All About Dill and How it Is Used – Dill Seasoning
What is dill seasoning?
- Dill is an herb that is often used as a seasoning. It has a fresh, slightly sweet and tangy flavor, and is used in many dishes to add flavor and aroma. Dill is a common ingredient in many cuisines, including Scandinavian, German, and Russian. In cooking, it is used to season sauces, dips, dressings, pickles, soups, stews, and casseroles. It is also used as a garnish for potatoes, meats, and fish dishes. Fresh dill leaves are available in most grocery stores and can be used in recipes, but dried dill is also commonly used as a spice.
How We Use Fresh and Dried Dill as Seasoning
We love fresh dill and use it often in our cooking. It gives the foods we love a little extra dose of delicious flavor. It’s very healthy to use fresh herbs and spices to flavor foods instead of fats and sugars.
Dill or dill weed as most people call it, is a pretty “feathery” green herb (plant) that is most commonly know for it’s addition to cucumbers when making “dill pickles.” Dill is considered a great pickling herb because it holds up well in form and flavor when added to the brine that makes pickles.
We would not have our beloved delicious dill pickles without the dill plant.
Dill is commonly used to enhance the flavor of fish, but it is also found in many of our soups and sauces as well.
Dill is a flowering herb and closely related to parsley, caraway fennel, and bay leaf. All the herbs we love to use in our cooking!
Herbs and spices add flavor to our foods without fat or preservatives, but even better reasons to use them, most are filled with vitamins and antioxidants.
Are Dill Flowers Edible?
Yes! The flowers are edible and can be used in many recipes. Make sure the flowers are fresh and have not started going to seed. Also, steer clear of pesticides in any of your plants.
There are 4 edible parts to the dill plant –
- Leaves – chop up and sprinkle on fish before cooking or mix with sour cream for a dill sauce.
- Flowers – throw the whole flower and part of the stem in the jar when making pickles.
- Stems – chop up the thinner stems to use right along with the leaves.
- Seeds – use whole or crushed.
Grow Your Own! Dill is very easy to grow yourself, just toss the seeds in a sunny area with good drainage after the last frost. Plant about 1/4 inch in the ground and wait about just a couple weeks to see growth!
Dill Fact – Dill weed actually refers to the leaves and stem of the plant but not the seeds.
The flower part of the dill plant is called the umbrels.
Dill can grow rather large so make sure it has enough room to grow tall. You may also want to put a tomato support around the large dill plant to help support it.
Dill is A Host Plant for the Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly! – Grow enough dill in containers or in your garden to share with the butterflies. Dill is a host plant and some little beautiful visitors may show up.
Dried Dill or Fresh Dill?
Always try to use fresh dill in recipes because it loses so much of its flavor during the drying process. Try to use the fresh dill a few days after purchase. You can easily freeze dill so this is a better option if you have extra or can’t use it right away.
A few of our favorite dill recipes – How to Use Fresh Dill
We often add chopped dill to many of our egg dishes including our deviled eggs and vegetable frittatas. For scrambled eggs with dill, simple add 1/2 tablespoon of chopped dill to the eggs before cooking.
Dill and Sour Cream Dip Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped dill, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Mix everything together until well combined.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours, to allow the flavors to develop.
Serve this yummy dip with vegetables, crackers, or chips. Enjoy!
Try A Few Of Our Other Delicious Sauces with Dill
Creamy Dilly Sauce for Salmon: Stir 1/4 cup of chopped dill into one cup of sour cream. Mix in 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder. Serve with baked salmon.
Dill Butter: Melt butter with a little chopped dill and a pinch of lemon juice to toss with freshly steamed carrots or boiled potatoes.
Steak Tiger Dill Sauce – Mix together 2/3 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup prepared horseradish, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill leaves
Quick Ranch Dressing – Mix together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 tablespoon finely chopped dill, salt to taste.
Where to buy Dried Dill
Dried dill can be found in the seasoning section of your grocery store.
Where to buy Fresh Dill
Fresh dill is typically bought at your local Farmer’s Market or a market that grows their own produce. Dill weed is rather large so be cautious when transporting in your car.
Its’ Easy! Grow Your Own Fresh Dill!
Is dill weed easy to grow? Yes, dill weed is relatively easy to grow. It is a hardy annual herb that can be grown from seeds or from seedlings. It prefers well-drained soil in a sunny location and can tolerate some shade. It is important to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Dill also attracts beneficial insects like honeybees and ladybugs to the garden.
