Here in Italy, Christmas food traditions don’t include a particular meal that every family eats! However, fish and seafood are traditional in many parts of the country, especially on Christmas Eve. But, also on Christmas day and New Year’s day. Here are some special fish and seafood pasta recipes that you can include on your holiday menu to give it a bit of an Italian flavour.
Pasta will appear on almost every family table in Italy at Christmas. Very often Italians eat more than one pasta dish or a pasta and/or a risotto followed by a main course! For dinner on Christmas Eve, most Italians eat fish and seafood. This is a religious custom as 24th December is considered a day of fasting or abstinence, which Italians call ‘giorni di magro’ (meaning lean days). However, seafood pasta is popular even on Christmas Day and New Year’s day.
(Just click the title to go to the recipe posts)
Linguine alle vongole.
Linguine with clams one of the most popular seafood pasta recipes both in Italy and abroad! So it’s not surprising that this iconic Neapolitan dish is traditional at Christmas in Campania! This linguine pasta alle vongole recipe is my Sicilian hubby’s. He’s pretty generous with the garlic and peperoncino but you can reduce the quantities if you prefer!
Lasagna with poached salmon and asparagus.
Lasagne al forno is a must for many Italians at Christmas. This version with poached salmon and asparagus is a perfect seafood pasta recipe for meatless days and special occasions. It’s much lighter than traditional Lasagna with Bolognese.
Spaghetti with Baccalà (salt cod).
Baccalà is very traditional at Christmas both here in Veneto and in the South, although it’s prepared in different ways. This is a Sicilian recipe which can be served as two courses. The sauce with pasta and the salt cod separately with potatoes.
(Just click the title to go to the recipe posts)
Smoked trout carbonara.
Based on a recipe from a Michelin star restaurant by Lake Garda, this contemporary carbonara recipe is one that I actually served last New Year. My guests loved it and yours will too!
Spaghetti with mussels alla Tarantina
The Southern Italian region of Puglia is famous for its mussels, particularly those from Taranto. If you like mussels you will love this recipe which can also be served without pasta and chunks of bread instead!
Pasta with scallops and citrus fruit
This is a seafood pasta recipe I posted here on The Pasta Project just a few days ago. Scallops are a favourite seafood in Italy at Christmas and New Year. This is a divinely delicious recipe that's very easy to make.
(Just click the title to go to the recipe posts)
Conchiglioni pasta shells with tuna and ricotta.
Baked pasta shells is another traditional pasta holiday dish, especially on days of fasting or abstinence. However, normally the shells are filled with spinach and ricotta and baked in a tomato sauce. This version is one I served at my Christmas party last year. Because the pasta isn’t cooked in a lot of sauce these conchiglioni can even be eaten as finger food!
Farfalle with smoked salmon and zucchini.
I’ve included this recipe because it’s one of the most popular here on The Pasta Project. Although smoked salmon is not a traditional Italian ingredient, lots of Italians like to eat it on special occasions and their favourite way to eat it is with pasta!
Busiate with bottarga, prawns and almonds.
There are so many wonderful Sicilian seafood pasta recipes but this one is special. Made with Sicilian Busiate pasta, bottarga (tuna roe), red prawns and almonds. This recipe is a real taste of Sicily!
La Calamarata from Campania.
Another traditional Neapolitan seafood pasta recipe that is perfect for the holidays is La Calamarata. This dish is made with calamari (squid) and a type of pasta also called calamarata. This pasta actually looks like calamari rings, hence the name. Another pretty simple recipe that looks and tastes fantastic.
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Tell me what you think!
If you make any of these seafood recipes have a look at our other Christmas pasta recipes too. Also, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Did your guests like it? Please write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon Appetito and Merry Christmas!
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Nha hang Van Chai Vinh says
I love seafood pasta, try to do it. thanks for sharing.
Poonam says
Am totally confused which one to select for Christmas. All of these pasta recipes seems yummy. Need your help which one will you suggest for Indian taste buds as am from India.
Jacqui says
Thank you Poonam! I'm not sure what seafood is popular in India, but I can imagine you would like the spaghetti with scallops and citrus fruit or perhaps the calamarata with calamari (squid). Do let me know if you try one!
Renu says
Each and every pasta dish is so so tempting. I specially loved the lasagna and the farfale. Yum.
Krista Price says
Holy moly. That smoked trout carbornara is really calling my name, but I wouldn't turn down any of these dishes! I can tell you put a lot of love into creating all of these recipes! I'm sending this to my boyfriend's mother -she LOVES seafood and pasta, so this round up is totally for her.
Kelly Anthony says
What a great collection of pasta recipes. They all look amazing but the spaghetti with mussels alla Tarantin caught my eye and I'm going to be making this dish very soon.
April says
If I were to choose my TOP-3 from this list, it would be pasta with scallops and citrus fruit, linguine alle vongole and smoked trout carbonara. The last one must be magical! I just love the idea of having fish and seafood for Christmas!