If you’re like me, fresh dill can be hard to use up before it wilts. While drying it is an option, I’ve found there are plenty of ways to enjoy fresh dill quickly. Its bright, aromatic flavor enhances vegetables, fish, poultry, eggs, and even sauces. Here are 10 creative ways to use dill weed in your cooking.
1. Add to Salads and Dressings
Chopped dill brightens up any salad. Mix it into green salads, pasta salads, or potato salads for a refreshing herbal note. For a simple dressing: combine dill with olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt for a light vinaigrette.
2. Enhance Eggs and Breakfast Dishes
Dill pairs wonderfully with eggs. Stir fresh dill into scrambled eggs or omelets for a unique twist. You can also add it to deviled eggs or frittatas for a fresh, slightly tangy flavor that complements eggs beautifully.
3. Marinate Fish
Dill is a classic herb for fish. Create a marinade with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and fresh dill. This works well for salmon, cod, halibut, or tuna, whether baked, grilled, or broiled. The herb imparts a bright, slightly anise-like flavor that enhances seafood without overpowering it.
4. Dill Butter for Vegetables and Fish
Mix chopped fresh or dried dill into softened butter. Spread it on fish before baking or grilling, or serve it alongside steamed vegetables, baked potatoes, or corn on the cob. Dill butter adds richness and a subtle herbal flavor that elevates simple dishes.
5. Use in Soups and Stews
Add a pinch of dried dill or a few sprigs of fresh dill to soups like potato, chicken noodle, or vegetable soup. Dill imparts a fresh, slightly tangy note that brightens hearty, savory flavors. Add it just before serving to preserve its aroma.
6. Create Delicious Dips and Spreads
Dill works beautifully in dips and spreads. Combine it with sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, or mayonnaise to make cucumber dips, veggie dips, or sandwich spreads. It also pairs well with cottage cheese or as a topping for baked potatoes.
7. Make Homemade Pickles
Dill is famously used in pickling. Add fresh dill sprigs to cucumbers, zucchini, green tomatoes, or cauliflower to make flavorful dill pickles. The fresh herb provides that classic pickle taste while adding its aromatic, slightly sweet flavor.
8. Season Roasted or Boiled Vegetables
Dill complements potatoes, carrots, asparagus, and other vegetables. Toss your vegetables with olive oil, salt, pepper, and chopped dill before roasting, or sprinkle over boiled or steamed vegetables for a fresh, herby flavor.
9. Add to Chicken and Poultry Dishes
Dill pairs beautifully with chicken. Add it to stuffing, sauces, or marinades. A chicken, fennel, and dill salad is a light, refreshing way to highlight the herb’s flavor. Dill also works well with creamy sauces served over roasted or baked chicken.
10. Make Lemon Dill Sauce
Combine dill with lemon juice, olive oil, and a little yogurt or mayonnaise to make a tangy sauce for fish, chicken, or roasted vegetables. This sauce adds brightness and a fresh, herbal flavor that’s perfect for summer meals.
Bonus Tips for Using Dill
-
Fresh vs. dried: Fresh dill has a brighter flavor, while dried dill is more concentrated. Use fresh for delicate dishes and dried for longer-cooked recipes.
-
Storage: Keep fresh dill in the fridge in a glass of water or wrapped in a damp paper towel to extend its shelf life.
-
Health benefits: Dill has been used traditionally for digestion and has a calming, soothing aroma. Dill essential oil can also be applied topically or used aromatically to reduce stress.
Dill weed is a versatile herb that brings fresh, aromatic flavor to many dishes. From vegetables and fish to eggs, dips, and pickles, it’s easy to find creative ways to use it up before it wilts. Next time you see a bunch of fresh dill at the market, grab it—you’ll find plenty of ways to put it to delicious use.
Popular Dill Uses at a Glance:
-
Dill pickles
-
Dill butter
-
Baked salmon with dill
-
Dill soups
-
Dill cucumber salad
-
Dill dip
-
Lemon dill sauce
-
Sautéed carrots with dill
-
Roasted potatoes with dill and leeks
-
Chicken, fennel, and dill salad