Capers and dill share a briny, pickle-adjacent logic: capers bring sharp salinity while dill adds green freshness, ideal for fish sauces and salads.
dill
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A feathery herb with a distinctive fresh, slightly anise-adjacent flavor from carvone and limonene — lighter and brighter than caraway (which shares the same c…
69 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Dill's flavor comes primarily from D-carvone (the same compound in spearmint and caraway, but in dill with the characteristic green-herbal version of the molecule) combined with limonene and dill ether. The feathery leaves are more delicate than the seeds: dill weed must be used fresh or added at the last moment (extended heat destroys its volatile compounds); dill seed is earthier and more suitable for prolonged cooking. The partnership of dill and salmon — most perfectly expressed in gravlax (raw salmon cured with salt, sugar, and dill for 48 hours) — is among the most distinctive flavor pairings in Northern European cooking, where the herb's freshness cuts through the rich cured fish. In Eastern European cooking, dill seasons pickles (cucumber, beet, sauerkraut), borscht, potato salads, and cabbage preparations; in Greek tzatziki, it occasionally replaces or accompanies mint. Dried dill has a pale shadow of fresh dill's character — acceptable only when fresh is unavailable.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Core pairings
capers
cucumbers
eggs
salmon
capers
Capers and dill share a briny, pickle-adjacent logic: capers bring sharp salinity while dill adds green freshness, ideal for fish sauces and salads.
cucumbers
Dill's feathery freshness is the defining flavour of cucumber pickles and tzatziki; the herb's anise notes amplify cucumber's cool, green character.
eggs
Dill lifts eggs' richness with clean herbal sweetness, making omelets, egg salad, and deviled eggs taste fresher rather than heavier.
salmon
Dill and salmon is one of the great Northern European classic pairings—dill's anise-fresh character is the dominant flavour in gravlax, where it cures alongside salt and sugar to perfume the fish.
Dill's feathery freshness is the defining flavour of cucumber pickles and tzatziki; the herb's anise notes amplify cucumber's cool, green character.
Dill lifts eggs' richness with clean herbal sweetness, making omelets, egg salad, and deviled eggs taste fresher rather than heavier.
Dill and salmon is one of the great Northern European classic pairings—dill's anise-fresh character is the dominant flavour in gravlax, where it cures alongside salt and sugar to perfume the fish.
Pairs well with
asparagus
avocados
basil
beans
beef
beets
breads
broccoli
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery root
cheese, cheddar
cheese, cottage
cheese, goat
cheese, soft
chicken
chives
cilantro
coriander
corn
crayfish
cream cheese
cream sauces
crème fraîche
eggplant
fish
garlic
green beans
halibut
horseradish
lemon balm
lemon thyme
lovage
meats
mint
mushrooms
mustard
onions
paprika
parsley
parsnips
peas
pickles
potatoes and potato salad
poultry
rice
salads and salad dressings
salmon, cured
salmon, smoked
sauces
scallops
shellfish
shrimp
sole
soups
sour cream and sour cream sauces
spinach
squash
tomatoes and tomato juices
trout
veal
vegetables
yogurt and yogurt sauces
zucchini
asparagus
Asparagus works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
avocados
Avocados works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
basil
Basil layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
beans
Beans works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
beef
Beef benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
beets
Beets works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
breads
Breads gives dill a neutral, comforting base where its fresh herbal note can stand out clearly.
broccoli
Broccoli works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
cabbage
Cabbage works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
carrots
Carrots works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
cauliflower
Cauliflower works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
celery root
Celery Root works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
cheese, cheddar
Cheese, Cheddar brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
cheese, cottage
Cheese, Cottage brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
cheese, goat
Cheese, Goat brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
cheese, soft
Cheese, Soft brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
chicken
Chicken benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
chives
Chives adds savory bite under dill's fresh aroma, a natural move in salads, sauces, and pickled dishes.
cilantro
Cilantro layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
coriander
Coriander works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
corn
Corn works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
crayfish
Crayfish benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
cream cheese
Cream Cheese gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
cream sauces
Cream Sauces gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
crème fraîche
Crème Fraîche gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
eggplant
Eggplant works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
fish
Fish benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
garlic
Garlic adds savory bite under dill's fresh aroma, a natural move in salads, sauces, and pickled dishes.
