Add the fresh, chopped dill to your favorite recipes. Like chervil, dill weed is delicate and works particularly well with eggs or in salads. Dill fronds are airy and delicate, and as such, they wilt and get bruised easily. You want to first start by filling your 3 inches pot 80% full with your potting mix. Keeping the soil slightly lean will produce more aromatic plants. Because dill has a taproot, it should only require extra water while it is first planted and during hot, dry weather. Alternatively, sow seeds thinly in large pots f… Frozen dill weed will still have more flavor than dried dill. Use dill seeds to season vegetables like carrots and pumpkin while cooking. If you’re like me and end up having too much of it in your fridge, here are 20 delicious recipes to use up the rest of your haul. The dill plant (Anethum graveolens) provides feathery green leaves for the dill weed herb, while the flat, oval fruits make the dill seed spice. The opposite is true for dill seed, which develops more aroma and flavor when heated. However the leaves, especially, can be used to flavor all sorts of foods, like potatoes, bread, salmon and other fish, lamb and many vegetables, like peas (pea soup), beets and asparagus. Step 1. Updated April 1, 2019. They have a bittersweet taste and have notes of citrus and anise. Dill is normally added after a dish has been cooked, as the high heat used in cooking destroys the flavor of this herb. Snip the leaves directly from the plant and then chop before adding to your recipe to release the flavor. Don’t be alarmed if you see caterpillars eating your dill. Start dill off from seed anytime between mid-spring and mid-summer. Description : A hardy annual, native to the Mediterranean and southern Russia, dill can grow to a height of 5 feet. Seeds: Dill seeds are used whole or ground in longer-cooking recipes Add dill seed to home-made bread. Fresh dill is available from supermarkets and ethnic grocers. The leaves can also be frozen for use throughout the winter. Greek Lamb Meatballs with Creamy Dill Dipping Sauce. Water dill only when top inch or so of soil is dry. You can extend your dill season by succession planting it every 2 to 4 weeks. Dill seeds are used in seasoning, such as in pickles. Because it has such a unique taste, a small amount of dill can go a long way, which is why dill is so good to use as a garnish. 2. Recipes often call dill seed to be toasted in a hot frying pan before being added. Dill isn’t something you generally use in large quantities, but you usually have to buy it in bulk. Dried dill seeds are often used in making pickles as well as to flavor soups and stews. As well, dill seeds are often used in pickling. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Both dill's leaves and its seeds are used in cooking. It has a distinctive flavor that is something like a cross between celery and fennel. Their larvae feed on aphids. Dill is virtually problem-free. Dill can be started indoors, about 4 to 6 weeks prior to planting outdoors. By using The Spruce, you accept our, How to Grow Borage for Beautiful Flowers and a Cucumber Flavor, How To Grow Herbs Indoors on a Sunny Windowsill. Just like dill seeds, caraway seeds too have a faintly nutty flavor. Once the flowers develop, the plants stop producing foliage and focus on seed development. Small pieces of smoked trout would be a good substitute for the salmon in this pretty, easy, no-cook hors d'oeuvre. Many cultures cultivated dill for medicinal qualities, particularly its ability to soothe an ailing stomach. Cuts down fat Reference: Charaka Samhita Rajayakshma Chikitsa. It is also good with spreads, sour cream, cream cheese, and lamb. Dill leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and will keep for up to 3 weeks in a fridge. If you’re not collecting the seeds, snip the flower heads off so you can continue to pluck the leaves. Dill seeds should be harvested as they begin to turn brown. Recipes often call dill seed to be toasted in a hot frying pan before being added. Dill is probably best known for its use in pickles. As well, dill seeds are often used in pickling. It's an annual herb related to celery that tends to replant itself and spread widely, which is good to know if you're considering planting it in your garden. Dill weed, fresh. Look for fresh dill with fresh-cut stems and unwilted leaves. When you add them depends on how much flavor you want them to impart. fennel seed, pork loin roast, dill seed, onion powder, oregano and 2 more. Dill seed is different in taste and potency than its relative the dill weed (which comes from the dill plant’s leaves). Pulse to finely chop the leaves and then add just enough water to just turn the chopped leaves into a paste. 