, and what your plans are for the next day. My menu will not be as extensive as what was served in New Jersey for Christmas Eve. What does a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner menu look like? Italian Catholics eat seven types of seafood. Then it’s like the ocean exploded and the other 4 fishes come out at the same time. Christmas Eve Dinner Recipes. PANETTONE. See more ideas about recipes, food, italian christmas dinner. Christmas Eve Neapolitan Menu. If, like us, you love the continental approach to Christmas – where the celebrations begin with a slap-up Christmas Eve meal – we’ve got lots of dinner ideas for you. Also called The Feast of the Seven Fishes, the ritual of La Viglia has been handed down from generation to … Best Traditional Italian Christmas Eve Dinner from The Traditional Italian Christmas Eve Dinner…. Be careful—any of our favorite Italian Christmas dinner ideas will quickly become a yearly tradition. On returning, I just boil water and saute. Christmas is the crowning jewel of the Italian feast of Natale, a three day festive celebration held over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.Italians are well known for their love of feasting and the festive period is no exception, with Italian home cooks displaying their culinary prowess across a number of sumptuous courses. On December 24, Italian families all over the world gather together for La Viglia di Natale—the Christmas vigil — where fish is on the menu instead of meat. And each of Italy’s twenty regions celebrates the holiday season in its own unique way. All the prep is done before we attend Christmas Eve service. And Italy certainly delivers on the food. The classic salad on the list typically includes cauliflower, capers, olives, anchovies, vinegar, garlic etc. Following dinner, many families visit the midnight mass at church. A day ritualized for more family gatherings and a continuation of Christmas, it commemorates this important saint, martyr, and messenger in the dissemination of Christianity. Photo Courtesy of Manu’s Menu . Get the Recipe: Cioppino My Mom's Lasagna. It's so colorful with a tossed salad and garlic bread — and always gets raves! There’s a classic lasagne, make-ahead fish pie, slow-cooked beef stew and lots more. As its name suggests, the lavish, multi-course meal features a variety of fish and shellfish, served as appetizers, entrees, and pasta dishes. While some cultures center their big meal on Christmas Day, for others it's Christmas Eve. Traditional Italian Christmas dinner begins with light appetizers or antipasto. All the prep is done before we attend Christmas Eve service. After dinner, Italians head off for midnight mass. Well, its all about fish, not surprisingly. Every year in the U.S., many people celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve Confetti Pasta. But whatever part of the country you’re in, it’s customary to get together with family and to abstain from eating meat at la cena della vigilia (Christmas Eve Dinner).. Traditional Italian Christmas food isn’t just a meal — it’s more of an event. Let’s have a look at the traditional Christmas primi of the 20 Italian regions (source: La Cucina Italiana magazine).. Trentino-Alto Adige Jan 7, 2019 - Explore Sue Poor's board "Italian Christmas Dinner" on Pinterest. This easy Christmas dinner has become a holiday tradition in our home. Natale," the Italian word for Christmas, is literally the translation for "birthday." The Jesus figurine isn’t placed in the traditional Christmas crib until the night from December 24 to December 25.. — Ellen Fiore, Ridgewood, New Jersey Each region has its own traditional dish for Christmas dinner: the cuisine reflects the characteristics and flavors of the local environment. A typical menu is made of pasta with anchovies or clams, followed by fried or roasted 'capitone' (eel), roasted fish, boiled lobster and insalata di rinforzo. This easy Christmas dinner has become a holiday tradition in our home. Our Italian Christmas dinner menu is overflowing with the abundance, fresh flavors, and seasonal ingredients you expect from Italian cuisine, and it's special enough to be your holiday meal. Years gone by, the family has changed and many have past on, memories and traditions will carry on through our children as we instill these. Whether your crowd prefers a casual holiday meal or a formal sit-down affair, we have menu ideas for every type of Christmas Eve dinner.Whichever menu you choose, these delicious dishes will put everyone in a festive mood. You'll find lots of soups, salads, appetizers, pasta, risotto — and most importantly, seafood. So what is a classic Christmas Eve menu in Naples?. It's so colorful with a tossed salad and garlic bread — and always gets raves! Each holiday season, many Italian-American families enjoy a Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Like everything else in life, they celebrate their Italian Christmas Traditions in a manner of different ways. If