What is dill?
Dill is an herb that is commonly used in cooking and as a garnish. It is also known by its scientific name, Anethum graveolens. Dill has a characteristic taste and aroma, and it is often used to flavor fish, soups, and salads. The leaves of the dill plant are feathery and delicate, and they are usually used fresh, although they can also be dried for later use. The seeds of the dill plant are also used as a spice and can be found in many spice blends.
How is dill used in cooking?
Dill is a versatile herb that is used in a variety of dishes. Some common ways to use dill in cooking include:
- As a garnish: Fresh dill leaves can be used as a garnish on soups, salads, and sandwiches.
- In dressings and dips: Dill is a popular ingredient in dressings and dips, such as sour cream and yogurt dips.
- In fish dishes: Dill is often used to flavor fish dishes, such as poached salmon or gravlax.
- In soups: Dill is a common ingredient in soups and stews, particularly those made with fish or potatoes.
- With pickling: Dill is a popular herb in pickling and canning, it’s commonly used to flavor pickles, cucumbers, beans, or any other vegetable.
- On scrambled eggs or omelettes.
- Mixed with butter, it can also be spread over a baked fish or chicken.
- In side dishes like mashed potatoes or potato salad.
Dill is a delicate herb, so it’s best to add it near the end of the cooking process or just before serving to preserve its flavor. You can use fresh or dried dill leaves, but the flavor of fresh dill is more potent.
What are some good dishes to make with dill?
Here are a few dishes that feature dill as a key ingredient:
- Salmon with dill: Dill pairs well with fish, particularly salmon. A simple preparation is to marinate the salmon in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped dill before grilling or baking.
- Potato salad with dill: Dill adds a bright, fresh flavor to traditional potato salad made with boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, and chopped celery.
- Cucumber and dill yogurt dip: Mix plain Greek yogurt with chopped cucumbers, dill, garlic, and lemon juice for a refreshing dip.
- Dill pickles: Pickling cucumbers with dill and spices is a classic way to use the herb.
- Creamy dill sauce: Mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped dill, lemon juice, and a pinch of sugar to make a flavorful sauce to serve with fish or vegetables.
- Soups and stews: Dill can add a fresh and herby taste to many soups and stews.
- Omelette with dill: Beaten eggs with chopped dill, feta cheese and some veggies, it can be a great omelette.
Selected Recipes
- Try this Pulled Shoulder of Lamb, Quinoa, Broad Bean, and Dill. Broad beans are another name for fava beans, so maybe you'll want a nice chianti with this?
- I’m going to cheat a bit and call it good with this Dill & Garlic Butter Pork Cutlets with Warm Red Cabbage, Almond & Feta Salad. The recipe doesn’t call for pasta, but if you really wanted some you could toss some in with that warm red cabbage and call it a pasta salad. But it looks pretty filling already as it is!
- Here’s an interesting Small Batch Dill Pesto. That leaves us with pork and cabbage, and that’s easy if you go with something like this Pork and Cabbage Skillet.
- Who can say no to Chicken Katsu with Tonkatsu Sauce? Serve it with white rice and a Cucumber Salad with Radish and Dill.
- Braise Eggs, Pasta, Dill, Onion, and Peas
- Sauté Chicken, Rice, Dill, Lemon, and Spinach
- Pan Fry Tofu, Other Grain, Dill, Lemon, and Kale
- Braise Chicken, Rice, Dill, Mushroom, and Cabbage
- Pan Fry Pork, Quinoa, Dill, Nuts, and Carrot
- Braise Eggs, Quinoa, Dill, Lemon, and Radish
- Grill Cheese, Other Grain, Dill, Nuts, and Peas
- Roast/Bake Eggs, Quinoa, Dill, Mushroom, and Kale
- Sauté Cheese, Rice, Dill, Onion, and Cabbage
- Sauté Lamb, Potato, Dill, Mushroom, and Cauliflower
- Braise Chicken, Other Grain, Dill, Lemon, and Parsnip
- Sauté Cheese, Potato, Dill, Lemon, and Artichoke
- Sauté Lamb, Rice, Dill, Garlic, and Cabbage
- Roast/Bake Cheese, Potato, Dill, Garlic, and Spinach
- Roast/Bake Eggs, Polenta, Dill, Garlic, and Spinach
- Sauté Cheese, Rice, Dill, Mushroom, and Asparagus
- Sauté Chicken, Rice, Dill, Onion, and Cauliflower
- Grill Pork, Potato, Dill, Mushroom, and Artichoke
- Sauté Chicken, Pasta, Dill, Lemon, and Carrot
- Sauté Beef, Other Grain, Dill, Mushroom, and Cabbage
- Braise Chicken, Rice, Dill, Lemon, and Artichoke
- Pan Fry Turkey, Other Grain, Dill, Lemon, and Spinach
- Pan Fry Seafood, Potato, Dill, Bacon, and Kale
- Sauté Cheese, Pasta, Dill, Lemon, and Cabbage
- Braise Beef, Potato, Dill, Onion, and Cabbage
- Roast/Bake Chicken, Pasta, Dill, Garlic, and Cauliflower
- Braise Pork, Polenta, Dill, Bacon, and Carrot
- Braise Tempeh, Quinoa, Dill, Lemon, and Kale
- Roast/Bake Seitan, Rice, Dill, Nuts, and Parsnip
- Roast/Bake Seafood, Polenta, Dill, Onion, and Cabbage
- Sauté Seitan, Potato, Dill, Garlic, and Fennel
- Grill Seafood, Rice, Dill, Lemon, and Asparagus
What can you do with lamb and quinoa?
How many recipes can you create with pork, pasta, nuts, and cabbage?
Some combinations are just magic. Is this one of them?
