10 Best Substitutes For Dill 

Dill can add a great taste to many of your dishes. It is one of the most versatile seasonings you can use when you cook those delicious recipes. B

ut what to do when you have a recipe that calls for dill yet no dill in the house? Let’s talk about some useful alternatives to this delicious herb that can save your recipes.

Keep in mind that, if you replace dill with any other herb, you will obtain a slightly different taste as well.

Finding a one on one match in terms of flavor is impossible as dill is unique in its aroma, texture and even smell. But by experimenting with other herbs, you might be able to discover different tastes that you prefer to the one dill can bring to your food.

Best Dill Substitutes

The following herbs will make for a great replacement for dill as long as you use them in moderation. If you add too much of a certain herb you will intensify the taste more than you want to.

Check the taste of your food as you are cooking it to make sure that you obtain a delicious dish.

Also, keep in mind that if you use a different herb than dill, you will have to accept the fact that your food will taste different as well. Maybe you will even like it better with other herbs instead of dill.

1. Basil 

If you are looking for a good dill substitute, basil is one of your best choices. It goes great with the majority of dishes and it has a pleasant taste that everyone will love. You can use basil in plenty of foods such as soups or stews and it is a great herb for salads as well.

Plus, basil is easy to find too, in both fresh and dry versions. The dry version of this herb tends to be stronger in flavor than the fresh one so you will not have to add too much of it.

2. Oregano

Oregano is one of the most versatile plants out there. It goes great on pizza, pasta as well as on soups, stews, or salads. You can find it mixed with other herbs or use it plain as it is very aromatic by itself.

The most common form of oregano is the dried plant but if you want to use it fresh you should know that its flavor will not be as rich. If you want, you can even grow oregano in a pot right at home. This way you will have access to this plant any time you want.

3. Thyme

If you are cooking meat dishes, thyme should definitely be one of the seasonings you use to give it the rich taste you want. Thyme can replace dill but it is not going to offer you the same flavor as this herb.

There are different mixes that contain thyme but you want it plain to get used to its taste first. By using plain thyme, you will learn to appreciate its flavor and you can decide how much of it to add to your dishes.

4. Tarragon

Tarragon can be a great substitute for dill too if you use it in moderation. This plant is part of the sunflower family and it is used not only for its flavor but also for its medicinal properties. Tarragon might not be one of the most common seasonings but you will find it in different mixes along with other herbs.

5. Parsley 

Maybe one of the most common seasonings when it comes to food is parsley. You can use fresh or dry parsley and it will enrich the taste of your food significantly. You can use it just like you would use your dill but don’t expect the same taste. Parsley has a more earthly taste and less potent than the dill flavor. So, you might have to add more parsley if you want to get a rich flavor food.

6. Garlic

Using garlic instead of dill might seem questionable but it is a good trick that many chefs apply. Garlic can add a different taste to any type of food you prepare just like green onion leaves. You can use garlic powder or fresh garlic according to the type of recipe you want to prepare. Most often, if you use garlic instead of dill, you will want to use it in a powder form.

7. Bay leaf

Using a bay leaf in your food will add a lot of nutrients and vitamins to your dish. These leaves are rich in vitamin A, C as well as iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Most likely, you will not consume these leaves but by adding them to your food, the rest of the ingredients will absorb the taste and their nutrients from them.

You can use them fresh or dry and they are very efficient in helping you assimilate protein. Bay leaves go great with meat dishes.

8. Mint

Mint is a strong flavor that could easily replace dill as well. As a matter of fact, mint, being it fresh or dry is stronger in its aroma than dill. So, you might want to use just a pinch of mint in order to add some interesting taste to your food. Use mint for fresh recipes rather than cooked ones as it will give your food a better taste.

9. Cilantro

Cilantro, as well as coriander, could be one of the best dill replacements. It resembles this herb in terms of properties and it also looks similar. But don’t expect it to taste the same. As we mentioned, dill has a specific flavor that you will not find another herb that gives you the same taste. But cilantro and coriander could easily be a great alternative to dill in almost any type of food.

10. Rosemary

Rosemary is a great herb to use with dill but also instead of dill. Rosemary is common for many recipes as it will go great with soups of all kinds, meat dishes as well as more complex specialties.

Conclusion

When you need to replace the dill in your food, it is important to look for a taste that you and your family like. Finding the same dill aroma and flavor will be difficult and even impossible if you want a perfect match. But you can use any of the alternatives in this guide to obtain a unique taste.

Be careful when it comes to the quantities you add to your food. Taste as you are cooking it and decide if you need more seasonings or not. A good idea if you don’t want to run out of dill is to grow it in a pot on your balcony, porch, or in your garden. You can have your own dill supply with no effort.