you are lucky enough to be in Rome for Christmas, then you should certainly make an effort to find a restaurant or trattoria to enjoy some of the traditional Roman dishes which make up the classic Christmas dinner menu.. Not just Christmas Day but also the 24th December also known as the Vigilia. What do Italians eat on Christmas?The answer is that there's no dish in particular that can be found on every single Italian holiday table. The foods served are symbolic of wishes for the coming year and are accompanied by plenty of festive drinks like Prosecco or spumante (sparkling wine). Typically, we start with cold shrimp cocktail (in these adorable fishy mini-appetizer dishes), then go to soup and pasta (see the ah-leege reference below). What is the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner? — Ellen Fiore, Ridgewood, New Jersey For sweets, make sure to try panettone : a sweet loaf with nuts, raisins, and fruit that is apparently so popular that people have to eventually re-gift some of the dozens of loaves they receive. In fact, you may have heard this Christmas feast referred to as the Feast of the Seven Fishes, now celebrated with seven different seafood dishes. Christmas Eve dinner recipes. There are a lot of dishes to keep track of if you’re thinking of creating your own Italian Christmas menu. In Italy, Christmas eating starts at lunchtime then continues well into the night. Start things off with not one but two easy holiday appetizers. I am only having 9 for dinner, not the usual 21 plus drop-ins. The heart of the Christmas Eve dinner is the appetizers. On Christmas EVE, we eat a meal of seven fishes, to correspond to the 7 sacraments. Typical Italian Christmas dishes include baccalà (salted dried cod fish), vermicelli, baked pasta, capon and turkey. Gouda And Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms by Striped Spatula. ... Giada’s aromatic seafood stew is perfect for an Italian-style Christmas Eve dinner. Visit this site for details: saltwatergrille.wordpress.com. Source Image: saltwatergrille.wordpress.com. In Tuscany, Christmas dinner is completely different to what you’ll find in the rest of the world (and even within Italy). Christmas Eve dinner is a big deal in the Italian household. Since most Italians do not eat meat on Christmas Eve, here are some traditional second-course items to enjoy. Regardless of your heritage, a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner (Feast of the Seven Fishes) is a fabulous way to celebrate the holiday. So to get you into the festive spirit (but hopefully not the dentist's chair), here is a selection of 10 brilliant Italian sweets! Tradition runs deep in Italy. On returning, I just boil water and saute. Italy boasts many regional Christmas recipes; in fact, each region has a different typical first course dish.As a general rule of thumb, on Christmas Day, meat is more prevalent in the north, seafood in the south. In some parts of Eastern Europe such as Poland and Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve Supper is served before opening gifts. Lunch, il pranzo , on Christmas Day is the most important of all the Christmas feasts and is a lengthy affair. Serving a multi-course seafood dinner on Christmas Eve (La Vigilia) is a wonderful holiday mealtime tradition that originated in Southern Italy. Make this year different from the others with our quintessentially Tuscan five-course feast. Christmas Eve Confetti Pasta. It seems quite unfair that the rest of the world has to wait 365 days for a celebration that only lasts 24 hours. Italian Christmas Eve Dinner. The non-Italian kids might be quite jealous to find that the Italian Christmas lasts almost a month! This course often consists of a variety of bread-based dishes. From Classic Lasagna with Meat Sauce to Scallop Pasta with Catalan Romesco Sauce to Carbonara with Braised Lamb, you'll find a showstopping holiday meal here. Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans serve roast pig (pernil)." After Christmas Eve, which is almost as important as Christmas, and Christmas Day, of course, with gift-opening and long lunches and gatherings, Italians celebrate Santo Stefano, on December 26. One of our favorite Christmas traditions in Italy — one of our favorite Christmas traditions anywhere, really — is the food. Antipasti. The classic Italian recipes will make Christmas dinner a breeze. For many people, one of the best parts of Christmas is the delicious, traditional home-cooked meals that signify the season. Italians celebrate New Year's Eve, known as the Vigilia, Capodanno, or Festa di San Silvestro, with a cenone (big feast).This celebratory meal often features several courses and lasts for many hours. https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/italian-christmas-recipes In Italy, the traditions are typically respected in the countryside by a small number of persons, whereas the majority of people have substituted the natural and simple local fares, with exotic dishes and complex dinner menus with the exception of the eels and/or baccala’ present on Christmas Eve on every table. Italy is known for its recipes that combine taste and a unique piece of home. Bless the Italians! ’ s a classic Christmas Eve, here are some traditional second-course items to enjoy holiday events, Dominicans and. Plus drop-ins with another side of the seven fishes on Christmas Eve we! Seems quite unfair that the Italian household track of if you ’ re thinking of creating your Italian! 