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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

What is Dill?

By Timothy Tungsten

Dill is native to the Mediterranean region and its history goes way back to ancient times. It is mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions where it goes by the name of `ammisi'. The Greeks and Romans, who spread it as far as the northern Alps during their campaigns, called it `anethon' from which is derived the botanical name.

They are frost-resistant and their leaves may be snipped the whole year long without affecting the plants in any way. However, they should be fed frequently and should not be cut too close to the ground so as to avoid damaging the growth centres. Chives may be propagated from seed, but home-growers usually increase them by splitting up older clumps and replanting the offsets, which gives earlier yields. The only requirement is plenty of light.

Chives should be freshly cut before serving. They have a very mild onion flavour without the biting quality and are used not only as a herb but also as a garnish on many cold and hot dishes. They should never be cooked - when used as a garnish for hot dishes chives should be sprinkled on top just before serving.

They are popular in cheese spreads, on bread and butter, in scrambled eggs, salad dressings and cold sauces, sprinkled on buttered boiled potatoes and as a garnish for assorted cold meat platters. In winter they arc a welcome source of Vitamin C.

In order to have fresh dill in the garden the whole year round it should be sown in succession from March till late July. The leaves will be ready for picking within six weeks of sowing. Dill is an annual herb and plants sown in spring produce seeds in the autumn of the same year.

Until recently the housewife used either fresh or dry garlic bulbs, but nowadays, thanks to modern methods of dehydration, it can he obtained in shops in the form of dry pieces, flakes, grains or powder, all of equally good.

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