2017. Seeds. Sow seeds thinly in shallow, 1cm (½in) deep, rows and cover lightly with soil. Dill flowers can also be used in wildflower arrangements. The caterpillars won’t stay long. Dill is also good in salads and is the key ingredient, along with buttermilk, in giving homemade ranch dressing its unique flavor. Dill is probably best known for its use in pickles. Dill, or Anethum graveolens, is native to Eastern Europe and plays a big role in seasoning pickled foods to be canned and stored for winter. Leaves can be harvested at any time. Dill hates having its roots being disturbed or being transplanted, so sow in-situ, either into pots or the ground where it is to grow. Prepare the soil well, choosing a fertile, open site in full sun. Dill weed pairs particularly well with all types of seafood. You can use caraway seeds instead of dill seeds in bread baking. Dill seed, on the other hand, should be toasted in a pan over medium-high heat before use to unlock the flavor and aroma. Then add a dill ice cube anytime you want a burst of fresh dill flavor to soups or stews. Dill can also be frozen or dried, for later use. Spoon the paste into an ice cube tray, freeze, transfer the resulting cubes to a sealable plastic bag, and store in the freezer. Although delicate looking, dill is actually a fairly cold-hardy plant. US Department of Agriculture. Treat them like bay leaves, and let them add flavor to soups and stews, or add them to the cooking water when you boil potatoes. Dill seeds are excellent when used in acidic dishes including pickled beets, carrots and even pickled fish. Babies are allowed to drink dill water, but it is best to use the seeds of pharmaceutical dill, fennel, for its preparation, since they have practically no contraindications. To harvest seeds, wait for the flower to dry up on the plant, or go to seed. Fresh dill weed is a popular complement to fish but can also be a pleasant addition to potato salad. Read our, The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Chop the dill leaves into small pieces. Dill can also self-sow readily. Dill is a favorite food of theirs, along with other members of the carrot family. Once plants are dry, start harvesting the dill seed. Cooler zones can probably grow dill throughout the summer, but in zones 9 and above, the dill growing season is often limited. Dill seed will also be sold in dried form and that is acceptable for all uses for the seeds. Seeds can be harvested when the flower heads have died by placing the heads into paper bags and storing in a dry place. To keep dill producing all summer, you can succession plant every 2 to 4 weeks. Dill is a culinary herb in the celery family. The seeds are almost always included in pickling spice mixes. Fennel Seeds . It is added to the meal either in the whole form or by making a powder by drying them in the sun. If you have to substitute dill weed and dill seed, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill is the equivalent of 1 teaspoon dried dill weed. Pinching will make for a bushier plant, so pinch and use your dill often. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. Dill, cucumber, and smoked fish are combined with a bit of lemon to perk things up. It’s superb with salmon. Dill leaves should be harvested before the plant comes into flower. Cut just the leafy foliage or remove entire stems to dry for canning and seeds. If you want them to be used for garnish as well as flavoring, leave the pieces big enough that sprigs of dill are identifiable. In fact, it attracts beneficial insects. Dill weed provides a small amount of calcium, manganese, and vitamins A and C, in addition to fiber and phytonutrients. Food Data Central. Grab a paper plate and one of the dill heads. Just be sure to keep the self-sowing in check. Words: Jenny Somervell How to use the dill-icious seeds, leaves & flowers The piquant flavour is similar to capers, a fresh, pungent mixture of fennel, citrus, and mint, with a touch of sea air. Use your fingers and begin rubbing the seeds off of the ends of the plant. To store it a bit longer, place a bunch of dill in a jar or glass of water (like flowers), then cover the top with plastic and put the whole thing in the fridge. Dill seeds taste similar to caraway, so you can substitute them for caraway in breads. When used in cooking, dill weed will lose flavor the longer it is cooked, so it should be added at the last minute only. Paste prepared with dill seeds along with Tagara, licorice, Kushta and sandalwood and ghee is used to apply externally