DILL

Culinary & Medicinal

DILL
♣ leaf frond has clean, sweet anise-lemon flavours
❧ dried seed is warming, clean, pungent, sweet anise-fennel flavours 
✲ flowers have a delicate anise floral note – use fresh as a garnish
❧ substitute dill seed with aniseed, fennel and caraway as they are very similar

FOOD FLAVOUR PAIRINGS
Herbs: parsley, mint, chives, chervil, sorrel, bronze fennel, tarragon, lemon myrtle, hibiscus
Spices: cumin, coriander, caraway, clove, pepper, mustard, turmeric, ginger, chilli, horseradish
Vegetables: cucumber, tomato, beetroot, carrots, potatoes, peas, avocado, cabbage. mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, squash, leafy greens, alliums, capers, squash, parsnips, cauliflower
Fruits:  lemon, coconut, rosehip
Nuts & Seeds: hazelnuts, sunflower, sesame, peanuts
Beans & Grains:  lentils, chickpeas, rice, beans, wheat
Non-Dairy: coconut milk & cream, tahini
Dairy: butter, mild creamy cheeses, cream, sour cream, yoghurt, kefir,
Animal: eggs, white fish, smoked fish, shellfish, chicken, pork, beef, lamb

CREATE
Mix in and garnish salads, soups, breads, curries, stews, potato and fish dishes to bright flavours with benefits
Blend or chop fresh in creamy sauces 
Infuse & ferment with pickled vegetables, in sauerkraut, mustards, 
Steep, soak, extract; iced & herbal teas, vinegar, alcohol, tinctures
Shake or blend into aperitifs or digestif cocktails for digestive benefits 
Clean use in cleaning products due to antibacterial, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiviral properties 

STORE
Fresh dill unwashed wrapped in cotton or paper towel or a sealed container in the fridge
Freeze fresh dill whole, in ice cube trays or blended pesto style use stirred into soups, cooked dishes, sauces once defrosted
Infuse herb and seed in vinegar, alcohol
Dry dill fronds and seeds separately in a paper bag or drying rack away from direct sunlight in an airy place. Store dried herbs in sealed glass jars in a dark cupboard.

MEDICINAL
♦ dill is considered a soothing herb helps relax nervous tension and anxiety-related symptoms
♦ aid digestions, stimulate appetite, relieves gas and bloating, soothes upset, nervous stomach
♦ relieves colds 
♦ supports the respiratory system and helps balance blood sugar
♦ supports detoxifications, thought to help lower cholesterol 
♦ anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-fungal
♦ antioxidant, chemo-protective flavonoids, vitamins, minerals eps. calcium, magnesium, iron
♦ essential oil, middle note, not commonly used in aromatherapy, blend with spice, wood, citrus.