8Baccalà alla Napoletana
Salted cod, or baccalà, is a Christmas Eve staple in southern Italy, especially in Naples and coastal regions. For baccalà alla Napoletana, the cod is soaked to remove excess salt, then baked with tomatoes, olives, capers, and garlic. The dish combines the cod’s delicate flavor with the bright, salty notes of southern Italian ingredients, symbolizing Italy’s coastal heritage. It’s an essential part of the Christmas Eve “Vigilia” dinner, celebrated by many with the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
