Creamy, tangy and packed with as much dill as I could possibly add in, this Creamy Dill Sauce is an excellent dipping sauce for many different foods.
Delicious with fresh vegetables or even as a spread on top of salmon, this time I served my Creamy Dill Sauce with Beer Battered Halibut.
The combination of crispy-on-the-outside-tender-on-the-inside fish with this fragrant, creamy, tangy dill sauce was as close to perfection as I can imagine any dinner.
With all the seafood we have been enjoying, a dill sauce was sure to happen eventually. I’ve loved pairing my fish with dill flavored sauces in the past but the texture of other dill condiments I tried was never quite right.
I wanted a thicker sauce that was closer to a dip than a dressing; something that would stick to the pieces of beer battered fish rather than running off. I was also looking for something that wouldn’t make the fish soggy.
Creamy Dill Sauce ended up being just the ticket.
Dill Sauce Recipe
This dill sauce recipe represents the perfect combination of creamy and tangy. It gets its creaminess from just the right blend of mayonnaise and sour cream.
I like using more sour cream compared to mayo because it provides a lighter, almost fluffy texture along with a nice amount of tang. The real key to a great dill sauce though is–you guessed it–plenty of dill.
Fresh dill is incredible in a dipping sauce if you can get it but dried dill will work as well. When I use fresh herbs, I add about a quarter of a cup to the blend of sour cream and mayo along with salt, garlic powder (or granulated garlic), black pepper and a few squeezes of fresh lemon or lime juice.
If you’re using dried dill, five teaspoons does the trick.
(Did you know you can get even more flavor and aroma out of dried herbs if you rub the leaves between your fingers a bit before adding them to a recipe?)
One all the ingredients are combined, let the sauce sit in the fridge for at least a couple of hours prior to serving with your fish, meat or vegetables. You can certainly serve the sauce right away if you’re really in a rush, but the extra time lets the flavors mingle and combine in a way that makes a difference big enough to be worth it.
Assuming you don’t eat all the sauce at once, you can store the leftovers in the fridge (in a sealed plastic container) for a few days.
Dill Sauce
This particular Creamy Dill Sauce is ideal for dipping and spreading.
If you are looking for a pourable salad dressing, I made a Peppery Dill Ranch Dressing earlier this year and it has been seen in my refrigerator numerous times since then. It is a pourable dressing that is delicious on salads, with fresh vegetables or anywhere you’d use a creamy salad dressing.
Creamy Dill Sauce
Like I mentioned before, this dill sauce is ideal for serving with fish of all kinds, battered and fried, baked or otherwise.
If you like this fish with Creamy Dill Sauce, you’ll probably also go wild over my recipe for The Best Shrimp Cocktail. The cocktail sauce in tht recipe alone is worth making for whenever you need a tangy, sweet sauce for dipping fish or chicken.
Love that dill and fish combination but looking for a slightly lighter meal? This Broiled Salmon with Peppery Dill Compound Butter is for you. Like this recipe, it uses plenty of dill and features perfectly broiled tender salmon.
For more fish dinner recipes, check out Coconut Almond Crusted Haddock , Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Kabobs , and Baked Haddock with a Cashew Cracker Crust . I’m also intrigued by this Poached Salmon with Mustard Dill Sauce by Foodie Crush!
If you’re looking for more tasty and easy dipping sauces, this Garlic Butter Sauce can transform any vegetable into something spectacularly flavorful.
Creamy Dill Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup fresh dill chopped or 5 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice or 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice both are great in this recipe
Instructions
- Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve, preferably for at least 2 hours. Enjoy!
Jenn says
Love dill sauce for fish.. I make one similar to this… there is just something about fresh dill and fish that work so wonderfully together!
Tricia @ saving room for dessert says
That looks pretty dip-o-licious! Have a wonderful, fun-filled weekend 🙂
Jean | Delightful Repast says
Mary, the dill is going crazy in my garden right now, so this tasty dip is going on my must-do-soon list!
The Café Sucré Farine says
I can see how this would be fantastic with crudités and a zillion other things. I wonder if you used low fat mayo and reduced fat sour cream if it would be as good. What do you think?
Mary says
I'm sure it would work. I'd probably increase the spices a bit as needed. If you try it, let me know. Have a great weekend!
IdaBaker says
Dill is one of my favorite fresh herbs to add to foods. Just when I think I'm finished, I add dill and know it's that much better.
And a sauce on the side is ever better. After all, not everyone has my love.
Joanne says
Mmm I'm thinking this would also be the perfect dip for some chips!
Anonymous says
I made some calamari appetizers (cut a steak into strips, breaded it in panko and fried). I made this sauce for them. Perfection! Thank you!
Mary says
I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!
Dorothy says
I just made the dill dressing AND we LOVE it.
Dana says
I think I am going to try this sauce to mix into potato salad. Sounds yummy!
GI TAGGED says
Perfect dip for my favourite chips! Thanks
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you like the dip!
Mary Vcom says
This sauce is just right !
Mary Younkin says
Glad you like it, Mary.
Pam Bryer says
Amazing! So flavorful!!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad that you like the dill sauce, Pam!
Snvr2l82wn says
Maybe my expectations were low since the recipe is so simple, but this sauce is great. Served as a sauce with tilapia and pork chops three days later. Cooking for two, halved everything except the dill and the pepper because I like dill and pepper.
This is going into my Basics folder.
Thanks!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you like the dill sauce!
Shannon Nardine says
Use half of the recommended amount of mayo. It’s very overpowering compared to the sour cream.
Mary Younkin says
The recipe is pretty versatile, Shannon. I’m glad you’ve tweaked it to a result you enjoy.
Edie Mazerolle says
Awesome with chicken wings
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you’re enjoying the sauce, Edie.
Debbie says
How many servings from the creamy dill sauce ? thanks Debbie
Mary Younkin says
The recipe will make about 1 1/2 cups of sauce. If you figure 2 tablespoons as a serving, that’s about 6 servings.