green beans
Green Beans works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
halibut
Halibut benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
horseradish
Horseradish works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
lemon balm
Lemon Balm brightens dill's green, anise-like aroma and makes it taste cleaner in dressings, sauces, and fish dishes.
lemon thyme
Lemon Thyme brightens dill's green, anise-like aroma and makes it taste cleaner in dressings, sauces, and fish dishes.
lovage
Lovage layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
meats
Meats benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
mint
Mint layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
mushrooms
Mushrooms brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
mustard
Mustard works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
onions
Onions adds savory bite under dill's fresh aroma, a natural move in salads, sauces, and pickled dishes.
paprika
Paprika works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
parsley
Parsley layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
parsnips
Parsnips works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
peas
Peas works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
pickles
Pickles works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
potatoes and potato salad
Potatoes And Potato Salad gives dill a neutral, comforting base where its fresh herbal note can stand out clearly.
poultry
Poultry benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
rice
Rice gives dill a neutral, comforting base where its fresh herbal note can stand out clearly.
salads and salad dressings
Salads And Salad Dressings works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
salmon, cured
Salmon, Cured benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
salmon, smoked
Salmon, Smoked benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
sauces
Sauces works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
scallops
Scallops benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
shellfish
Shellfish benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
shrimp
Shrimp benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
sole
Sole benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
soups
Soups works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
sour cream and sour cream sauces
Sour Cream And Sour Cream Sauces gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
spinach
Spinach works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
squash
Squash works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
tomatoes and tomato juices
Tomatoes And Tomato Juices works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
trout
Trout benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
veal
Veal benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
vegetables
Vegetables works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
yogurt and yogurt sauces
Yogurt And Yogurt Sauces works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
zucchini
Zucchini works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Asparagus works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Avocados works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Basil layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
Beans works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Beef benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Beets works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
breads
Breads gives dill a neutral, comforting base where its fresh herbal note can stand out clearly.
Broccoli works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Cabbage works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Carrots works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Cauliflower works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Celery Root works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Cheese, Cheddar brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
cheese, cottage
Cheese, Cottage brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
Cheese, Goat brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
cheese, soft
Cheese, Soft brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
Chicken benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Chives adds savory bite under dill's fresh aroma, a natural move in salads, sauces, and pickled dishes.
Cilantro layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
Coriander works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Corn works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Crayfish benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Cream Cheese gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
cream sauces
Cream Sauces gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
Crème Fraîche gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
Eggplant works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Fish benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Garlic adds savory bite under dill's fresh aroma, a natural move in salads, sauces, and pickled dishes.
green beans
Green Beans works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Halibut benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Horseradish works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Lemon Balm brightens dill's green, anise-like aroma and makes it taste cleaner in dressings, sauces, and fish dishes.
Lemon Thyme brightens dill's green, anise-like aroma and makes it taste cleaner in dressings, sauces, and fish dishes.
Lovage layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
meats
Meats benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Mint layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
Mushrooms brings salt or savoriness that anchors dill's airy freshness, especially in fish, potato, and dairy-based preparations.
Mustard works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Onions adds savory bite under dill's fresh aroma, a natural move in salads, sauces, and pickled dishes.
Paprika works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Parsley layers another green note beside dill, making the herb profile more complex without burying its feathery freshness.
Parsnips works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Peas works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
pickles
Pickles works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
potatoes and potato salad
Potatoes And Potato Salad gives dill a neutral, comforting base where its fresh herbal note can stand out clearly.
poultry
Poultry benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
rice
Rice gives dill a neutral, comforting base where its fresh herbal note can stand out clearly.
salads and salad dressings
Salads And Salad Dressings works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Salmon, Cured benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Salmon, Smoked benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
sauces
Sauces works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Scallops benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Shellfish benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Shrimp benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Sole benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
soups
Soups works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
sour cream and sour cream sauces
Sour Cream And Sour Cream Sauces gives dill a creamy or rich base that carries its volatile aroma without muting its freshness.
Spinach works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
squash
Squash works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
tomatoes and tomato juices
Tomatoes And Tomato Juices works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Trout benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
Veal benefits from dill's fresh lift, which cuts richness and gives the pairing a clean Northern European feel.
vegetables
Vegetables works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
yogurt and yogurt sauces
Yogurt And Yogurt Sauces works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.
Zucchini works with dill by supporting its clean, grassy brightness and keeping the overall flavor fresh.