Dill is a widely used ingredient in pickles and Mediterranean recipes. Are you preparing a dish that calls for dill? But you do not have it as this herb is not a pantry staple, or you can’t find it in the market. Don’t worry! This blog post provides you with the best possible substitutes for dill.
Dill has fresh citrusy, and earthy flavors with undertones of sweetness. It is commonly used to enhance the flavors of fish, pickles, soups, and many more. Just sprinkle dill over your favorite cucumber salads, and you are good to go!
Some of the best dill substitutes are tarragon, fennel, parsley, thyme, rosemary, chervil, basil, mint, garlic powder, bay leaf, chives, anise seed, cilantro, caraway seeds, and oregano.
Here is a parade of substitutes for dill that you can try your hands on whenever you run out of dill.
16 Best Dill Substitutes
1. Tarragon
Are you looking for the best dill substitute? You just can’t miss tarragon. Initially, it was used as a popular culinary herb in French cuisine. But now, tarragon is a part of different recipes around the world.
Tarragon has a similar profile when it comes to flavors and aroma with undertones of anise or licorice. You can use it in sauces and soups instead of dill.
However, it has strong flavors that elevate the recipe’s flavors. Since fresh tarragon goes well in heat thus, I suggest you add it much earlier while preparing the recipe.
You can use both dried and fresh ones as substitutes. You can use a fresh tarragon 1:1 ratio for fresh dill while cooking. You can substitute half a teaspoon for every tablespoon of fresh dill.
2. Fennel
Those leaflets present on the fennel bulb look quite similar to fresh dill. What else is better to substitute with the same family member?
Both fennel and dill belong to the same carrot family. Thus they can easily be used as a substitute. You can surely use it in meat, vegetables, fish, and salads.
Dill and fennel look alike, but they are a bit different when it comes to taste. Fennel fronds have light licorice flavors and have a bit of a sweet taste.
You can use it for garnishing recipes. To substitute dill with fennel fronds, you can use a 1:1 ratio.
3. Parsley
We all know parsley as a garnishing agent. Parsley is also another great and easily available option for substituting dill in the recipe.
Do you know the best part? This household herb is available throughout the year. Moreover, it has a mild taste which makes it an amazing substitute.
You can add this herb to any meat or fish dish; it won’t overpower the other flavors of the dish. Parsley has an earthy flavor and is safe to use as a substitute for dill.
You can substitute it in the ratio of 1:1. If you are looking for strong flavors, it might be lacking somewhere. If you like strong flavors, you can add more quantity that just suits your taste.
4. Thyme
Another substitute on this substitution list is thyme. It belongs to the same mint family and is widely used for seasoning in Mediterranean recipes. You can use thyme to replace dill in roasted, grilled, or stewed recipes.
Wondering about how it tastes? Well, it has a stronger flavor as compared to dill. Thus it is advisable to use a modest amount of thyme in the dishes.
You can expect a little sweet minty flavor with earthy flavors. Well, you can also include it in marinades for meat and fish.
Since it has strong flavors, use a modest amount of thyme to substitute dill. Otherwise, its strong flavor may outweigh the other flavors of the recipe. Thus, it is advisable to start with a pinch and add on the quantity per your taste.
5. Rosemary
Looking for a strong herbal taste? Try rosemary as an excellent substitute for dill. This is another Mediterranean herb on the list. Rosemary works perfectly with potatoes, meat, or any vegetable dish.
Rosemary brings out the best flavors in your recipes. This herb has perfect floral notes with woodsy and peppery flavors. Adding on to this, you will definitely love the strong aroma of the rosemary herb.
When it comes to the substitution ratio, I would rather suggest starting with a pinch and eventually adding it to the dish, as per your taste.
You can also go for a 1:1 ratio only in those recipes where dill is used as garnishing.
6. Chervil
Another annual herb on this substitution list is chervil. It belongs to the parsley family and is quite popular in French cooking.
You can easily use it in place of dill, which can easily be incorporated into salads and soups. You can substitute chervil for dill for a 1:1 ratio.
Chervil is best known for its quality of enhancing the flavors of the recipes. Speaking of its flavors, it has mild licorice flavors.
7. Basil
Regarding taste, basil does not share the same taste profile as dill but can still be used as a substitute for dill.
Basil is known for its sweet taste and aromatic flavors. This herb has hints of anise and has always been the crowd’s favorite. While using basil leaves as a substitute for dill, you need to follow the 1:1 ratio.
It is advisable to use fresh basil rather than dried. This is because the fresh basil leaves have flavors closer to dill rather than dried ones.
The flavors of basil are best complemented when paired with soups, salads, stews, and meat. Well, you can use it as a substitute for dill in those dishes where dill is not used as a main ingredient.
8. Bay Leaf
Another easily available alternative for dill is a bay leaf. This substitute is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Just add a few leaves to the recipe while preparing the dish.
Bay leaf has strong, pungent flavors and loads your body with the richness of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and potassium.
Bay leaf is best to accompany meat and slow-cooked soups and stews and has deep flavors. I would suggest you fish them out before serving the dish to your guests.
9. Mint
Don’t we all love the refreshing flavors of mint? Mint leaves serve as an excellent substitute for dill.
