Page 7 - North Haven Magazine Issue 36 Holiday 2024

Baccalá I Dolci (and now for the Deserts)
A salted cod-type white fish, baccalá is We cannot forget dessert! What would a
about as close to sacred as a holiday dish traditional Italian American Christmas Eve
can get. It is traditionally prepared by first feast be without those delicious deserts?
soaking it in the kitchen sink for multiple Mussels For days leading up to Christmas, there is
nights leading up to the Christmas Eve For some Italian families, a massive pot of so much activity at home preparing and
feast. This practice of reconstituting the mussels is as inextricably linked to Christ- baking the many varieties of cookies that
dried fish pulls out just enough of the mas as Santa Claus himself. Whether pre- everyone loves. So many of us like to make
saltiness to make it palatable before it is pared as part of a cioppino-style seafood beautiful and delicious care packages to
either fried or sautéed with capers and stew, delicately dressed with a light to- give to our friends and family who will not
onions or made into a salad. mato sauce or steamed with white wine, be joining us for the big holiday feast.
garlic, herbs, and butter, mussels can be “Struffoli” are little balls of fried dough
a communal experience that perfectly en- covered in honey and sprinkles and are
capsulates a loud, boisterous holiday din- considered a Neapolitan dessert. Oth-
ner scene. ers include “mostaccioli” and “roccocò,”
Lobster which are types of cookies, and “pan-
doro” and “panettone”, which are sweet
We saved the best for last. The most dec- breads. Pignoli cookies, anginettes, al-
adent of all seafood options, lobster is re- mond paste cookies, almond biscotti, etc.
gal enough to be the centerpiece of your
Feast of the Seven Fishes. The buttery and
supple flesh can be enjoyed straight from
the steamed shell, as part of the cioppi-
no-style seafood stew, prepared as the
classically piquant lobster fra diavolo or
stuffed with a mix of breadcrumbs, spices,
crabmeat and other ingredients for a truly
indulgent take on the ultimate Christmas
Scungilli & Calamari main course.
Conch—or in reality, a giant sea snail— Other Fish
can be applied in multiple ways during While the fish mentioned above are the
your Feast of the Seven Fishes. The two most common, there are other varieties
most popular ways are in a chilled seafood that are just as delicious such as:
salad (with calamari, octopus, baccalá,
shrimp and more) or in a cioppino-style Octopus (may be used in fish sauce, be part
seafood stew. of a seafood salad or grilled).
Use calamari either in a chilled seafood Fried Eel (capitone fritto or fried eel) is one This is just a glimpse into the variety of
salad (Inslata di Mare) or fry it to crispy of the most popular choices in Italy. While dishes southern Italian families will spend
perfection and serve with a side of mari- eel is almost unheard of in the US outside hours preparing ahead of Christmas Eve
nara sauce for dipping. Either way, do not sushi circles, there is a good reason for its dinner. Each family has its own fish dish-
be afraid of the tentacles—arguably the popularity: eel has a meaty flavor and firm es and ways of cooking them, as well as
best and most desired part of this sea- texture that even the most fish-phobic the delicious cookies and other desserts.
food. eater can enjoy—if only they would give However, one thing is for certain: Italian
it a try.) American families have never forgotten
their traditions and the joy of being with
Shrimp (used in either fish sauce, seafood family on this incredibly special holiday.
salad or cocktail) To all of my Italian American friends and

Of course, we all say the same thing be- family and to everyone from all of the dif-
ferent nationalities and traditions, it is my
fore we sit down to have our traditional hope that your holidays are safe and joy-
Italian American Christmas dinner: “This ous for you and your families.
year I’m not going to overdo it and watch
Seafood sauce or Crab sauce, which can what I eat.” We happily break that prom-
ise because it is a traditional Italian Christ-
be lovingly ladled over spaghetti or lin- mas Eve dinner with family and there is Buon Natale!
guine, is an absolutely delicious way to nothing more special and satisfying.
have our pasta on Christmas Eve.

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