Just in case you're planning a multi-fish extravaganza for Christmas eve and are still trying to decide what to make, here are some ideas to whet your appetite. I've made all of these in years past, and most of them will be on my table again this year, including this spaghetti ai frutti di mare. It was a favorite last Christmas eve, so it makes the cut again for this year. I'll serve it following the hors d'oeuvres that will be mostly fished-based, except for a couple of dishes for the vegetarians present. It's always a juggling act trying to balance the numerous pots on the burners and dishes in the oven, so that none of them is overcooked (or undercooked.)
So I make sure I have a few things that can be made ahead of time, including this favorite of
baccalà mantecato with grilled polenta that we'll eat before dinner while sipping prosecco.
My dad arrives with these codfish cakes. They reheat very well in the oven, maintaining their crunchy exterior. We'll munch on these before dinner too.
If you think you don't like octopus, you haven't tried my Octopus and potato salad. It's almost like eating lobster, especially if you peel the octopus and trim away the "suction cups" after cooking. Get the largest octopus you can find in order to get nice chunky pieces.
If I weren't making the spaghetti ai frutti di mari, I might be making this dish with squid:
Some years, I've skipped the pasta and made this dish instead:
Seafood Risotto
But if there's one dish that absolutely must be on our Christmas eve table, it's this one. My son has taken over the preparation of this and has become quite adept at it:
Too many dishes with tomato sauce can make for a lopsided menu, but if stuffed squid's not your thing, make it easy on yourself and try this swordfish in tomato and caper sauce.
Last year, I added this dish to the menu and everyone loved it. It can be made ahead of time and baked right before serving - swordfish involtini
And if you manage to have a taste of all these dishes, by the end of the evening, you might want to have this hand
Buon Natale a tutti.
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