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.
Pin for later.
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!
Pin for Later!
Andrea Metlika says
They all look and sound amazing! Think we might have the 10 days of Christmas this year.
Emma says
Just wow. This whole list looks delicious. I don't know which one to start with!!!
Amy | The Cook Report says
What a great collection, I especially love the idea of using salmon in lasagne!
Pam Greer says
Pinned so that I can work my way through them all! I don't even know where to begin, they all sound so wonderful!
Amanda says
Oh, yum! The hard part is picking a recipe. Everything sounds so delicious. I guess I'll just have to make my way through the list.
Kathi says
Smoked Trout Carbonara has my heart! Wonder if I could use smoked salmon which is plentiful here in Seattle...Lox maybe? Would that be bad? I love lox! :).
Chef Mireille says
my Mom's best friend is Italian and I have many times participated in their Christmas Eve festivities and all of these dishes look so good!
Jacqui says
Thank you Mireille! I love all these recipes. Seafood pasta is so yummy! Here in Northern Italy people celebrate more on Christmas day. In the South, Christmas eve is the more important celebration. My hubby is Sicilian, so we often do both!
Bev says
I love, love, love this compilation of pasta. I love learning about holiday traditions in other countries so it would be lots of fun to make one of these pasta dishes this year for New Years!
Jacqui says
Thanks so much Bev! I'm sure any of these recipes will be delicious for New Years! Do let me know if you make one.
Linda says
Wow! I need to add spending Christmas in Italy to my bucket list, and I will be one very happy gal with pasta and cheese. Really, it's hard to pick a favorite here but I will start with smoked salmon first.
Jacqui says
I'm sure you'd love Christmas in Italy Linda! Traditions vary from region to region but there's always great food and wonderful decorations!
Michelle Minnaar says
The smoked trout carbonara sounds like it would be a fav in my house, just love this list!
Jacqui says
Grazie dear Michelle! I love making the smoked trout carbonara on special occasions. My family and guests love it, so am sure yours would too!
Alicia says
The Conchiglioni looks so tasty! We love salmon in our house, so the lasagne with salmon and asparagus is up first!
Jacqui says
Thank you Alicia, Both are really divine recipes. I love the combination of poached salmon and asparagus in the lasagna. I'm sure you will really enjoy it!
Anna Hettick says
I think my favorite is the Farfalle with smoked salmon and zucchini. I love making something besides the traditional Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner on Christmas. Great choices here for pasta as an option!
Jacqui says
Thanks so much Anna. Happy you like this round up. The farfalle recipe is one I've made a number of times and is very popular with my visitors. I'm sure you'll love it if you make it!
Nicole Triebe says
All of these look incredible! Can I come over for the holidays?!?
Jacqui says
haha, always a place at our table for fellow foodies Nicole! Happy you like the recipes!
Stine Mari says
Interesting to see how different Christmas is in various cultures! All these pasta dishes look amazing!
Jacqui says
I agree Stine! I grew up in UK where Christmas traditions are so different to Italy! I love that here every region has its own traditions so when we spend Christmas in Sicily (My hubby is Sicilian) it's totally different to Christmas here in Veneto where we live!
Gloria says
WOW...what a great selection of delicious dishes. I would want to eat them all. You can never go wrong with seafood and pasta...loved by all.
Jacqui says
Thanks Gloria! I agree seafood with pasta is so delicious! Certainly all Italians love it!
Georgie @ The Home Cook's Kitchen says
these all look amazing! It's my life dream to go to Italy and learn how to make pasta properly! This is a great recipe round up!
Jacqui says
Grazie dear Georgie! Making pasta isn't that difficult but learning in Italy is obviously a fabulous experience! One i'm sure you'd love!
Taylor W. says
Such yummy recipes! That Farfalle with smoked salmon and zucchini is calling my name!
Jacqui says
Thanks Taylor! That farfalle recipe is a real winner! Hope you try it!
Stephanie says
Such yummy looking ways to switch up pasta. Perfect for special occasions or just a big bowl of comfort food.
Jacqui says
Thanks so much Stephanie! I agree seafood with pasta is great for special occasions!
Suzy says
All of these look absolutely delicious! The farfale with smoked salmon is calling my name
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
What delicious dishes these are! I love seafood pasta so will have to give some of these a try!