In many parts of the world, it's a tradition to serve seafood at Christmas. The most classic is the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, which—as the name suggests—involves a spread of seven seafood dishes.
Whether you're inspired by the cuisine of Italy, happen to live by the coast, or just enjoy ingredients from the sea, this elegant Christmas dinner menu is a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday with friends and family.
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Flaky Biscuits
Howard Shooter-Dorling Kindersley-Getty Images
Flaky dinner biscuits are fabulous for dipping into seafood chowders and soaking up sauces. This easy recipe for classic buttery biscuits is just about foolproof—you can even make a batch in just over 30 minutes.
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Buttery Garlic Crab Bruschetta
Westend61-Getty Images
Bruschetta—a popular Italian appetizer made from grilled bread drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with garlic—makes a great party starter. This wildly delicious seafood bruschetta features plenty of garlic, butter, and sweet, succulent crabmeat.
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Easy Butter and Herb Baked Oysters
Diana Rattray
Easy baked oysters are a fancy appetizer that's sure to impress. A little lemon juice adds zing to fresh, briny bivalves in the shell, and the buttery herb crumb topping makes these starters restaurant-worthy.
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Stuffed Mushrooms With Clams
Diana Rattray
These bite-sized stuffed mushrooms call for adding minced clams to the classic combo of breadcrumbs, parsley and garlic stuffing. They're cute, delicious, and perfect for wowing your holiday guests!
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Fried Calamari
Rarin Arnamnart-EyeEm-Getty Images
Fried calamari is one of the tastiest and most popular of Italian seafood appetizers. In an impressive first course, rings of tender squid are battered, fried until golden and crispy, and served with sea salt and lemon wedges for squeezing.
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Fennel, Grapefruit and Arugula Salad
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This bright, refreshing salad has a unique mix of flavors and textures that pair exceptionally well with a seafood. Juicy, sweet-tart grapefruit is balanced by peppery arugula, creamy avocado, and crisp, aromatic fennel, all tossed in a super simple olive oil and grapefruit juice dressing.
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Kale Salad With Grated Cheese and Lemon Dressing
Jennifer Meier
Dark, leafy greens are wonderful for enjoying in winter salads. In this simple, yet elegant salad, thinly-sliced raw kale combines with walnut and olive oils, plus Parmesan cheese for a light first course that's a great way to kick off an indulgent Christmas meal.
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Pear and Greens Salad
Gentl and Hyers-Photodisc-Getty Images
Late fall and winter are ideal seasons for sweet and juicy pears, and this restaurant-worthy salad is a great way to use the fruit at its peak. You'll love the combination of tender pears, slightly bitter greens, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts in a sweet celery-seed vinaigrette.
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Crispy Garlic Parmesan Croutons
Joff Lee-Photolibrary-Getty Images
Making your own croutons can upgrade everything from salads to creamy chowders. This easy recipe was created to garnish a Caesar salad, but it's fantastic for finishing seafood stews, too.
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Lobster Bisque
Annabelle Breakey-Photolibrary-Getty Images
A rich and creamy lobster bisque is sure to earn rave reviews. The aromatic stew is a special-occasion bowl that can be served in small portions as a fancy first course at Christmas dinner.
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Crockpot Fisherman's Stew (Cioppino)
Alexandra Grablewski-Digital Vision-Getty Images
Cioppino, a hearty Italian fisherman's stew brimming with both shellfish and fish, is ideal for serving as an entree. Using your slow cooker results in tender seafood and a deep, complex broth without taking up any precious stovetop space.
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Italian-Style Whole Roasted Fish in Herbs
Philippe Desnerck-Getty Images
Wow your guests when you come out of the kitchen carrying a whole roasted fish with herbs on a platter (just like they do at special meals in Italy!). This fish entree is surprisingly easy to make and it never fails to impress.
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Lobster Pie with Mushrooms
Diana Rattray
Puff pastry-topped lobster pie is a special way to take a classic dish to the next level. Fancy and comforting all at once, this is definitely a show-stopping entree for your holiday table.
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Pan Seared Halibut Recipe With Wine Sauce
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Halibut is a meaty fish that takes on an incredible flavor when it's seared. This recipe for pan-seared halibut with red wine reduction sauce is satisfying, yet light at the same time. The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container.
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Shrimp Scampi
Lauri Patterson-E+-Getty Images
Shrimp scampi is a beloved Italian-American dish. Fresh, garlicky shrimp in white wine sauce is as quick and easy to make as they are enticing to a crowd. Serve with hot cooked pasta for a great entree idea at your Christmas seafood dinner.
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Pasta With Garlic and Cheese
Veronika Studer-Stocksy United
Teeming with garlic and cheese, this seven-ingredient (five if you don't count salt and pepper) pasta recipe can be used as a base for shrimp scampi, or an elegant side that pairs well with roasted or pan-seared fish.
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Roasted Broccoli Rabe
Molly Watson
Broccoli rabe, also called rapini, takes on a deeper flavor and a pleasantly crispy texture when roasted. Serve the tender, browned stalks as a side dish for cooked fish dishes. You can also sprinkle these roasted greens atop seafood chowders and soups for added texture.
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Maple Glazed Roast Parsnips
Think Vegetables
Roasted parsnips have a naturally sweet flavor that is welcome at a holiday dinner. A simple glaze made with maple syrup gives this nutritious vegetable side dish a tempting golden brown color. Sesame seeds are sprinkled over the top of the dish for the last five minutes of baking, for added crunch and visual interest.
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No-Cook Tiramisu Dessert
J. R. Photography-Stocksy United
In this classic tiramisu, layers of sherry-soaked sponge cake, custard sauce, and fruit-flavored gelatin are topped with whipped cream. It's the perfect sweet ending to an Italian-inspired seafood feast.
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Easy Orange Liqueur Cake
Miki Duisterhof-Getty Images
Citrus is an ideal complement to seafood and this liqueur-infused cake is packed with fruity, boozy flavor and finished with a delectable buttery orange glaze.