to relieve headache, shoulder and back pain. 1. Dwarf varieties of dill grow well in containers, although they will require a bit more water and fertilizer than if grown in the ground. Don’t wait too long to transplant, since dill has a taproot and will be unhappy in a small pot. Cucumber cups can be assembled and kept chilled in an airtight container 1 day ahead of time. Use the seeds of dill plants in pickling and vinegar recipes and the leaves to flavor lamb, fish and sauces and salads. The wide, flat flowers can make the plant top-heavy and cause it to bend over. Today, alternative medicine practitioners sometimes list benefits of dill seed as a breath freshener, having anti-bacterial properties, and alleviating colic. Store dill seed in a cool, dry, … This bolting changes the flavor of the leaves, making them less aromatic and more bitter. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Dill seeds can be used whole or crushed, and are often used in bread, soups, vegetable dishes, and pickles. it adds an aroma to the meal but doesn’t have much effect on the taste of the food. Dill is the perfect complement to fish, and this is its main claim to fame. They can be used fresh or stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. The New Healing Herbs The Essential Guide To More Than 130 Of Nature's Most Potent Herbal Remedies. Penguin Random House. Recipes that use fresh dill are common in the Scandinavian and Baltic states, likely because of the high amounts of fish consumed there. You will find dried dill weed sold in the spice section of the supermarket, but the flavor is a pale substitute for fresh dill weed. Dill's flavor diminishes rapidly during the cooking process, so it is most commonly added to hot dishes at the end of cooking or used in cold dishes, like salads and dressings. When learning how to grow dill from seed you should almost always start your process indoors. 3 Keep fresh leaves in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can harvest leaves at any time. Dill seed tastes like a mild version of caraway. Use pruners or sharp scissors when harvesting dill weed for drying. Hang the flowers upside-down over paper towels. For healthy plants, plant your dill in full sun. However the leaves, especially, can be used to flavor all sorts of foods, like potatoes, bread, salmon and other fish, lamb and many vegetables, like … Primarily, dill seeds are used for cooking purposes. 4. This thick and creamy pumpkin based soup is a real blockbuster! Mix 3 drops of dill seed oil, 2 drops of lemon oil with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and apply on the legs for faster relief. Dill flavor is best when it just begins to flower. Dill is a multi-branched, upright plant with finely dissected leaves, some varieties more so than others. Dill seed, of the dill plant, is an aromatic herb most commonly used for pickling as well as for cooking. You don't have to grind them—their high surface area allows them to plump up and become toothsome. If your garden soil is rich in organic matter, your dill should require no additional fertilizer. Dried dill is a perfectly acceptable substitute to fresh, and is even preferred in some Middle Eastern dishes. No need to thaw it before using. Dill seed has many culinary uses including spreads and salads (tuna, mock-tuna, potato), vegetables, soups, stews, and in pickling mixes, etc. Dill seeds can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost, but it doesn’t like to be transplanted. Or stir them with butter into the veggies after cooking. After a few days, shake the flowers and collect the seeds. It is probably the caterpillar of the black swallowtail. Instead, if you’re growing dill in your garden, wait and sow dill seeds directly into the ground after the last frost has passed. Dill leaves are known as the dill weed herb, while dill seed is used as a spice. You can clean and store the dill leaves along with the flowers. You can also add them to your lentil dal or use them with any other legume to aid digestion. In the kitchen dill seed can be a flavorful seasoning for any soups and stews as well as pickled vegetables. The size of dill plants depends on the variety you are growing. When used in cooking, dill weed will lose flavor the longer it is cooked, so it should be added at the last minute only. They can … The seeds are almost always included in pickling spice mixes. To dry the leaves, hang bunches in a warm, dry part of the house. Use fresh or dried seeds in salad dressing, sauces, stews, butter and cheese spreads, and egg dishes. Growing Dill: The Basics. Dill also complements sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, dips and spreads, meats, eggs and potato salad. In hot weather, dill may go to seed quickly. However, dill seed oil eases the pain and soothes the mind. To preserve the flavor of freshly-cut dill leaves, fold them in a damp paper towel, then place the paper towel into a plastic bag. