While in the midst of preparing lunch or dinner, you may have a startling discovery…the dill you thought you had is nowhere to be found. Now, what will you use? Not to worry, because these 25 best dill substitutes can step in and save the day!
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Table of Contents
About Dill Weed
Dill is a delicate herb that is related to celery. It is used in fresh and dried forms to add a bright, sweet, herby flavor that imparts a bit of similar notes to anise and parsley. It’s wonderful for bringing a special taste to your meals.
What are the health benefits of dill weed?
Dill weed is not just a flavor enhancer; it’s also packed with health benefits. It is a good source of vitamin C and manganese. Consumption of adequate vitamin C is associated with improved mental health, specifically depression and anxiety [1].
Dill is rich in antioxidants – flavonoids, terpenoids, and tannins. It has been shown to have anti-cancer and anti-aging potential [2].
Dried Vs. Fresh
Dried dill has less of a pop of flavor when compared to fresh dill, but it can fill in if you need it to, especially if you add a bit more of it than you would for the fresh version. If you’re out of either one, keep reading to find a substitute to help you balance your flavors.
A good rule of thumb is to use a 3:1 ratio. Three parts fresh dill is roughly equivalent to one part dried dill.
Quick Guide
When you need an answer in a pinch, take a look here to find a fast replacement for dill!
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- Best alternative for dill in salads: Fresh chervil or fennel is a great choice, especially when you’re making potato salad.
- Easy substitutes for dill in Mediterranean recipes: Try fresh parsley out for your Mediterranean meals.
- Go-to dill alternatives in Asian cuisine: Fresh basil is used a lot in Asian dishes too, though fennel can also help.
- Must-try dill substitutes in pickling recipes: You can use fresh thyme or tarragon or try anise, caraway, dill, or fennel seeds.
The List: 25 Best Dill Substitutes
Here are the best dill substitutes for various recipes!
- Fresh Dill Weed: When you are fresh out of dried dill, you can use fresh dill. It will be more potent in flavor than when it is dried.
- Dried Dill: The swap works both ways, so when your recipe calls for fresh dill, head to your spice rack and grab the dried variety.
- Dill Seeds: I only recommend dill seeds in recipes where you’d be using other types of seeds, as these are not interchangeable for fresh or dried dill. But if you’re making homemade pickled veggies, for example, that’s a great place to try them!
- Fresh Tarragon: Fresh tarragon is so similar to fresh dill that it really is one of the best substitutes you can use in most situations.
- Dried Tarragon: Dried tarragon can also help, but add just a little first and taste, adjusting as needed.
- Fresh Curly Parsley: Fresh curly parsley is always available throughout the year, so if you’re standing at the store and there is no dill around, try it!
- Fresh Italian Parsley: You can also go with fresh Italian parsley as it tastes similar to fresh curly parsley and will effectively substitute for your dill. (Here’s a guide if you’re in the midst of cooking and looking for the best parsley substitutes.)
- Dried Parsley: Dried parsley can also work, but you’ll want to add it in and test it first, then add more to balance the flavors.
- Fresh Chervil: Since chervil is in the parsley family and is similar to dill, you can use this swap with confidence!
- Dried Chervil: Dried chervil will help, too, though the flavors are a bit more concentrated, so start small and build up.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil has a similar sweetness to dill that can add the required complexity. This may be ideal if you’re making Asian cuisine.
- Dried Basil: Though it will be stronger, dried basil is another option for your dill replacement.
- Fresh Rosemary: Rosemary is widely used in French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines. It will add a nice herbal flavor, though it will alter the taste profile (which may not be a bad thing!).
- Dried Rosemary: Dried rosemary can be a bit woody in texture, so make sure you add it during the cooking process to soften up the pieces and unleash their flavor compounds.
- Fresh Thyme: Fresh thyme is a bit stronger in flavor, so keep this replacement for baking or roasting in your dishes.
- Dried Thyme: Dried thyme can overpower things quickly, so if you’re going to use it, add it in increments.
- Fresh Mint: Mint may be the bright and cheerful pop of herbs you need in your dish, though this substitute is ideal for Middle Eastern or Mediterranean dishes.
- Dried Mint: With dried mint, the flavors are even more distinctive and you’ll want to take care that they do not overrun the entire meal.
- Fennel Bulb: Fennel bulb is a great garnish when you add fresh dill at the end or in your final stir of potato salad.
- Fresh Fennel Fronds: The fronds from fresh fennel will work similarly to elevate your recipe.
- Fennel Seeds: If you’re making dips, sauces, or salads like potato salad, fennel seeds can certainly fix things up and bring on the flavor.
- Anise Seeds: Trust me when I say that if anise seeds are the only option on this list, use just a pinch or they will be the only thing you will be able to taste.
- Fresh Oregano: Versatile fresh oregano is great for subbing in for dill in Mediterranean dishes.
- Dried Oregano: Of course, the dried stuff works just as well! (In case you need a substitute for oregano.)
- Caraway Seeds: Caraway seeds will work like anise seeds in your recipe, so avoid letting that licorice-like flavor take over by just adding a teensy bit.
FAQ
What you can use will depend on what you’re making. Certain flavors will work better in different types of recipes. If you don’t have dill, try tarragon, chervil, thyme, or fennel.
One of the closest flavor profiles and textures to dill is fennel, particularly the leaves and bulb.
Mint can be a great substitute for dill in certain recipes, particularly for anything Middle Eastern or Mediterranean.
Final Words
Dill certainly has a flavor all its own, though other herbs can help you out when needed. The best choice for replacing fresh dill can be the dried dill on your spice rack, though if you’re at the store and need a fresh herb, this list will help you find the right replacement for your meal.
References
[1] Moritz, B., Schmitz, A. E., Rodrigues, A. L. S., Dafre, A. L., & Cunha, M. P. (2020). The role of vitamin C in stress-related disorders. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 85, 108459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108459
[2] Li, Z., Xue, Y., Li, M., Guo, Q., Sang, Y., Wang, C., & Luo, C. (2018). The Antioxidation of Different Fractions of Dill (Anethum graveolens) and Their Influences on Cytokines in Macrophages RAW264.7. Journal of oleo science, 67(12), 1535–1541. https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.ess18134
Great info. Thanks.
Wonderful!