Antipasti di Mare ~ This is a wonderful Christmas Eve appetizer but is also great prepared throughout the year. My version of this salad contains the traditional Italian combination of shrimps, scallops, and calamari, but you could also add other seafood such as mussels and octopus if you prefer.. I had family over to our new house to celebrate Christmas Eve this year, and we decided to go all out with a seafood feast and celebrate as Italian Americans do with a Feast of The Seven Fishes. Being an overachiever, I ended up with twelve different seafood varieties spread out over three courses on my menu. This salad contains scallops, squid, and shrimp, which are cooked just until tender.

Anytime I am home for Christmas Eve, this salad is a must-have on my menu. It is best prepared the day before so that the flavors meld, and I believe that the lemon based dressing actually marinades the cooked seafood making it even more tender. Although this is a Christmas Eve favorite at our house, it would also be a great option for a New Year’s Eve party or New Year’s Day appetizer. I add chopped celery to my version of this salad for texture, and Kalamata olives to add a salty vibrancy that pairs well with the seafood.

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele Revised 2018

Holiday Seafood Salad

Yield: Serves 6 - 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A mix of shrimp, scallops, calamari, and octopus tossed together in a zesty dressing. A great option for Christmas Eve or any holiday get-together.

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Ingredients

• 3 Cups White Wine
• 3 Bay Leaves
• 2 Cloves Garlic, Crushed
• 2 Lemons
• 1 Pound Calamari, Cleaned And Cut Into Rings
• 1 Pound Medium Shrimp, Cleaned And Deveined
• 1 Pound Scallops
• 1 Cup Pitted Kalamata Olives 
• 1 1/2 Cups Chopped Celery

Dressing:

• 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
• 3 Large Garlic Cloves, Thinly Sliced
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Parsley
• Dash Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt & Pepper To Taste

Instructions

1. In a stockpot, combine 3 quarts of water, the wine, bay leaves, and crushed garlic.
2. Slice the lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the mixture.
3. Drop the lemons into the pot, then bring the mixture first to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
4. First cook the shrimp, cook 2 minutes and remove from the pot.
5. Cook the calamari 1 1/2 minutes and remove from the pot as well.
6. Add the scallops to the pot, and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Mix the seafood together and set aside.
8. Place the seafood in a bowl and add the chopped celery and olives.
9. Add the dressing ingredients and mix well.
10. Cover and let marinade a minimum of 12 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
11. Just before serving, taste, and adjust the seasonings as needed, and add the black olives and mix well.
12. Serve at room temperature.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 635 Total Fat: 38g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 31g Cholesterol: 219mg Sodium: 1192mg Carbohydrates: 27g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 2g Protein: 32g