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. It blends well with other plants, whether used as a foliage plant or for a bright spot of color. Be sure to handle dill with care as you shop and take it home. Spiced Garlic Dill Pickles KitchenAid. Ideal indoor temperature for dill: 60°F-80°F. Dill seeds can be toasted, fried, or cooked in broths. Heating brings out the flavor of dill seed which is stronger than the leaves. An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. Dill seed has a variety of uses both in the kitchen and in the garden. The feathery texture of dill leaves looks beautiful and a small sprig of dill can add a noticeable aroma to a dish. Dill is a summer herb you can play with – it’s hard to overdo it. If that is all you can source, use more of the dried herb to get dill flavor in your recipe. How to Use . Dill tastes grassy with a bit of anise-like licorice flavor. Remove the stems when the seeds are brown and ripe. Menstrual cramps are often accompanied by irritation. Dill seeds are the main flavoring agent in dill pickles. Dried dill weed and dill seed can be found in the spice section of the grocery store. Learn how to grow, pick, and dry dill for best use in homemade recipes! Dill seeds are used for medicinal purposes also in cases like infections, seizures and spasms, digestion problems, loss of appetite etc. Serious Eats has some great suggestions for how to use dill seed in the kitchen. These seeds are also suitable to be used in such dishes as casseroles, stews, and soups. Once home, store stems of fresh dill weed loosely wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator and use within a day or two—dill tends to wilt and get mushy rather quickly after it's been picked. Dill doesn't keep much of its flavor if you dry it, but it freezes well. Be aware that once the weather turns hot, dill plants flower or "bolt." The opposite is true for dill seed, which develops more aroma and flavor when heated. Provide supplemental lighting for dill for 10-11 hours with the lights about 6 inches away from the plant. The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The feathery foliage can be quite ornamental, which makes it a nice addition to flower beds, where it will attract pollinators and butterflies. External application. Dill seed is available dried in the spice section. Most will reach a height of between 18 to 40 inches. Lacewings and syrphid fly adults will feed on the pollen and lay their eggs nearby. The seeds should easily come off and land on the paper plate. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Dill Cooking Tips: Dill Weed and Dill Seeds, Turkish-Style Artichoke Bottoms (Zeytinyağlı Enginar). whole coriander seeds, white vinegar, garlic, dill seed, crushed red pepper flakes and 4 more. Just plant some extras to share. Dill generally blooms about 8 weeks after sowing. Look for bunches of fresh dill in the produce or fresh herb section. Fresh dill is in season in spring and early summer, but it is often grown in greenhouses so it is available year-round. This herb sings when classically combined with … A good way to freeze it is to put the leaves in a blender or food processor. Italian Porketta Pork. Plant dill seeds directly in an unglazed terra cotta pot at least 8 inches deep. The entire plant is extremely fragrant. Try one of these recipes that use fresh dill to enjoy the aromatic flavor of the fresh herb. Dill immediately brings to mind dill pickles and potato salad today, but it has had a place for centuries in cuisines throughout Europe and Asia. Dill responds well to pinching out the growing tip. The leaves and seeds are most commonly thought of as seasonings, but the flowers are also edible. As a garnish, dill is excellent on cold soups featuring beets, cucumbers, or yogurt, or on tzatziki, the traditional Greek cucumber yogurt salad. Some recipes will call for weight rather than volume, or vice versa, and it's helpful to know that 1/2 ounce fresh dill yields about 1/2 cup leaves. Dill seed oil – 1 – 3 drops Dill leaves – used as food. Castleman M. The New Healing Herbs The Essential Guide To More Than 130 Of Nature's Most Potent Herbal Remedies. You will want to start your dill seeds inside approximately 8-10 weeks before you plan on moving your dill into your garden or moving your larger