I prefer the Christmas celebration to be on Christmas Eve, it is called La Vigilia (the Vigil) in Italian.
In Sicily, as in many parts of Italy, the Christmas Eve celebration is deeply rooted in Catholicism and tradition, of fasting and abstaining from meat. One of the most cherished customs is sharing a festive meal with family and friends on La Vigilia. This meal features fish, and/ or vegetarian content.
I originally wrote this post on December 20, 2012, to share the types of Sicilian fish dishes I might cook here in Australia on Christmas Eve (or during the festive period).
The traditions and recipes are just as relevant today and I still cook them, so I’m bringing it back to the spotlight for another festive season!
CHRISTMAS RECIPES with a Sicilian theme and “Feast of the Seven Fishes.”
The photos below are from Fish Markets in Sicily – Catania, Syracuse and Palermo. Three of these photos were included in my book, Sicilian Seafood Cooking (Published 2011).
Below are some excellent photographs of the food I cooked in my very small kitchen. The credit goes to the New Holland photographer, Graeme Gillies, and the food stylist Fiona Rigg – their team work and attention to detail is obvious when you look at the photos of the food.
The link below includes many Sicilian recipes of fish. See recipes for:
TONNO CUNZATO – Raw Marinated Tuna
RAVIOLI DI RICOTTA CU NIURU DI SICCI – Ricotta Ravioli With Black Ink Sauce
RISO CON GLI ANGELI – Rice with angels
SPAGHETTI CON L ’ARAGOSTA – Spaghetti with crayfish
CALAMARETTI RIPIENI CON MARSALA E MANDORLE – Stuffed calamari with fresh cheese, almonds and nutmeg braised in marsala
PESCE INFORNATO CON PATATE – Baked fish with potatoes, vinegar and anchovies
A SEAFOOD CHRISTMAS Feast with Fran Kelly; RADIO NATIONAL BREAKFAST PROGRAMME