Dill and fennel often get confused for one another. They seem similar in appearance, but they are in fact two different plants used for different purposes and each possess unique characteristics that directly affect the nature of the dishes that they are used in.
Is dill different from fennel?
Dill is used mostly for its dried seed in pickling and northern European cuisine, or fresh in sauces and salad dressings. It “blends the distinctive flavor of its seed with pleasant green, fresh notes,” says kitchen scientist Harold McGee. Fennel, on the other hand, is more anise- or licorice-like.
What is a fennel relatives?
The Apiaceae Herb Family
This family is more commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifer. The herbs in this family are flavourful and aromatic and include Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel), Levisticum officinale (Lovage), Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) and Anthriscus cerefolium (Chervil).
Can I use dill instead of fennel?
If replacing fennel leaves, then dill or cilantro are the best choices. Dill has a similar freshness, where cilantro is closer to the bitterness of fennel leaves. To substitute the seeds, try either star anise or cumin seeds.
Can fennel and dill grow together?
Fennel + Dill: Fennel is an allelopathic plant, meaning that it can inhibit growth or even kill many garden plants. One of the few plants that can survive with fennel is dill, which can offer a stabilizing effect for fennel seeds. Fennel also helps to deter aphids in the garden.
What is another name for fennel?
Fresh fennel, also known as Sweet Anise, Finnochio, Florentine Fennel, and Florence Fennel is an aromatic vegetable, garnish, and flavoring.
Are parsley and fennel related?
The Parsley Family includes some wonderful edible plants like the carrot and parsnip, plus more aromatic spices found in your spice cabinet, such as anise, celery, chervil, coriander, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel and of course, parsley.
Is fennel in onion family?
Fennel is a member of the carrot family, though it’s not a root vegetable. The base of its long stalks weave together to form a thick, crisp bulb that grows above ground. Above the bulb, at the tip of the stalks, it has light, feathery leaves that resemble dill.
What herb is similar to fennel?
Substitutes for Fennel:
- Anise.
- Cumin.
- Licorice root.
- Caraway seeds.
- Celery.
- Parsley.
- Onion.
- Artichoke.
What plant does dill come from?
Anethum graveolens
dill, (Anethum graveolens), annual or biennial herb of the parsley family (Apiaceae) and its dry fruit and leaves which are used to season foods. Native to Mediterranean countries and southeastern Europe, dill is now widely cultivated in Europe, India, and North America.
What spice can replace dill?
The best substitute for dill? Tarragon. Tarragon has a similar licorice or anise finish to the flavor, but it’s much stronger. You can use equal amounts of fresh tarragon or dried tarragon to substitute for fresh dill or dried dill.
Why does my dill taste like licorice?
Dill weed tastes grassy with a bit of anise-like licorice flavor. Dried dill weed is sold as a spice but the flavor is so very pale, it is best to buy fresh. Use more of the dried to gain the flavor.
Does dog fennel smell like dill?
This is why, when I had dogfennel volunteer in my yard once, I kept it going for years. I had no idea what it was, but the similarity to fennel and dill made me hope that this plant, too was a host for black swallowtail caterpillars. It looked just like dill and even had a nice aromatic smell when crushed.
Can you eat garden dill?
Both the flowers and the aromatic seeds are edible too. The leaves are traditionally used in fish and egg dishes, and of course in dill pickles, or can be chopped into soups and salads.
What should not be planted near dill?
2 Types of Plants to Avoid Growing With Dill
- Umbellifers: Dill should not be planted near other members of the Umbelliferae family, like angelica, caraway, carrots, and fennel.
- Nightshades: Hot peppers and bell peppers should be kept away from dill, as should other nightshades like eggplant.
Do butterflies like dill and fennel?
Both fennel and dill look great in the landscape with their fine-textured, feathery fronds, but my favorite similarity of these herbs is that they are excellent host plants for Swallowtail butterflies! These tiny white eggs that are laid atop and under the leaves of dill and fennel hatch in about 3-5 days.
What butterfly does dill attract?
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a wonderful herb, from the celery family, for attracting Black and Anise Swallowtail butterflies to your garden. It’s a popular host plant, meaning that the adult female butterflies will lay their eggs on it to feed their caterpillars.
Is licorice a fennel?
Anise, fennel and licorice are three entirely different plants, but they all have similar taste properties. They are all sweet and aromatic. This often leads to confusion when eating products that contain any one of them.
Are there different types of fennel?
There are three varieties of fennel, which are used in different ways: common fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare), sweet fennel which is used as a herb (Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce) and the bulb fennel, also known as Florence fennel or finocchio, that is treated as a vegetable (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum).
Can you eat fennel raw?
The fennel bulb is enjoyed raw, where its anise flavor is most pronounced, and cooked for a sweeter, mellower version of itself. But don’t pitch the rest! The entire fennel plant is not only edible but delicious.
Are celery and fennel related?
Fennel is related to parsley, dill, celery, celeriac and carrots. Dill and Fennel can even cross-pollinate, if they are planted too closely together.