Herb of the Month: Dill

In honor of my friend, this month I am featuring Dill, which happens to be his last name. I have so many herbs that I can call my favorite, but dill is one of the best in my humble opinion. I absolutely love the flavor. Whether it is used to make pickles, added to chicken salad or dressings, this herb is amazing!

Health Benefits

Dill has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. One major health benefit of dill is to help with digestive issues, such as upset stomach, diarrhea, acid reflux, or stomach gas. These are just a few.

I do not see people going out to consume dill in bunches, but dill does contain vitamins, such as Vitamin A and C, and minerals that include potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Uses

I primarily use dill in dressings for my salads, including garden salads, chicken salad, and quinoa salad, but I also use dill in soups and for baked fish or chicken.

Simple Lemon & Dill Dressing

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

• 1 Lemon (zest and juice)

• 1 TBSP fresh dill

• Himalayan pink salt & pepper to taste

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Directions

• Add all ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar.
• Whisk (or shake) until emulsified.

Did you know…

Every part of the dill plant is usable in one form or fashion. And, just like chives, all parts of the dill plant are edible. You can use the flowers in culinary dishes before the flower goes to seed to bring a touch of bright yellow to the dish. And speaking of edible, Black Swallowtail Caterpillars love dill, so do not be surprised if you do not find this beautiful bright caterpillar snacking on your plant.

One thing I can tell you is that the name “dill weed” definitely lives up to the name. I say this due to the fact that if you let the dill go to seed, the wind will blow the seed around the garden, and you will end up with dill growing EVERYWHERE and in random spots. Yep, I am guilty of letting this happen. I usually just let it grow where it wants, unless it is in the walk path, then I move them to a designated dill spot of the year, named the ‘The Dilly Box.”