There’s something magical about the eve before Christmas. It’s a night for staying in before a Christmas Day feast and enjoying a special meal that celebrates the start of the holidays. It’s a heartfelt time to enjoy a romantic, home-cooked dinner, especially if any little ones are tucked up waiting for Santa. For others, it’s the perfect opportunity to sit down with family and perhaps close friends, to enjoy good times and amazing food.
There are so many Christmas morning breakfast ideas to start the day in style that a lighter yet still gourmet meal the night before often appeals. Before you focus on ways to give Brussels sprouts a serious flavor boost and roasting turkey, consider this important meal, too. You no doubt will welcome a less intense time in the kitchen.
Celebrate with a seafood supper. Indulge in some simple yet luxurious fish dishes for a festive Christmas Eve dinner.
- Walnut And Sage-Crusted Salmon
Feta Topalu/Mashed
Walnuts and sage add a wild, almost romantic essence to this baked salmon dish. It certainly feels special enough for a quiet, cozy night with a nice dinner before a day of family and feasting. The nuts add a festive crunch to the crusted fish that contrasts with the just-cooked texture of the salmon.
Covering the fillet with melted butter with maple syrup, garlic, and Dijon mustard, along with the fresh herb leaves, creates a warm, sweet, slightly spiced, and citrusy subtlety. Serve with asparagus and sous vide mashed potatoes.
Recipe: Walnut And Sage-Crusted Salmon
- 5-Ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
Catherine Brookes/Mashed
With a stacked fridge for Christmas Day dinner the night before, it was simple. Chilled salmon fillets are perfect with a gorgeous sweet and salty glaze with a little heat.
Whisk brown sugar, mustard, and black pepper with soy sauce. Add a few red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to make this a six-ingredient recipe. Add this sauce with care so that it completely covers the fish. And do so once the fillets are laid out on parchment paper and ready to go in the oven.
Recipe: 5-Ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
- Lemon-Herb Steamed Salmon
Christina Musgrave/Mashed
With a blow-out day of indulgence to follow, light, luxurious-tasting fare is ideal for Christmas Eve. The citrusy, aromatic flavors and gentle texture of this steamed salmon dish taste beautifully delicate.
Add a single fillet of fish to parchment paper in a heavy-bottomed pan. To give it flavor, season and add butter, lemon slices, parsley, and lemon thyme. What makes the difference is the steaming. Add veg stock to the salmon so it’s surrounded but not submerged. Close the lid and open it 10 minutes later to a tender piece of fish.
Recipe: Lemon-Herb Steamed Salmon
- White Wine Seared Swai Fish
Feta Topalu/Mashed
The secret to a special-tasting fish dish is knowing the right techniques. This dish is quick to create in one pan on the stove, and yet it’s one of the most luxurious fish dishes for a festive Christmas Eve dinner.
Only fry the fillets for a couple of minutes on each side so that they cook, yet don’t dry out. Let the wine reduce after briefly sautéeing garlic in butter before adding the lemon juice and capers. Cover the swai with the sauce as it warms through.
Recipe: White Wine Seared Swai Fish
- Simple Grilled Swordfish
Ksenia Prints/Mashed
The distinct, meaty taste of swordfish makes for a fantastic alternative to a heavy steak. It’s especially welcome if you’re planning a big meal the next day with roast turkey or baked ham. The best way to cook this thick piece of fish is in a cast iron grill pan. That way, you’ll get those mouthwatering charred marks that create texture and improve the taste magnificently.
Less is more in terms of other ingredients. Olive oil, butter, and lemon juice create a buttery citrus sauce, with parsley and garlic completing the flavor.
Recipe: Simple Grilled Swordfish
- Pan-Seared Grouper With Lemon-Garlic Sauce
Ksenia Prints/Mashed
Luxury food isn’t always about fancy ingredients. Sometimes, it’s enough to cook with produce that you don’t eat that often. Likely, pan-seared grouper isn’t a dish you make regularly. That makes it a perfect choice when deciding between luxurious fish dishes for a festive Christmas Eve dinner.
If you’ve never tried it before, it’s fairly firm, so you don’t have to be on point with cooking times, or it’s ruined. The taste is mild, too, so what better way to lift the flavor than a punchy lemon and garlic sauce?
Recipe: Pan-Seared Grouper With Lemon-Garlic Sauce
- Slow-Baked Salmon And Citrus Butter
Kate Shungu/Mashed
If you’re the Christmas Eve chef, then you might enjoy announcing this fish dish as you serve it. Slow-baked salmon with citrus butter sure beats fish sticks when it comes to a luxurious main course.
Imagine how sublimely succulent the fish will taste when cooked at a low temperature. Compound butter with the zest of lemon, lime, and orange promises a knockout flavor. Make enough of this buttery log for more seafood dinners over the holidays. Half slices of lemon add a dinner-party look to your dish, too.
Recipe: Slow-Baked Salmon And Citrus Butter
- Pan-Seared Swordfish
Susan Olayinka/Mashed
Take the pressure off on December 24th with a simple seafood supper that still feels special. Swordfish is a wonderfully robust fish, so it’s not going to turn into fragile flakes once pan-fried. It doesn’t have an overpowering fishy taste, though, which suits a lot of different palates.
What adds to the deliciousness of this dish is soaking the steaks in milk before frying to tenderize them. After seasoning, fry in olive oil, and be mindful of not overcooking as you don’t want them to dry out. Serve with a generous squirt of fresh lemon.
Recipe: Pan-Seared Swordfish
- Garlic Butter Baked Flounder
Christina Musgrave/Mashed
When flaky fish sticks to a skillet, it can be a challenge to pry it off. You can’t get away with the fact that baking flounder fillets in the oven is way easier. A good tip is to add them to greased parchment paper to keep your baking tray free of stuck-on bits.
What takes this simple meal to a whole other level is the lavish garlic butter with fresh basil and parsley. What about serving this dish with lemon slices, more basil, and a citrusy pasta side?
Recipe: Garlic Butter Baked Flounder
- Crusted Baked Red Snapper
Christina Musgrave/Mashed
If you can, use panko for this crusted baked red snapper. The super-crunchy topping is mouthwateringly awesome against the succulent softness of this appetizing fish. Without any seasonings, you’re not going to get as flavorful a result. So brown the panko, or breadcrumbs, if that’s what you’re using, in melted butter with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. The crumbs should stick to the top of the fillets easily.
If you want to push the boat out for a fancier meal, pair the golden-crumbed fish with a citrusy white wine sauce.
Credit: www.mashed.com