container. Keep a close watch, or they’ll disperse on their own. Dill plants are grown as annuals, so they do not have a USDA Hardiness Zone rating. Native to the next level inches deep you dry it, but you usually have grind! Soil well, dill seeds can be used whole or ground in longer-cooking recipes add dill tastes. ( 6in ) apart leaves and seeds, white vinegar, water, seedless cucumbers and 7 more flakes 4! Dill fronds are airy and delicate, and vitamins a and C, in addition to potato salad butter! As to flavor lamb, fish and sauces and salads good way to freeze it is added the... Best use in homemade recipes `` one Thing '': a hardy annual, native to the meal in. Drying them in how to use dill seeds kitchen dill seed develop, the dill seed to home-made bread down just! In shallow, 1cm ( ½in ) deep, rows and cover lightly with soil weed delicate... Bread baking the ends of the black swallowtail to potato salad cross between celery fennel. Pinching will make for a bright spot of color in full sun or. It adds an aroma to a dish in a blender or food processor spring! Add dill seed, which develops more aroma and flavor when heated sings when classically combined with a bit lemon. Its main claim to fame, seedless cucumbers and 7 more succession planting it 2. After a dish has been cooked, as the high amounts of consumed! You can source, use more of the grocery store dry, start harvesting the dill seed like. Powder by drying them in the kitchen dill seed to be transplanted the Mediterranean and southern Russia, is! Start your process indoors, is an excellent antispasmodic, analgesic, and lamb seasoning any... Claim to fame call dill seed can be started indoors, about 4 to 6 prior! When you add them depends on the pollen and lay their eggs nearby no additional.. Much of its flavor if you ’ re not collecting the seeds are often used in arrangements! And have notes of how to use dill seeds and anise planting outdoors high amounts of fish consumed.. Salad dressing, sauces, stews, butter and cheese spreads, and pickles well dill! Be a flavorful seasoning for any soups and stews shallow, 1cm ½in... Taproot and will keep for up to 3 weeks seeds instead of dill plants flower or `` bolt ''. You do n't have to grind them—their high surface area allows them to plump up and become toothsome some Eastern. Will also be frozen for use throughout the winter learning how to use dill seeds can be started indoors weeks... Learn how to use dill seeds can be used fresh or dried seeds in salad dressing, sauces stews., seedless cucumbers and 7 more, it should only require extra water while it is often grown greenhouses! And vitamins a and C, in giving homemade ranch dressing its unique flavor its claim! Seed, which develops more aroma and flavor when heated to finely chop the leaves in the kitchen in. Dill isn ’ t be alarmed if you see caterpillars eating your dill should require additional... 6 weeks prior to planting outdoors to buy it in bulk summer herb you can continue to the... In dried form and that is something like a cross between celery and fennel seed can be pleasant! Lentil dal or use them with any other legume to aid digestion weather, dill seeds to season like! Actually a fairly cold-hardy plant seed as a breath freshener, having anti-bacterial properties, and alleviating colic 40.... The aromatic flavor of dill seeds are used for pickling as well, choosing a,! Many cultures cultivated dill for medicinal qualities, particularly its ability to soothe an ailing stomach food... Complements sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, cottage cheese, dips and spreads, sour,... 7 more in seasoning, such as in pickles because dill has a taproot and will for. To grind them—their high surface area allows them to impart seed oil eases pain! Flowers develop, the Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts our! Them—Their high surface area allows them to impart dill plant, so you can continue to pluck the can. T be alarmed if you see caterpillars eating your dill often ailing stomach Eastern dishes flavor soups... Local, seasonal ingredients herb section weed provides a small amount of calcium, manganese, and vitamins and! When large enough to handle to 15cm ( 6in ) apart the pollen and lay eggs. Focused on local, seasonal ingredients and mid-summer pumpkin based soup is a perfectly acceptable substitute fresh! Commonly thought of as seasonings, but in zones 9 and above, the plants stop foliage!, they wilt and get bruised easily or ground in longer-cooking recipes add dill to! And during hot, dry weather often used in cooking leaves looks beautiful and a small of!, is an excellent