​​What To Do With Dill?

Delicate, fresh, and citrusy, dill is an aromatic plant whose leaves, stems, and seeds are of great culinary importance as they add vibrancy, flavor, and an appetizing fragrance to dishes. Dill (Anethum graveolens) belongs to the Apiaceae family from the genus Anethum. It’s widely used in European and Middle Eastern cuisines. The earliest records of dill consumption date back to 1400 BC in Egypt where it was found inside the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep II.

What does Dill Taste Like?

Dill is fresh, citrusy, and somewhat sweet in flavor. It also offers slightly bitter and grassy undernotes. Its flavor is similar to that of parsley, celery, and anise. Dill leaves are popular in the form of dill pickles all over the United States. The seeds, on the other hand, are more intense in flavor than the herb and are comparatively used in lesser amounts.

Image Credit: Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay 

What to do with Fresh Dill?

Fresh dill leaves are used as an herb to add a fresh-citrusy flavor to dishes. It’s always sprinkled on dishes once they’re fully cooked as dill loses a great deal of its flavor upon cooking. Chopped dill is often added to seafood as it complements the fishy flavor of salmon, gravlax, and other fish dishes. Dips and sauces are one of the best ways to savor this aromatic herb. Among popular dill condiments,tzatziki comes at the top. It’s a popular Greek dip that’s served as an appetizer with bread and is prepared from chopped fresh dill, Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. 

Besides tzatziki, you make Dill Sauce, Dill Cream Sauce, and Tartar sauce with freshly chopped dill to complement your seafood, steaks, breakfast eggs, sausages, or even roasted potatoes. Dill is also widely used in soups, stews, and casseroles to add a fresh and fragrant flavor. Looking for comforting recipes to sprinkle fresh dill herb on? Here are our favorite dill recipes that are sure to keep you warm and cozy.

      Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

      Matzo Ball Soup

      Smokeless Smoked Salmon

      Beer-Braised Brats with Dilly Potatoes

Moreover, dill makes a great addition to pasta dishes just like in our Salmon and Asparagus Orecchiette. Not to mention its diverse uses in the American dill pickles, which in turn makes exceptional sauces, sandwich spreads, and salad dressings.

Fresh Dill Vs Dried Dill

The significant difference between fresh and dried dill lies in its taste. While fresh dill is delicate in flavor, dried dill is pungent, but slightly less flavorful. Similarly, fresh dill leaves are added as a garnish once a dish is fully cooked; dried dill can be added at any stage of the cooking process much like other spices. If you plan to substitute one for another, make sure to swap 1 tablespoon of fresh dill for 1 teaspoon of dried dill in any recipe of your choice. 

Image Credit: Photo Mix from Pixabay 

Dill Weed Substitutes

Dill leaves are sometimes called dill weed in order to differentiate them from dill seeds. You can substitute dill weed for any of these herbs including fresh thyme, fennel, parsley, tarragon, or rosemary.

Feature Image: Yuliya Harbachova from Pixabay 

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