Thanks to the rise of the internet, as well as the growing foodie movement, it is now easier than ever to find exotic spices for sale that can completely revolutionize your cooking. However, some trends can be intimidating; after all, how exactly are you supposed to use strange seasonings you have never heard of? You can try looking up some new dishes, but this can take time and push you even further out of your comfort zone. In this situation, cooking with pollen can be a welcome relief: collected from the dill and fennel plants, pollen takes the form of a fine powder that can be used just like other herbs and seasonings. However, both fennel pollen and dill pollen are far more potent than any other form of these herbs. This means that cooking with pollen is not only easy, but that you can use it to add a unique flavor to almost any recipe you can think of. Read on to learn about some common uses for these interesting spices!

Try a Dry Rub
Simply rub a wild crafted pollen on a piece of meat or fish and use your preferred method of cooking, whether you like to bake, grill or simply cook your main course in a pan. A high temperature is all that is necessary. If dry rubs aren’t your favorite cooking technique, you can also use pollen as part of a wet rub or add it to a sauce.

Cook Up a Stew or Soup
Just as you would add seasonings like dill powder as you were cooking a dish, sprinkle in a little fennel or dill pollen as you are making a soup or stew. This will give it time to permeate the dish. However, when cooking with pollen, use the spice sparingly: a little can go a long way.

Spice Up Your Vegetables
Roast vegetables are even better with a dash of dill or fennel pollen. Simply add a touch of one of these seasonings with your other herbs before you put your dutch oven or roasting pan in the oven.

Mix Up Your Pasta or Risotto
Fennel pollen and dill pollen can be a good addition to a pasta stir fry, adding an interesting touch to your vegetables and sauces. Cooking with pollen can also spice up risotto in a similar way; Tuscan and Italian chefs have been using fennel pollen in this type of dish for years.

Get Creative With Your Desserts
While not for everyone, fennel pollen especially can be an interesting flavor to add to a number of deserts because of its slightly licorice-like taste, similar to anise. It pairs especially well with citrus, but creative chefs have also paired it with chocolate and other common sweets.

How do you use fennel and dill pollen in your kitchen? Tell us about it in the comments below!