The Tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes

Holiday traditions help promote unity, community and give identity to cultures that help spread the joy each year. The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes stems from 20th-century Italian-American immigrants who—homesick for the land they left behind—combined classic Italian dishes with seafood. The sea was a representation of the connection between their home country and their new one. The tradition allows for a lot of adaptability; different families tend to have different types of seafood or dishes passed down from generation to generation. A family can change the seafood every year with new dishes added depending on who makes what. Looking for ideas to start a new tradition or need inspiration to change up your families’ dishes? Here is a list of recipes to help you celebrate this special tradition!

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Although it’s mainly associated with Middle America and the 1950s housewife, the earliest printed recipes for tuna casserole appeared two decades earlier in the Pacific Northwest and has been a staple in kitchens around the world since then! With vegetables like mushrooms and onions, our Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is a well-balanced entrée for any family gathering.

Shrimp Cakes

Banh tom, or shrimp cakes, are thought to have become common in the 1930s when small street vendors began congregating along Thanh Nien Street, a road that separates West Lake (Tây Hồ) and Trúc Bạch Lake. These cakes are rich in flavor and are great to pair with other dishes due to the versatilities of what you can mix with them. Our recipe for Shrimp Cakes pairs the dish with Lemon Aioli, which is sure to be a family favorite!

Scallops With Pasta and Romesco Sauce

Scallops are often referred to as the candy of the sea. This is because of their mild, sweet flavor, for which they are highly prized. Scallops have a tender, buttery texture similar to that of crab and lobster. Pairing scallops with a familiar dish in pasta gives more life (and flavor) to the meal. Our Scallops with Pasta recipe would be a great option for children who are unsure about branching out and trying fish.

Salmon With Cilantro Quinoa and Pine Nuts

Salmon has rightfully become a staple on the Christmas table—whether it’s for a decadent breakfast or as an alternative to roast meat. Salmon is a tender, mild-flavored fish for the most part, depending on the type of salmon on your plate. Our recipe for Salmon with Cilantro Quinoa gives a healthier option at the dinner table and would be great for a family member who is vegan or vegetarian!

Crab Rangoon with Wonton Chips

It consists of cream cheese, sometimes sweetened, plus usually, very small bits of imitation crab, stuffed into a wonton wrapper (or chips, like in our recipe) and deep-fried, served with a syrupy, neon sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. It is essentially deep-fried cheesecake with fake crab in it—as sweet as any dessert but is usually served as an appetizer. This is a classic dish that would be a perfect nightcap after a large feast!

Gia Russa Cioppino

Brimming with fresh seafood in a tomato and wine broth that tastes like the sea, Cioppino is a delicious Italian-American fish stew. This unique dish is popular along the West Coast and could stand out immensely in a sea of other dishes due to having just a bit of everything. Our recipe includes sea bass, baby shrimp, mussels, clams, lobster, and much more! This would be a great starter dish to figure out likes and dislikes, before hopping into main entrées!

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