If you’ve spent any time trying to improve your everyday recipes, you have likely realized that there are a wide variety of exotic spices for sale, offering you the chance to add new zest and flavor to your dishes. From fennel seed to dill, there are a number of ways to use these ingredients; however, it is important to understand exactly what each spice is and how it should be used. Take dill pollen, for example: can this interesting seasoning add new life to your cooking?

What is Dill Pollen?
As its name suggests, dill pollen is a fine, powdery substance used for fertilization. While some people may suffer from pollen allergies, pollen can also be a flavorful and safe addition to many dishes if properly gathered. Fennel pollen, for example, has been used in Tuscan and Italian cooking for generations. Recently, however, dill pollen has become a popular ingredient among both professional chefs and home cooks for its fresh, distinctive flavor. It is best known for its light hints of fennel, honey and hay, which make it a great addition to everything from fish to vegetables.

How to Use Dill Pollen in Cooking
Experts typically recommend using dill pollen in the final stages of cooking or as a garnish, as this helps maintain its intense and complex flavor. However, there are a variety of good pollen recipes that utilize this substance in a number of different ways. For example, dill pollen can be added as a garnish to salads, borscht, and meats. It can also be used to create a basting blend when combined with a few tablespoons of butter, star anise, crushed garlic, and tellicherry peppercorns. Due to its growing popularity, a number of other pollen recipes can be found online.

Where to Buy Dill Pollen
While you may be used to buying your spices and seasonings at your local grocery store or spice retailer, dill pollen is more likely to be found online. Before you make a purchase, however, it is important to do your research: look for an online store that has a good reputation and focuses on providing a fresh, high-quality product. By finding and buying from a trustworthy retailer, you’ll be able to see exactly how dill pollen can help change your cooking for the better!