Christina's Cucina

An impassioned Italian Scot sharing how to cook authentically, and travel with enthusiasm.

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Home » Course or Meal » Authentic Italian Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Recipes

Authentic Italian Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Recipes

December 8th, 2018 | 28 Comments

These authentic Italian Christmas Eve and Christmas Day recipes will help you to plan a holiday just like my Nonna Chiarina used to have.

Serving of Zuppa Inglese

Originally published December 16, 2016.

The following Italian dishes are the types of food my southern Italian family (some of whom are now all over the globe) makes at Christmastime, both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

They may not be exactly the same as other southern Italian families’ recipes, but I can assure you one thing: they are authentic. Nonna taught my mother how to make most of these recipes, and my mother taught me. I hope you enjoy them and find something to add to your Christmastime menu. Maybe you can even introduce some dishes to start an Italian tradition in your own home. Buon Natale!

Click on the photos for the recipe.

Italian Christmas Eve Dishes

As is the tradition in Italy, the Christmas Eve meal consists mainly of seafood and no meat. Often called Feast of the Seven Fishes (Cena della Vigilia).

Insalata di Baccalà ~ Salt Cod Salad

Insalata di Baccala Salad

Deep Fried, Battered Salt Cod ~ Very delicious!

Fried salt cod

Spaghetti with Anchovies ~ Super quick and easy recipe

spaghetti with anchovies

Oven-Baked Fish -White fish topped with tomatoes, breadcrumbs and spashed with vinegar, this is a super easy yet delicious seafood dish.

Oven baked fish on a plate

Linguine and clams – Nonna didn’t make this, but families nearer the coast would (spaghetti alle vongole).

Linguine and clams

Frittelle ~ called many different ways, these are Italian style Christmas doughnuts

Frittelle: Italian Christmas Eve Doughnuts

Christmas Day Dishes

Lupini with Olives ~ Super healthy and nutritious snack

lupini beans with olives

Chicken Soup with Grattini all Uovo ~ Homemade pasta for soup

Grattini all uovo in chicken soup

Cioffe ~ Light and crispy fried ribbons of slightly sweetened pastry.

Italian Christmas cioffe

Cicerchiata ~ Cioffe, made and served in a different style.

Cicerchiata Italian Christmas

Pizzelle ~ Crisp, flat pastries made in a special pizzelle iron.

Pizzelle by Christina's Cucina

Zuppa Inglese ~ A no bake dessert made from biscuits/cookies.

Christina's Zuppa Inglese for an Italian Christmas

Panettone~ A very traditional lightly sweetened yeast bread. No Italian Christmas is complete without this classic Italian bread which is almost like a cake.

Panettone made in bread machine and cooked in the oven for an Italian Christmas

Ceppo di Natale or Tronchetto di Natale ~A Yule Log

yule log with pine needles

Zuccotto ~ a pumpkin shaped dessert that is lined with sponge cake and filled with cream.

Zuccotto on a cake plate

I’ll keep adding to this post as I publish more authentic recipes for the holidays, so check back every now and then.

If you’ll be doing any gift buying, check out my Amazon shop and my gift list for foodies and travelers.

Thank you!

Christina’s Amazon Shop

Here is my 2020 Gift Guide with a focus on small business.

 

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Appetizers, Course or Meal, Cuisine, Desserts, Italian, Main Courses · Christmas, Italian

Reader Interactions

28 Responses

  1. Jacqueline C Pizzimenti says:
    May 15, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    I have been making the seven fishes Christmas Eve Dinner, for about 53 years now. I am not Italian, born an American with Irish & Polish Ancestry. Who happens to love Italian cooking. Our grandchildren are American born with Italian Ancestry added by their grandfather, and they love Christmas Eve. “Sometimes, they think of themselves as more Italian, which I try to explain is not nice.” They have the good from each culture, and should never forget that! Always be proud of your Ancestries, some had it hardier than others! I have raised my children and grandchildren to enjoy, Irish cooking, Polish cooking and Italian cooking. Along with many other types of food. Now our great grandbabies will enjoy the same types of food. Already they are leaning to Italian food, Pastina, Pasta Fagioli & Lentils with pasta, and they are only 4yrs old and 1yrs old. The one month old of course is too small to eat food yet. Like you, I enjoy cooking, love to see people eat and enjoy the food. I have to admit I enjoyed your page and the different desserts. I love lupini beans and always have since childhood.

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      November 25, 2021 at 5:39 pm

      Oh Jacqueline, I am so incredibly sorry I didn’t respond to your lovely comment earlier! I see by the date that I went to visit my parents for the first time since the pandemic started, and must have missed it due to traveling.

      I am delighted that you love Italian food so much! That’s such a wonderful thing to read about your whole family following suit! I agree, though, one’s own heritage is so important and must not be forgotten or tossed aside. :)

      Thank you for you message and again, I apologize that I didn’t see it until now! Happy Thanksgiving!

      Christina

      Reply
  2. David says:
    December 15, 2018 at 5:33 am

    So many wonderful treats here, but right now – sitting by the fire – the soup sounds irresistible!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      December 15, 2018 at 8:27 am

      Thanks, David!

      Reply
  3. Cyn M. says:
    December 11, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    I want to eat them all! Do you deliver?

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      December 11, 2018 at 10:05 pm

      Depends how much you’re willing to pay! haha!

      Reply
  4. Jill Colonna says:
    December 9, 2018 at 10:00 am

    I love when you share all of these delicious looking Italian traditional recipes. Many of them I’ve heard of, some I’ve tried and the rest I need to learn! Thanks for sharing such wonderful recipes for a real Italian Christmas, Christina.

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      December 9, 2018 at 10:26 pm

      You’re so welcome, Jill! :)

      Reply
  5. Frittelle: Traditional Italian Christmas Eve Doughnuts - Christina's Cucina says:
    December 23, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    […] Authentic Italian Christmas Eve Dishes […]

    Reply
  6. Lupini Beans and Olives, An Italian Christmas Tradition (How to Cook & Eat Lupini) - Christina's Cucina says:
    December 2, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    […] Interested in other traditional Italian dishes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Just click the following photo or this link. […]

    Reply
  7. David says:
    December 21, 2016 at 12:00 am

    What fun, Christine! I know many of these but am glad for a few new ones to try! Happy Christmas!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      December 2, 2017 at 9:43 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. Frittelle: Traditional Italian Christmas Eve Doughnuts - Christina's Cucina says:
    December 23, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    […] Authentic Italian Christmas Eve Dishes […]

    Reply
  2. Lupini Beans and Olives, An Italian Christmas Tradition (How to Cook & Eat Lupini) - Christina's Cucina says:
    December 2, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    […] Interested in other traditional Italian dishes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Just click the following photo or this link. […]

    Reply

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Meet Christina

A Scottish Italian cook living in Los Angeles, Christina is usually cooking, baking or (cr)eating something scrumptious. When she isn't in the kitchen, she loves to travel, near and far, as long as good food is involved. Christina is on a mission to save authentic Italian dishes from extinction, and is constantly promoting Scottish (and British) food as some of the best cuisine the world has to offer—one steak pie and sticky toffee pudding at a time.



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