Dill leaves recipe

Updated: August 29, 2022, By Swasthi

Dill leaves recipe with lentils & tempering spices. Dill is one of the most aromatic ancient herb that belongs to the celery family. It is used in pickles, salads, stews, soups and stir fry dishes. Apart from adding a distinctive flavor to the foods, dill leaves also provide lot of nutrients.

dill leaves stir fry

Recipe Comments

From the ancient times dill has been used in many countries due to their medicinal properties. It is believed that “DILL” (leaves, stems & seeds) possess phytochemicals which contribute to the medicinal properties.

Anti-flatulent & anti-inflammatory properties are some of them. Dill leaves are said to aid digestion, benefit stomach related problems and arthritis.

In India, dill leaves & stems are used mostly to make stir fry dishes, parathas & is also cooked with lentils/dal. Shepu, suva & sabsige are the regional names to this aromatic herb.

In this post I have shared a simple dill leaves recipe.

Apart from this, sometimes I add a handful of these finely chopped leaves to akki rotti and paratha dough. Sometimes I just add them to stir fried veggies like potato, sweet potato, red pumpkin and carrots.

Here are some tips that may help you if you are using them for the first time.

Tips

  • Dill taste best when they are fresh. So try to cook them at the earliest within 2 to 3 days.
  • Dill leaves have a very strong aroma, so start using in smaller quantities. A best way to start off is to add them to your roti dough or add them to stir fried veggies like potato or carrots.
  • I usually use up the stems along with the leaves to make a stir fry. This goes very well with some plain roti and some veggie salad on the side.
dill recipe - stir fried dill leaves in a bowl

You can skip the lentils completely from the recipe and just stir fry with garlic and chilies. Chana dal and urad dal are added to the tempering as they add a slight crunch and aroma to the dish.

I have used soaked moong dal here. So I have cooked it in the pan directly. You can also precook the dal with 1:1 water in a pressure cooker and then use it here in the recipe.

You may replace moong dal with toor dal or chana dal.

You can follow this aloo methi recipe to make a potato dill stir fry. You can also follow this spinach dal recipe and make dal with dill leaves.

Dill leaves recipe

dill leaves shepu bhaji

Dill leaves recipe (shepu bhaji)

5 from 17 votes
Stir fried dill leaves with fresh dill, spices, lentils, curry leaves and garlic. It goes well with rice or roti.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings4
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 250 grams dill leaves
  • tablespoons oil or ghee
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
  • 1 to 2 green chilies slit or chopped
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chana dal (optional)(skinned bengal gram)
  • 1 teaspoon urad dal (optional)(skinned black gram)
  • ¼ to ½ cup moong dal (use as desired) (optional)
  • teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)


Instructions

Preparation

  • If using moong dal, add it to a bowl and rinse well. Soak it well for a minimum of 30 mins in warm water. Later drain the water before using.
  • Add dill leaves along with the stems to a large pot filled with water. Let them rest for about 5 mins. Repeat the rinse well. Drain to a colander.

How to make

  • Pour oil to a pan and heat it.
  • Add mustard, cumin, chana dal and urad dal. Fry them until the dals turn golden.
  • Then add garlic, chilli and curry leaves. Stir fry until garlic turns fragrant.
  • Drain the water from moong dal and add it to the pan. Cover and cook on a low heat until tender. If needed sprinkle water in between.
  • The moong dal must be cooked well but not mushy. This takes only a few minutes as the lentils are presoaked.
  • While the lentils cook, chop the dill as desired. If you do not like to use the stems you may remove them.
  • When the lentils are tender and done, add salt and turmeric. Evaporate any excess moisture in the pan.
  • Add the dill to the pan and stir fry until the leaves wilt. The stems also will turn slightly tender.
  • Serve dill stir fry with rice or roti.


Notes

If you like mushy dal, then cook the lentils until soft and then add the dill.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Dill leaves recipe (shepu bhaji)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 138 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 223mg10%
Potassium 616mg18%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 4843IU97%
Vitamin C 65mg79%
Calcium 139mg14%
Iron 6mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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dill leaves recipe shepu bhaji

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About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
I liked the lentil dill leaves very much. Thanks for the recipe

We make the shepu vegetable but definitely will try this new innovative recipe. Thanks ma’am.

Never realised that Dill Leaves have so many health benefits especially in benefitting against arthritis. The recipe is really good and adding Dill leaves to paranthas is also a nice idea.
Sophie

5 stars
brings back my childhood days , grandma used to cook, it is good with protein
thank you for reminding me

Hi swasthi
I follow your blog , and have made many recipes from it. Some years ago , I saw a moong dal detox soup on your blog . But now i could not find it , in-spite of searching a long . Can you please provide its link in your reply.

Thank you

Thank you very much swasthi for the reply .
I will wait for your mail

Hi swasthi
I follow your blog , and have made many recipes from it. Some years ago , I saw a moong dal detox soup on your blog . But now i could not find it , in-spite of searching a long . Can you please provide its link in your reply.

Thank you