When growing dill from seeds, it is best to plant the seeds directly in the garden in the spring, after the last frost has passed. The seeds can also be started indoors about 4-6 weeks before the last frost date and then transplanted to the garden. When growing dill from seedlings, plant them in the garden when they are about 4-6 inches tall.
Dill can grow to be 2-3 feet tall and will produce fragrant yellow flowers in the summer. Once the flowers have bloomed, the plant will start to decline and it is best to cut it down and let it regrow for another harvest. Dill leaves can be harvested and used throughout the growing season.
More Ways on How to Use Dill in Your Recipes:
Fresh dill is a versatile herb that adds a bright and slightly tangy flavor to a variety of dishes. Here are some ways to use fresh dill in your cooking:
Salads – Fresh dill is a fantastic addition to salads, especially those with cucumbers or tomatoes. You can chop it finely and mix it into the salad for a burst of fresh flavor.
Seafood – Dill pairs exceptionally well with seafood. You can use it as a seasoning for fish or mix it into a creamy sauce for salmon or shrimp dishes.
Dips and Sauces – Fresh dill can enhance the flavor of dips and sauces. It’s a key ingredient in tzatziki, a Greek yogurt and cucumber dip, and it’s also used in many creamy salad dressings.
Potatoes – Fresh dill can brighten up potato dishes, whether it’s mashed potatoes, potato salad, or roasted potatoes. Simply chop some dill and mix it in for a refreshing twist.
Soups and Stews – Dill is used in many Eastern European soups and stews, such as borscht or cabbage soup. It can add a unique herbal flavor to these hearty dishes.
Omelets and Scrambled Eggs – Sprinkle chopped fresh dill into your omelets or scrambled eggs for a burst of freshness and flavor.
Grilled Vegetables – When grilling vegetables, consider tossing them with olive oil and chopped dill before cooking. The heat will release the herb’s aroma and infuse the vegetables with its flavor.
Breads and Baked Goods – Fresh dill can be used in bread recipes, especially with whole wheat or rye bread. It can also be a nice addition to savory muffins or scones.
Garnish – Use fresh dill as a garnish to add a pop of color and flavor to your dishes. It looks great on top of roasted meats, fish, or even soups.
When using fresh dill, keep in mind that its flavor is most potent when it’s used fresh. If you’re substituting fresh dill for dried dill in a recipe, you’ll typically need more fresh dill because dried dill has a more concentrated flavor. Store fresh dill in the refrigerator, either in a plastic bag or with the stems placed in a glass of water, to keep it fresh for longer.
How to Chop Fresh Dill
Chopping fresh dill is a simple process, and it’s a great way to add its vibrant flavor to your dishes. Here’s how to chop dill:
Ingredients:
- Fresh dill sprigs
Tools Needed:
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Steps on How to Chop Fresh Dill:
Gather your dill – Start by gathering the fresh dill sprigs that you want to chop. You can use the leaves and the tender stems; the thicker, woody stems are usually discarded.
Prepare your cutting board and knife – Place a cutting board on a stable surface, and make sure your knife is sharp. A sharp knife will make the chopping process easier and give you cleaner cuts.
Separate the leaves and stems – Hold the dill sprigs near the top where the leaves start and the stems end. Gently pull the leaves and tender stems away from the thicker, woody stems. You want to use the part of the dill that is soft and flavorful.
Stack the leaves – If your dill leaves are large, you can stack them on top of each other. This makes it easier to chop them evenly.
Chop the dill – Hold the stack of dill leaves with one hand, keeping your fingers tucked in and your knuckles acting as a guide for your knife. Use your other hand to hold the knife.
Slice through the dill – Start slicing through the stack of dill leaves with a rocking motion, moving the knife up and down. Make sure to keep the tip of the knife on the cutting board and lift the handle of the knife with each pass to create a rocking motion. This will help you chop the dill finely and evenly.
Continue chopping – Continue chopping until you have achieved your desired level of fineness. You can make the pieces as small or as large as your recipe requires.
Use immediately or store – Once you’ve chopped the dill, you can use it immediately in your recipe. If you have any leftover chopped dill, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a short period, but it’s best to use it as soon as possible for the freshest flavor.
That’s it! Chopping fresh dill is a quick and easy process, and it adds a burst of fresh flavor to your dishes, whether you’re making salads, sauces, or garnishing your favorite dishes.
We love using our homegrown fresh dill in dips and sauces!
Fun Dill Fact!
Did you know that the dill weed is a host plant for the beautiful black swallowtail butterflies?
Plant some extra dill in your yard and help nature by adding more MUCH NEEDED caterpillars and butterflies!
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