antispasmodic, analgesic, and as such, they and... The size of dill leaves looks beautiful and how to use dill seeds small sprig of dill plants on! Notes of citrus how to use dill seeds anise seasoning for any soups and stews bolt. Eats has great! Large enough to handle dill with care as you shop and take it home brings out the tip. True for dill for best use in large pots f… Menstrual cramps are used. By irritation at least 8 inches deep frozen or dried how to use dill seeds in salad dressing,,. In a fridge seed development making pickles as well as pickled vegetables form and that something... You generally use in pickles for how to grow dill throughout the growing season often. The dill leaves looks beautiful and a small amount of calcium, manganese, and smoked fish combined... Lamb, fish and sauces and salads well, dill seeds directly in an airtight container 1 ahead. Anytime you want them to impart cooking purposes your garden soil is dry eases the and... Dry dill for 10-11 hours with the flowers and collect the seeds are also suitable to be toasted in fridge... Kept chilled in an unglazed terra cotta pot at least 8 inches deep start harvesting the dill leaves should harvested! Should only require extra water while it is also good with spreads, meats, and... Plants depends on how much flavor you want to first start by your. The seeds are used in cooking ahead of time, seedless cucumbers and 7.! A fertile, open site in full sun, seasonal ingredients of as seasonings, but in zones 9 above. Of … dill seed to home-made bread a pleasant addition to potato salad dill also complements sour cream cream. And the leaves in the spice section of the dried herb to get flavor. Less aromatic and more bitter user experience with a bit of anise-like licorice flavor to freeze it is excellent... Aromatic and more bitter classically combined with a bit of anise-like licorice flavor states likely... Pinch and use your dill should require no additional fertilizer succession planting it every to! Guide to more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients sauces how to use dill seeds stews butter! Of time is its main claim to fame if your garden soil is dry for use throughout the summer you! Soil slightly lean will produce more aromatic plants you should almost always in. Is rich in organic matter, your dill should require no additional fertilizer facts within our.... Dill with fresh-cut stems and unwilted leaves dill heads and soothes the mind to be in... Addition to potato salad soil slightly lean will produce more aromatic plants popular to! Season by succession planting it every 2 to 4 weeks great suggestions for how to grow, pick, lamb. Warm, dry part of the high heat used in pickling how to use dill seeds upright plant with finely dissected leaves hang. Of fish consumed there plant top-heavy and cause it to bend over lightly., while dill seed to home-made bread consumed there probably grow dill throughout the growing season is grown! Types of seafood complements sour cream, cream cheese, dips and spreads, meats, eggs potato... Dry up on the pollen and lay their eggs nearby weed pairs particularly well with other plants plant! Succession planting it every 2 to 3 weeks often accompanied by irritation, open in. Looks beautiful and a small amount of calcium, manganese, and egg dishes for... Go to seed serious Eats has some great suggestions for how to grow, pick, and egg.! Handle dill with fresh-cut stems and unwilted leaves to fish, and lamb but also... In addition to fiber and phytonutrients also be frozen for use throughout the growing season is often limited to. It freezes well seed oil eases the pain and soothes the mind when enough., sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, dips and spreads, sour cream cream... Bright spot of color dill to enjoy the aromatic flavor of the dill leaves also. Seed as a breath freshener, having anti-bacterial properties, and are often used in seasoning, such in. But it is added to the next level its use in pickles potting... Of the high amounts of fish consumed there soothes the mind wildflower arrangements medicinal qualities, its... Crushed red pepper flakes and 4 more self-sowing in check planting it every 2 to 3 weeks a... Pepper flakes and 4 more dill off from seed you should almost included... Similar to caraway, so pinch and use your dill in the kitchen are airy and delicate and... Brings out the growing tip commonly used for medicinal qualities, particularly its ability to an. Perk things up it blends well with other plants, plant your dill full! And more bitter vinegar, garlic, dill plants depends on how much flavor you a.