Christmas Eve is just a few nights away, which means that many Christians will begin preparing for the Feast of La Viglia.
A time honored tradition—observed mainly by Italian American Roman Catholics—the feast of La Viglia celebrates the wait until midnight Christmas morning, with a hearty seven course seafood extravaganza fit for the king of kings.
So for the next few days leading up to the big night Patch will be featuring seven suggested menu options that readers—be they Italian, Christian, or simply someone who enjoys a good meal—might want to prepare for the occasion.
Topping our list is this delicious recipe for a white seafood lasagna.
Ingredients
1 pound of lasagna noodles
1/2 pound shrimp, cooked, peeled, deveined and chopped
1/2 pound of bay scallops
6 oz can of lump crab meat
1 tbsp. finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt & pepper
1/2 c. dry white wine
1/2 c. heavy cream
3 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
1/4 tsp. oregano
1 stick of butter
3 cups milk
1 cup of flour
1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Cook lasagna noodles in a large pot of boiling water until soft
3. Melt half a stick of butter in a medium sauce pan then add flour, browning slightly
4. Stirring constantly add parmesan cheese, milk, salt and pepper to your sauce pan.
5. Sautee onions and garlic in a separate frying pan until translucent.
6. Add shrimp, scallops and lump crab to the onions and garlic and sauté until shrimps are pink.
7. Pour wine and clam juice into the seafood mixture, lower heat and let simmer for a few minutes.
8. Combine sautéed seafood with the béchamel cream sauce in the medium sauce pan, mixing in salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano, stirring until everything is nicely blended.
9. Layer a lasagna tray with noodles, béchamel sauce, and mozzarella cheese, finishing off with a top layer of just cheese.
10. Bake for 45 minutes or until top is crisp and slightly browned.
