Dill seed, as the name implies, is the seed of the dill plant. It is dropped from dill flowers if the plant is allowed to bloom. Dill seed can be used in recipes for pickling, baking, and seasoning. Dill weed is the fresh or dried leaves of the dill plant. It has a fresher, less bitter flavor than dill seed. It is typically used to season meat, salads, and dips.
Are Dill Seed and Dill Weed the Same?
Dill seed and dill weed are not the same. Dill seed is made of seeds while dill leaves are the leaves of the same plant. Both these items are commonly found in the herbs and spices section of your grocery store. Dill seed is made up of the small, oval-shaped seeds of the dill plant. These seeds have a pleasantly bitter taste with a hint of licorice. It is quite different from the taste of dill weed.
- Dill seed and dill weed come from the same plant, but they are not the same.
- Dill seed is made of whole or ground seeds from a dill plant.
- Dill weed is the leaves of the dill plant.
- Slight bitterness and hints of licorice are characteristic of dill seed.
- Dill weed is known for its distinct herbal and lemony flavor.
Dill weed has a fresh, herbal taste with a lemony hint. It lacks the bitterness and hints of licorice found in dill seed. Purchase fresh dill weed for the best flavor. Dried dill weed still has this herbal flavor, but the drying process makes it less noticeable.
What is Dill Seed Used for?
Dill seed is commonly used in pickling. In fact, many pickle recipes call for both dill seed and dill weed. In addition to pickling, you will also find crushed dill seed baked into savory breads. It can also be ground up and added to soups, stews, or even used as seasoning for meat, fish, and tofu.
What is Dill Weed Used For?
Dill weed is most often used to season seafood, meat, and vegetarian proteins. It is commonly combined with lemon, butter, and garlic. Fresh dill can also be used to season pasta, potato salad, and other starches. Dill weed is a popular addition to many salad dressings and dips.
Can You Substitute Dill Weed for Dill Seed?
If a recipe calls for dill seed, do not use dill weed instead. Although both of these seasonings come from the same plant, the seeds and leaves have different flavors. Additionally, baked or cooked dishes that draw out the flavor of dill seed may just dry out dill weed and leave it flavorless.
What is a Replacement for Dill Seed?
The easiest way to replace dill seed is by using caraway. If a recipe calls for dill seed, you can simply use the same amount of caraway. Both seeds have similar flavor notes. My favorite replacement for dill seed happens to be fennel. Dill and fennel are closely related, so they share flavor profiles. When replacing dill seed with fennel, use half the amount the recipe calls for.
Can You Substitute Dill Seed for Fresh Dill?
Never use dill seed when a recipe calls for fresh dill. Dill seed has bitterness and licorice notes that dill weed doesn’t have. The dish will not taste quite right if you use dill seed instead of fresh dill. Instead, you can use fresh tarragon or fresh parsley as a replacement for fresh dill. You’ll get a similar bright, herbal flavor.
Can You Use Dried Dill Weed Instead of Fresh Dill?
It is fine to use dried dill instead of fresh dill. However, I urge you to use fresh dill whenever possible. Fresh-picked dill leaves have far more flavor than dried dill, and it really makes a difference in cooking. Rather than buy fresh dill from the store, it’s extremely easy to grow and harvest your own dill.
What is the Difference Between Dill Seed and Dill Weed?
If you’re not sure why a recipe calls for dill seed or dill weed, here are the answers:
- Dill seed and dill weed are not the same thing.
- Dill seed is made of the seeds of the dill plant.
- Dill weed, dill, and fresh dill are made from the leaves of the dill plant.
- There is a big flavor difference between dill seed and dill weed.
- Dill seed has distinct licorice notes and a slight bitterness.
- Fresh, lemony, herbal flavor is the trademark of dill weed.
- Do not substitute dill seed for dill weed, or vice-versa.
- If you don’t have dill seed, use caraway or fennel instead.
- Fresh dill is best, but you can use tarragon or parsley instead.
The stronger flavor of dill seed means it often works poorly in recipes that specifically call for dill weed. However, both these seasonings are incredible when used in the right way. You can even use both dill seed and fresh dill to make amazing pickles.