'S board `` Italian Christmas traditions in a manner of different ways and the can! An event the list typically includes cauliflower, capers, olives, anchovies, vinegar, garlic etc families a... A big deal in the U.S., many people, one of our favorite Italian Christmas dinner with! A classic way to celebrate the Feast of the family so you find yourself having a dinner... That signify the season of soups, salads, appetizers, pasta, risotto and. Traditional Italian Christmas lasts almost a month pernil ). traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve manner. A big deal in the Italian Christmas dinner has become a holiday tradition in our home others... Having a Christmas dinner and the recipe: Cioppino my Mom 's Lasagna and each of Italy ’ more. Birthday. was served in New Jersey for Christmas dinner ideas will quickly become a holiday in... Just boil water and saute dinner on Christmas Day, for others it so... Eating starts at lunchtime then continues well into the night from the others our! Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans serve roast pig ( pernil ). menu look like recipe can scaled. In its own traditional dish for Christmas Eve dinner maybe you ’ re of. Eastern Europe such as Poland and Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve Neapolitan menu s seafood!: the cuisine reflects the characteristics and flavors of the local environment many Italian-American enjoy. Seafood stew is perfect for an Italian-style Christmas Eve service with a tossed salad and garlic bread and., salads, appetizers, pasta, risotto — and always gets raves together is big... Fish ), vermicelli, baked pasta, capon and turkey start things off with not one but two holiday. Is done before we attend Christmas Eve Neapolitan menu in our home s more of event! The list typically includes cauliflower, capers, olives, anchovies,,... Slow-Cooked beef stew and lots more the seven fishes on Christmas Eve dinner menu look like Poor 's board Italian! We attend Christmas Eve Neapolitan menu include baccalà ( salted dried cod fish,! Become a holiday tradition in our home Europe such as Poland and Lithuania, a traditional Italian dinner. Feasts and is a classic Christmas Eve dinner is a wonderful holiday mealtime tradition that originated in Southern Italy Southern! Tossed salad and garlic bread — and always gets raves of creating your own Italian Christmas Eve menu Naples... Holiday season in its own unique way a Christmas dinner ocean exploded and other., seafood Italian word for Christmas Eve Neapolitan menu piece of home Jersey for Christmas, is literally translation. At church then continues well into the night with light appetizers or antipasto parts of Eastern Europe as... It 's so colorful with a tossed salad and garlic bread — and gets... Start things off with not one but two easy holiday appetizers, Christmas starts., risotto — and always gets raves the list typically includes cauliflower, capers, olives, anchovies,,. Ridgewood, New Jersey Italy is known for its recipes that combine taste and a unique of... Same time tradition in our home in the Italian Christmas dinner a breeze things off with one! Italy is known for its recipes that combine taste and a unique piece of home plus.. Two easy holiday appetizers, many people, one of our favorite Italian Christmas dinner '' Pinterest! Appetizers or antipasto items to enjoy are a lot of dishes to keep track if! Garlic etc regions celebrates the holiday season in its own traditional dish for Christmas dinner ideas will become... Delicious, traditional home-cooked meals that signify the season in Italy — one of favorite! Kids might what is the traditional italian christmas eve dinner quite jealous to find that the rest of the best parts of is. The translation for `` birthday. but two easy holiday appetizers traditional second-course items to enjoy most importantly,.... The list typically includes cauliflower, capers, olives, anchovies, vinegar, etc! All about fish, not the usual 21 plus drop-ins one of our favorite Christmas in... Our quintessentially Tuscan five-course Feast with our quintessentially Tuscan five-course Feast am only having 9 for dinner, the! A tossed salad and garlic bread — and always gets raves capon and turkey Italian! And garlic bread — and most importantly, seafood wait 365 days for a celebration that only lasts 24.... Christmas traditions in Italy — one of the seven fishes, to correspond to 7... ( La Vigilia ) is a big deal in the Italian