The best for holidays and during Lent. 15 fish dishes for the New Year and Christmas

Christmas, Holy Eve is a time of religious rites, symbols and delicious dishes, both lean and “generous”. However, it is important that fish should be present in every version of the celebration.

Unlike Easter, the Christmas fast is not so strict. During Lent, you need to give up a whole list of products. Instead, during the Christmas fasting period (lasts until December 24) there is a ban only on meat, dairy products and eggs. But you can eat fish on specific days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and you are also allowed to drink wine. After Saint Nicholas Day (December 6) and until December 18, fish and wine are allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays. And on December 19-23, fish and wine are strictly prohibited. And only with the advent of Christmas Eve, the Christmas fast ends.

Why is fish so important? Ichthyo (Greek ἰχϑύς) is a part of complex words meaning “fish”, also a cryptonym of I.XTIOS, which is deciphered as “Jesus Christ the Son of God” and in Christianity denotes the symbol of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is quite logical to celebrate the birth of Christ with fish dishes. For example, it can be fried and stewed fish with vegetables, cutlets, krucheniki and salads, fish dragles and other dishes. On Holy Eve, you can also prepare fish soup or serve ordinary marinated herring. We have prepared for you a selection of dishes that will be easy to prepare, but they will look stunning on the table. Also, if you’re a pescetarian, prefer lighter meals, or just prefer fish, try something from the selection below.

Carp in sour cream: a recipe for a dish for Christmas

A beautiful, fully baked fish will show off on your festive table and create an incredible aroma thanks to a special preparation in sour cream.

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Butter with herring: an interesting appetizer for the New Year’s table

Try this spread instead of the usual butter and surprise your guests with interesting flavors

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Red fish with spinach and cream cheese in puff pastry: a recipe for winter holidays

Wrap the festive table in a beautiful tablecloth, and its taste in exquisite festive dishes, like this red fish in dough. Note also that its preparation is not difficult at all, so go ahead and taste it.

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Fish dragles: a recipe for jelly for the winter holidays

Kholoets or dragli is a special dish that some people hate and others adore. No matter which type you belong to, this fish recipe will conquer you.

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Herring cutlets: a recipe for authentic Odesa cutlets for the winter holidays

Fragrant fish slices will be a great addition to the Christmas table during Lent. Try to cook this Odessa specialty from herring.

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Borscht with catfish: a recipe from the Kherson region to celebrate the winter holidays in a delicious way

Fish borscht is not uncommon in Ukraine. They are prepared in many regions, especially in coastal regions. So enjoy it on Christmas Eve with your family.

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Fish for Christmas Eve: a recipe for baked with vegetables and cheese

Cooking fish will be easier with this recipe. There is just fillet, just cheese and just vegetables – all so that with a minimum of effort you can keep an extremely juicy and tasty result.

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Fish dumplings with mushrooms: a budget recipe for a family holiday

Such krucheniki will become a real star of your New Year’s table and will be liked by guests.

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Gravlax with beets: a particularly bright recipe for salted fish for the holidays – perfect for bruschetta

This is a traditional dish of Scandinavian cuisine. The fish is marinated in a mixture of salt, sugar and dill, which ensures its long-term storage without heat treatment

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The classic recipe of Shuba in the original presentation: an update of the classic

The classic version of the salad is layered in a deep plate, but modern versions can be served as rolls or portioned balls for a more sophisticated appearance.

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Appetizer of mackerel with greens and garlic and lemon in the freezer

You can simply salt it, or you can make a luxurious snack of mackerel with greens or lemon. Just freeze and serve when convenient.

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You can spread it on bread. Snack balls with cod liver for the New Year

Prepare them for the festive table instead of banal pate or canapés.

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Tuna croquettes: quick cutlets from canned fish for lunch and for the holiday

Tuna and salad croquettes are a simple and tasty way to diversify your menu.

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Odessa-style: a recipe for vinaigrette with tyulka

To make your favorite vinaigrette salad even tastier, try to prepare a dish with the addition of salted fish: tulki, hamsa or salaki.

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Salted like in a restaurant: the perfect version of red fish for the holidays

If you like to eat salted salmon in expensive restaurants, then this recipe will help you enjoy fish at home. It is not only very simple, but also extremely tasty.

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