Mint leaves are known for their bright and grassy aroma flavors and are best for Mediterranean and middle eastern cuisine.
Mint can be used as a great replacement for dill in dressing, yogurt-based dips, and also those recipes that call for lemon.
Talking about the substitute ratio, you can start with a pinch and then add the amount of mint per your taste and preferences.
10. Garlic Powder
You must be confused why it is on the list, as dill and garlic powder do not share a similar taste. But garlic powder serves the same purpose as the gill does.
Chefs use garlic powder as a substitute for dill because of its flavors. It is not a herb but enhances the flavor of the recipe.
Garlic powder is known for its pungent taste and strong flavors. You can use ¼ amount of garlic powder to substitute dill. If you find the need for more, feel free to add on.
11. Cilantro
Another potential substitute for dill is cilantro, as it also belongs to a similar family. But when we talk about the flavors, it is quite distinct.
The flavor of the dill is quite dominant, which is quite the opposite in the case of cilantro. Fresh cilantro has a citrusy and pungent flavor.
You can easily incorporate it with the dishes such as dips and dressings. When it comes to substitution ratio, you can replace 1 teaspoon of fresh dill with ½ teaspoon of cilantro.
12. Oregano
Who is not aware of this versatile herb? Oregano is a common herb and has earthy and minty notes.
Although dill and oregano do not share similar flavors, oregano serves a similar purpose and can be used in meat marinades and dressings.
If you are looking for a crowd-pleasing taste, then you can try your hand at this substitute. It has sweet herbal flavors that can be used in pizza, pasta, soups, and stews.
If you are using it as a substitute, start with a minimum quantity and gradually add on as per your taste.
13. Dried Dill
Well, looking for a perfect substitute? What else is better than this? Then you must use dried dill. It is quite similar to fresh dill and provides quite a similar flavor to fresh dill.
Dried dill is the closest alternative to fresh dill, but it is a bit inferior when it comes to taste. You can use one teaspoon of dried dill with one tablespoon of fresh dill.
You can easily incorporate it in soups and stews, but not the best to accompany salads and dressings.
14. Caraway Seeds
Another replacement for dill is caraway seeds. Most people often confuse it with cumin seeds as they both look quite alike. You can use it in the substitution ratio of 1:1.
Caraway seeds are known for their strong aroma and are quite similar to anise seeds. When it comes to taste, it is quite akin to a mixture of anise and cumin with hints of citrus.
Its flavors are best accompanied by cream-based soups as well as cooked cabbage. You are going to experience licorice-like notes and enhanced flavors of dishes.
15. Chives
Of course, how can we miss chives? It just adds the same freshness and refreshment to the dishes, similar to dill.
Chives add a similar appearance to the dish, but it is not the same when it comes to taste. It has a somewhat onion-like taste.
You can use it as toppings as well as in salads. You can use a 1:1 ratio to substitute dill with chives.
16. Star Anise
One of the most popular and strong-flavored spices is star anise. It is quite popular in Vietnamese and Chinese cooking.
Despite being sweet, it is used in savory dishes, especially in meat recipes. You can use it in soups and stews and add a sweet peppery flavor.
If you want to substitute dill with star anise, just add one or two pods. Make sure you do not overuse it; otherwise, it overweighs the original flavor of the dish.
Short Recap Of The Best Dill Substitutes
Okay! Okay! I got it; it is quite a whole parade of alternatives. Let me help you to recall all the substitutes for a quick look.
Best Dill Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor
- Tarragon
- Chervil
- Rosemary
- Dried Dill
Best Dill Substitutes In Terms Of Texture
- Fennel
- Rosemary
Best Dill Substitutes In Terms Of Availability
- Parsley
- Mint
- Bay Leaf
- Oregano
- Garlic Powder
- Basil
- Fennel
How To Use Dill Substitutes In A Recipe
16 Best Dill Substitutes You Should Try
Ingredients
- Tarragon
- Fennel
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Chervil
- Basil
- Bay Leaf
- Mint
- Garlic Powder
- Cilantro
- Oregano
- Dried Dill
- Caraway Seeds
- Chives
- Star Anise
Instructions
- Go through all the substitutes mentioned below and choose the one which suits your recipe the best.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the substitutes we can use for fresh dill?
Some of the best substitutes for dill are tarragon, fennel, parsley, thyme, rosemary, chervil, basil, mint, garlic powder, bay leaf, chives, anise seed, cilantro, caraway seeds, and oregano.
Which vegetable is similar to dill?
Fennel is a vegetable quite similar to dill and can be used as the best substitute for dill.
Can we use star anise in place of dill?
Yes, you can substitute dill with star anise. If you want to substitute dill with star anise, just add one or two pods. Make sure you do not overuse it; otherwise, it overweighs the original flavor of the dish.
What are the easily available replacements for fresh dill?
Parsley, mint, bay leaf, oregano, garlic powder, basil, and fennel are easily availed substitutes for the dill.
Conclusion
Well, this is all about the substitutes for dill. You can find some of them in your kitchen, while others you can get from a nearby store.
Each substitute is unique and adds pleasant flavors to the dishes. I hope you find your needed substitute for dill. See you next time, and till then, keep reading.
