Is Dill Weed the Same as Dill? How to Substitute for Dill

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an herbaceous plant that produces seeds, leaves, and flowers. Both the seeds and leaves are edible, but each adds a unique flavor to dishes. Dill seed’s flavor profile is similar to caraway, anise, and coriander, whereas dill weed possesses a licorice taste. Store dill seed in a dry place with other spices.

Dill weed, which grocery stores and garden centers commonly label as just dill, is another name for the leaves of the dill plant. Dill leaves are similar to carrot fronds in that they are wispy, thin strands attached to a thicker stem. Fresh dill weed has a licorice-type flavor, similar to that of fennel and fresh tarragon. It’s key to harvest dill before flowering occurs since the yellow flowers are inedible and will make the entire plant bitter after they bloom. Store fresh dill weed alongside a damp paper towel in a resealable plastic bag or another airtight container in the refrigerator.

Both dill weed and dill seed are edible parts of the dill plant, although they possess different flavor profiles. Here are seven uses to consider the next time you want to cook with dill:

1. 1. Bread: For a seeded whole grain bread, lightly crush dill seed and add it to the other seeds and whole grains before you mix them into bread dough. The dill seed adds crunch and a camphoric aroma. Caraway seeds and fennel seeds are good options since their flavors complement that of dill seeds well.
2. 2. Meat dishes: To season meat dishes, use both dill seed and dill weed. Finely grind dill seed or chop dill weed to use in a spice blend. If you want a contrast in flavors, garnish a savory meat dish with dill sprigs just before you serve it.
3. 3. Pickles: Both dill seed and dill weed can add flavor to the cucumbers in dill pickle recipes. Add dill seed to the pickling brine while it cooks, then add the fresh dill weed to the pickling jar, along with the fresh cucumbers, before you pour in the brine.
4. 4. Potato salad: Potatoes are fairly neutral in flavor and soak up other flavors well. Chop fresh dill weed and mix it with mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and onions, then toss the whole mixture with cooked potatoes. For an even stronger flavor, use dried dill instead of fresh dill.
5. 5. Salad dressings: Creamy salad dressings can benefit from the addition of fresh herbs like dill weed. Mix chopped fresh dill weed (or dill seed in a pinch) with sour cream, buttermilk, salt, and pepper for a homemade ranch dressing.
6. 6. Soups and stews: Sauté crushed dill seed in olive oil with other aromatics to flavor hearty soups and stews. This brings out the natural oils in the seed, resulting in a stronger dill seed flavor in your final dish.
7. 7. Vegetable dishes: Fresh dill weed can enhance beets, fresh cucumbers, grilled squash, and other vegetable dishes. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables, then sprinkle them with dill weed fronds for an herby taste or crushed dill seed for a toasted flavor.

If dill is out of season in your area or otherwise hard to come by, one or more of these five herbs might work as a replacement.

• Celery leaves: The leaves of the celery stalk possess a similar flavor to dill. Chop and use them the same way you might other fresh herbs.
• Chervil: With an appearance and flavor similar to parsley, chervil is a leafy green herb with a mild flavor. Chervil works well as a substitute for dill in recipes in which you are already using or would use parsley since its flavor profile is similar.
• Cilantro: Belonging to the same plant family as dill, cilantro can sometimes be a good substitute for the herb. Use cilantro leaves as a garnish or main ingredient in dressings or marinades, and use cilantro seed (or coriander) in the same way you would dill seed.
• Parsley: A mild green herb, parsley is a common garnish in many cuisines, including Italian, Mediterranean, and Scandinavian. While parsley lacks dill’s strong anise flavor, using an abundance of it will strengthen the taste and make it a closer match for dill.
• Tarragon: Possessing a stronger licorice flavor than dill, tarragon is a popular ingredient in chicken salad, potato salad, and pickles. Use less of it when you’re substituting tarragon for dill.

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