Dill is best when added at the end of cooking, or in recipes that require little or no cooking, because the longer you cook it, the weaker its flavor. For that reason, dill weed is successfully used in quick-cooking sauces, salads and dressings, while dill seed is suitable for dishes that require longer cooking.

Dill's flavor has been described as a mix of anise, parsley and celery, its aroma as a combination of citrus, fennel and mint. The color and more delicate flavor of dill weed enhance rather than dominate a dish.

While dill's claim to fame is the dill pickle, it's also excellent with fish, and in salads (potato, coleslaw, macaroni) and salad dressings, dips, sauces and gravies, cottage or cream cheese, breads, soups, and egg, bean, chicken, grain and meat dishes.

Also try it in sweets like cakes, pastries and apple pie and with vegetables like beets, cabbage (especially sauerkraut), avocado, eggplant, parsnips, pumpkin, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, potatoes, green beans and tomatoes.

Blend 1 to 2 tablespoons of dill weed with softened cream cheese to create a tasty dip.