Are you looking for seafood recipes for Christmas? The tradition of enjoying seafood dishes during the holiday season, especially on Christmas Eve, dates back to the early 1900s. Originating in Southern Italy and embraced by Italian Americans, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a holiday tradition that involves preparing various seafood dishes.
This celebration is not only a testament to the rich flavors of seafood but also to the beauty of food-based traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Why Choose Recipes Seafood for Christmas?
Opting for seafood dishes during Christmas is a great way to add variety to your holiday table. Seafood is not only delicious but also offers plenty of options for both appetizers and main courses. From tender prawns to juicy tomatoes in a seafood salad, there’s something special about including the sweet juices of fresh clams or a whole fish in your Christmas feast.
It’s a perfect choice for those looking to start a new annual Christmas dinner tradition.
Seafood Appetizers: Starting the Feast Right
Kick off your holiday dinner with some delightful seafood appetizers. Prawn cocktails, crab cakes, and shrimp cocktails are easy and delicious starters that set the tone for a spectacular seafood feast. These dishes are simple to prepare and provide a light yet flavorful beginning to your meal.
Prawn Cocktails
A classic choice, prawn cocktails involve tender prawns served with a tangy cocktail sauce. Garnish with lemon wedges for that extra zing.
Crab Cakes
Crab cakes, made with fresh crab meat and bread crumbs, and fried to a golden brown, are a favorite. Serve with a side of tartar or cocktail sauce.
Shrimp Cocktail
An easy recipe that never disappoints. The shrimp cocktail is both a refreshing and elegant start to your Christmas seafood feast.
The Main Course: A Seafood Extravaganza
For the main course, there are numerous options for a seafood Christmas dinner. From savory seafood stews to baked whole fish, these dishes are sure to impress your guests.
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Embrace this traditional Italian feast, known as ‘Feste dei Sette Pesce’, which involves serving seven different seafood dishes. This can include a mix of rich pasta, seafood stews, and chilled seafood salads.
Sea Bass with Lemon and Herbs
A whole sea bass, baked with fresh herbs and lemon juice, presents a delicious and healthy main dish. The lemon juice adds a tangy flavor, creating the perfect balance with the mild taste of sea bass.
Lobster Tails with White Wine Sauce
Lobster tails cooked in a buttery white wine sauce make for a luxurious and festive main course. The rich sauce complements the sweet, tender lobster meat, making it a holiday favorite.
Dungeness Crab with Garlic Butter
Dungeness crab, steamed and served with a side of garlic butter, is a simple yet decadent choice. It’s a great way to enjoy the natural flavors of the crab.
Salmon Wellington
A twist on the classic beef Wellington, Salmon Wellington involves salmon wrapped in puff pastry, making for a visually stunning and delicious dish.
Side Dishes: Complementing the Seafood
No seafood Christmas dinner is complete without the perfect side dishes. Options like a crunchy shaved raw vegetable salad or crusty bread are excellent for complementing your seafood dishes.
Crunchy Shaved Raw Vegetable Salad
A light and refreshing salad can balance out the rich flavors of the seafood dishes, adding a healthy element to your holiday meal.
Crusty Bread
Serving crusty bread is a great way to enjoy the rich sauces and broths of your seafood dishes, ensuring that no flavor is left behind.
Recipes of Christmas
27 Seafood Recipes for Christmas
Christmas Fish Recipes -
Easy and Savory Christmas Fish Recipes!
Serve a showstopping whole grilled snapper with a rich garlicky aioli as your holiday centerpiece. It will be the star of your meal.
Simple grilled swordfish with olive relish is a delicious and impressive holiday main course. It's easy to make as well.
Indulge in this fresh seafood feast with our mouthwatering crab-stuffed flounder recipe! This easy recipe features a simple flounder fillet generously filled with a delectable crabmeat stuffing. Get ready to savor every bite of this flavorful combination.
In the Pacific Northwest, where the weather is cool and damp, salmon chowder often appears at the Thanksgiving table. This one features wild-caught salmon, leeks, potatoes, and cream with just the right amount of fresh dill
Air fryer catfish is an easy inexpensive meal. Full of protein, a healthy meal is great for the holidays or year round.
This is a delicious and savory Pan-Fried Teriyaki Salmon recipe. It's full of flavor: sweet, savory and delicious. Plus, it only takes under 10 minutes to cook and makes a great hassle-free Thanksgiving dinner!
This rich, mildly smoky Canadian Maple Cedar Plank Salmon is glazed with maple syrup, balsamic, grainy mustard, butter & garlic. Easy and mouthwatering!
Cioppino is a comforting San Franciscan seafood stew filled with shrimp, clams, mussels, white fish, and crab legs simmered in a rich broth made from tomatoes, white wine, and fish stock. A family favorite, enjoy this easy and delicious one-pot seafood meal!
Ginger-Soy Glazed Haddock is a savory healthy haddock recipe that is perfect for those trying to keep things on the lighter side at Thanksgiving time.
Salmon is baked in a sweet and spicy pineapple sauce, along with pineapple slices, in this easy, healthy meal that's ready in 30 minutes or less! A perfect holiday dish!
Air fryer tilapia is easy to make. Lightly breaded with tons of flavor and crispy. Great alternative Thanksgiving recipe.
This recipe for Air Fryer Salmon is so easy and gives you flaky, juicy, and perfect tender salmon every time, with minimal prep and using only pantry ingredients. A great Thanksgiving dish the whole family will love.
Instant Pot Salmon is a mouthwatering recipe that’s quick and simple to make. You are going to love this flavorful Asian-inspired salmon recipe with an easy homemade teriyaki sauce.
This Lemon Butter Salmon Pasta is quick, easy and simple and perfect for brunch eats and quick weeknight suppers or an easy Thanksgiving main meal.
Pan seared sea bass is easy to make with these expert tips to get a perfect crispy edge. The ultimate holiday meal recipe, it’s elegant enough to impress guests while taking less than 30 minutes to make. Pair with creamy whipped cauliflower or potatoes.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and what better way to celebrate than with a beautiful piece of smoked salmon? This recipe is easy to follow and results in a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth meal that your whole family will love.
This easy and delicious Maple Glazed Salmon is perfect for Thanksgiving. Each tender bite of salmon is full of amazing flavor and literally melts in your mouth. The perfect mix of sweet and savory, this dish is sure to be a hit with your dinner guests.
This Chilean sea bass is flavored with a delicious Asian marinade of soy sauce, ginger, and mirin. It's pan seared until flaky and tender with an incredibly crispy skin! Your friends and family will love this for Thanksgiving!
This Baked Parmesan Cod is loved by kids and adults alike! It's gluten-free, low-carb and keto-friendly. The buttery, garlicky flavor is so delicious!
Desserts: A Sweet Ending
End your Christmas seafood feast with some classic desserts. Options like tiramisu or panna cotta are not only delicious but also keep with the Italian theme of the feast.
Tiramisu
This classic Italian dessert, made with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cheese, offers a delightful end to your meal.
Panna Cotta
A simple yet elegant dessert, panna cotta is creamy, light, and can be topped with fresh berries or a fruit compote.
Celebrating with Seafood
A seafood Christmas dinner offers a unique and delicious way to celebrate the holiday season. Whether you’re honoring a longstanding tradition like the Feast of the Seven Fishes or simply looking to try something new, seafood provides a versatile and flavorful option for your holiday table.
From appetizers to main courses and sides, there are endless possibilities to create a memorable and delightful holiday meal.
Check out Top 27 Seafood Recipes for Thanksgiving