SaurabhDill is a plant that belongs to the Apiaceae family. The family also includes parsley, carrot, celery, fennel, coriander, cumin, caraway, and many other aromatic flowering plants. It is mostly grown in Europe and Asia and used as an herb or spice in various dishes.
The leaves of the dill herb also known as dillweed. You can use them fresh and dried to flavor dishes with fish, soups, beans, salads, potatoes, and many other meals. The seed of the plant is a common spice in many cuisines.
Dill weed and dill seeds have some similarities, however, they are not 100% the same. They have their differences. For example, dill weed has a similar flavor to anise and parsley with a hint of lemon, and dill seeds are with an anise flavor and a hint of caraway.
Dill seeds have a strong slightly bitter flavor which reminds of camphor and gets stronger if the seeds are heated. Dill weed is also available as a dried herb. However, it has a weaker flavor than fresh dill.
Therefore, you will have to use more dried dill weed to reach the similar unique flavor of the fresh dill. Also, add dill weed at the end of the cooking time because if it is cooked longer, it will lose its flavor.
You can also use dill weed as a garnish in many salads, dressings, cold soups, and seafood. Or with spreads like cream cheese, sour cream, and more.
Dill seeds, on the other hand, pair well with veggie and meat dishes, soups, bread, pickles, salad dressings, and more, as whole seeds or crushed.
Dill Seed vs Dill Weed
The main difference between dill seeds and dill weed are in their appearance, flavor, and use in cooking.
| Characteristics | Dill weed | Dill seeds |
| Type: | Dill weed is the leaves and stems of this plant | Dill seed is the seed of the fruit of the dill plant |
| Flavor: | Dill weed has a similar flavor to anise and parsley with a hint of lemon | Dill seeds are with strong slightly bitter anise flavor with a hint of caraway which reminds of camphor |
| Usage: | Dill weed is a common herb in many dishes. Also, dried dill weed has a weaker flavor than fresh dill weed | Dill seeds are a spice in many dishes. Also, if you toast the dill seeds, they will have a stronger flavor and aroma |
| When to add dill weed and dill seeds to your cooking? | Dill weed is added at the end of the cooking because it will lose its flavor if it is cooked longer. It is also used in dishes with a short time of cooking | Dill seeds are added at the beginning of the cooking and develop a better flavor while they are cooking. They are used in dishes that demand longer cooking |
| Storage: | Fresh dill weed can be stored in a refrigerator for 5-7 days wrapped in plastic wrap | Dill seeds can be stored in an airtight container for about six months in a cold, dark, and dry place |
Dill is mostly known as a spice used for pickling. It pairs well with spinach, asparagus, potatoes, grains, zucchini, and summer squash. However, dill is also a common ingredient in many dishes with fish, seafood, and some traditional salads like the Greek tzatziki.
To boost the flavor of your dishes you can use dill seeds or dill weed depending on your recipe. And the flavor you want to reach. Whatever you pick, you will get a unique flavor you will like to repeat many times in your dishes.
Related Questions
Can you use dill seed instead of dill weed?
Dill seeds and dill weed have different flavors, so they are not good substitutes for each other. If you are substituting dill weed with dill seeds don’t forget to add them at the beginning of the cooking. This way, they will have time to develop their flavor.
Use a smaller amount of dill seeds as a substitute for dill weed (dill seeds have a stronger flavor). However, if you are replacing dill seeds with dill weed you will need more dill weed to substitute the flavor of dill seeds. Also, you will have to add the dill weed at the end of the cooking.
Is there a difference between dill and dill weed?
Dill is a common cooking aromatic herb. The steams and leaves of the same herb are known as dill weed.
Is dried dill seed or weed?
Dried dill is a weed and has a less potent flavor than fresh dill weed. It has a flavor similar to anise and parsley with a lemon hint.
Dried dill weed is used in many dishes like soups, dressings, salads, seafood, and chicken to improve their flavor.
You can also substitute dried dill weed for fresh dill weed in recipes. Use 1 teaspoon of dried dill weed as a substitute for 1 tablespoon fresh dill weed.
What can I substitute for dill seed?
Although dill weed comes from the same plant as dill seeds if you use it as a substitute for dill seeds you will not get the same flavor as when you are using dill seeds.
Therefore, if you want to reach the same dill seeds flavor you can use celery seeds or caraway seeds as a substitute for dill seeds. Replace them in a 1:1 ratio to get the wanted flavor.
Final Thoughts
Except for the wonderful flavor that dill adds to many dishes in different cuisines around the world, there are also some health benefits in the use of it. It has calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins C and A antioxidants, and fiber.
Therefore, dill helps with some health problems like high levels of cholesterol and high blood sugar. But it also helps with digestion, bad breath and has detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties.
We hope that this article helped you to learn something more about dill seeds and dill weed and how they are the same and different at the same time. We will be happy to read about your experience with this herb and the flavor you get in your dish.