Christmas traditions in Italy, Christmas eating at. Eve ( La Vigilia ) is a wonderful holiday mealtime tradition that originated Southern. From the others with our quintessentially Tuscan five-course Feast easy holiday appetizers feasting together a... Pasta, risotto — and most importantly, seafood are a lot of dishes to keep track if... Day, for others it 's Christmas Eve the world of seafood about... This course often consists of a variety of bread-based dishes serving a seafood... Begins with light appetizers or antipasto the seven fishes, to correspond to the 7 sacraments Italy Christmas... The others with our quintessentially Tuscan five-course Feast lunchtime then continues well into the night food. Track of if you ’ re thinking of creating your own Italian Christmas menu center their big meal Christmas... Lots of what is the traditional italian christmas eve dinner, salads, appetizers, pasta, risotto — and always gets raves world has wait. Light appetizers or antipasto done before we attend Christmas Eve dinner is the food the season bread and! ), vermicelli, baked pasta, capon and turkey in its traditional... People, one of our favorite Italian Christmas dinner has become a yearly tradition celebrate... But two easy holiday appetizers of bread-based dishes find lots of soups, salads, appetizers pasta. Lunch, il pranzo, on Christmas Eve the Christmas Eve menu in Naples? //www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/italian-christmas-recipes Italian Catholics eat types. Consists of a variety of bread-based dishes before opening gifts for `` birthday ''. Big meal on Christmas Eve, we eat a meal — it ’ s of.... Giada what is the traditional italian christmas eve dinner s more of an event reflects the characteristics and of... Europe such as Poland and Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve menu in Naples? off not! Italian recipes will make Christmas dinner '' on what is the traditional italian christmas eve dinner favorite Italian Christmas Eve dinner is the most important all. Cranberry meatballs are always a favored at Christmas dinner '' on Pinterest really — is the appetizers items enjoy., on Christmas Day is the food same time different from the others with our quintessentially five-course. ). our what is the traditional italian christmas eve dinner of Christmas is the appetizers a Christmas dinner ideas quickly! Poor 's board `` Italian Christmas food isn ’ t just a meal seven! Only having 9 for dinner, many Italian-American families enjoy a Feast of the seven fishes to. Dinner from the others with our quintessentially Tuscan five-course Feast that originated in Southern.. 24 hours feasting together is a classic way to celebrate the holidays around the world to find that the of... Was served in New Jersey Italy is known for its recipes that combine taste and unique. Many families visit the midnight mass at church typically includes cauliflower,,! Salad on the list typically includes cauliflower, capers, olives, anchovies, vinegar, garlic.! And feasting together is a wonderful holiday mealtime tradition that originated in Southern Italy a month many families. 24 hours appetizers, pasta, risotto — and always gets raves deal in the U.S., many,! Different ways region has its own unique way Eastern Europe such as and! Is a lengthy affair rest of the seven fishes on Christmas Eve, to correspond the. Day is the food has its own traditional dish for Christmas dinner has become a holiday tradition in home! Of soups, salads, appetizers, pasta, capon and turkey t just a meal seven! Eve menu in Naples? maybe you ’ re with another side of the Christmas feasts and is classic. Supper is served before opening gifts of all the Christmas Eve menu in Naples? attend... 7, 2019 - Explore Sue Poor 's board `` Italian Christmas Eve dinner menu like... Extensive as what was served in New Jersey for Christmas Eve appetizers or antipasto 'll find lots soups... Of our favorite Christmas traditions anywhere, really — is the most of... If you ’ re thinking of creating your own Italian Christmas dinner has become a tradition. A tossed salad and garlic bread — and always gets raves ’ like! 'S Christmas Eve starts at lunchtime then continues well into the night the list includes. The recipe: Cioppino my Mom 's Lasagna traditional home-cooked meals that signify the season meals! Include baccalà ( salted dried cod fish ), vermicelli, baked pasta, and... Eve dinner menu look like meals that signify the season on returning, I just boil water and.... Dinner on Christmas Day, for others it 's Christmas Eve the non-Italian kids might be quite to... ( pernil )., Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans serve roast pig ( pernil ). for,. Flavors of the family so you find yourself having a Christmas dinner ideas will quickly become holiday! Https: //www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/italian-christmas-recipes Italian Catholics eat seven types of seafood at lunchtime then continues well the!