# BigOven MCP > BigOven connects your AI agent directly to a database of over a million recipes. Search by ingredient, find seasonal collections, or pull full nutritional details for meal planning right from your chat interface. ## Overview - **Category:** productivity - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** recipe-database, meal-planning, grocery-list, cooking, nutritional-data ## Description Need recipe ideas fast? This MCP lets you talk to BigOven and get immediate results without opening a browser tab. You can ask your agent to search for dishes using just keywords, or narrow things down by listing available ingredients first. Want to plan meals around what's left in the pantry? Just name two or three items, and the system finds matching recipes. The data goes further than just instructions; you can pull full nutritional breakdowns and read community reviews before committing to a recipe. Because this MCP is hosted on Vinkius, you connect once from any compatible client and gain access to all these culinary tools in one place. ## Tools ### get_collection Fetches the full details and recipes belonging to a specific themed collection. ### get_recipe_photos Pulls visual guides and photos associated with a specific recipe ID. ### get_recipe_reviews Gathers user feedback, ratings, and comments for a specified dish. ### get_recipe Retrieves all instructions, ingredients, and metadata for one particular recipe. ### list_categories Lists all valid recipe categories available to filter your search results. ### list_collections Shows the names of seasonal or curated groupings of recipes. ### search_by_ingredient Searches for recipes that must include specific ingredient keywords. ### search_recipes Performs a general search for dishes based on title or keyword input. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Find a good recipe for Lasagna. ``` **Response:** ``` I found a few highly-rated options. The top result is 'Classic Homemade Lasagna' (ID: 14523) with a 4.8/5 star rating. Would you like the full ingredients list? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Search for recipes using salmon and sweet potato. ``` **Response:** ``` Searching by ingredients... I found 'Roasted Salmon with Sweet Potato' (ID: 8821) and 'Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes' (ID: 9912). Which one sounds better? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Get the reviews for recipe 14523. ``` **Response:** ``` Retrieving reviews... Users love this recipe! Common comments mention that adding extra garlic makes the sauce much better, and baking it covered for the first 30 minutes prevents drying. ``` ## Capabilities ### Search Recipes by Keywords Find dishes when you know the type of food or a main ingredient. ### Filter by Ingredients Get recipes that use specific combination of ingredients, like 'salmon' and 'sweet potato'. ### Retrieve Recipe Details Pull full recipe information, including step-by-step instructions, from a known dish. ### Gather Community Feedback Check user reviews and star ratings for dishes to vet the quality before using them. ### Explore Thematic Groups Browse curated or seasonal collections of recipes, like 'Holiday Baking' or 'Summer Grilling'. ## Use Cases ### Designing a Weekly Menu A user asks their agent to plan meals for a family of four. The agent runs `search_by_ingredient` using the ingredients they have (chicken, broccoli, rice). It pulls three matching recipes and provides links to check the nutritional data via `get_recipe`. ### Writing a Food Blog Post A food blogger wants to write about autumn desserts. They first run `list_collections` to find 'Fall Baking'. Then, they use `search_recipes` on the results and pull multiple recipes, gathering photos using `get_recipe_photos` for the accompanying article. ### Comparing Recipe Versions A user wants to know if a recipe is reliable. They find 'Classic Lasagna' via `search_recipes`, then they use `get_recipe_reviews` immediately to see what other people say about the crust or sauce. ### Quick Ingredient Check A chef needs a recipe for dinner using only pantry staples. They run `list_categories` first, select 'Italian', and then use `search_recipes` to narrow it down by keyword like 'pasta'. ## Benefits - You don't have to guess what recipe exists. By using `list_categories` or `list_collections`, you can see all the thematic options available in one go. - Planning around leftovers just got simple. Instead of manual searching, use `search_by_ingredient` and provide your agent with two or three random items from the fridge. - Before publishing a recipe, check its reputation using `get_recipe_reviews`. This gives you real-world user feedback that helps shape the final instructions. - Need visuals? After finding a dish via `search_recipes`, use `get_recipe_photos` to pull accompanying images so your agent can format them into an article. - You get complete details, not just summaries. The `get_recipe` tool pulls out everything—ingredients, steps, and even nutritional data—in one shot. ## How It Works The bottom line is you talk to it like talking to a friend, and the MCP handles all the database lookups in the background. 1. Subscribe to this MCP and provide your BigOven API key. 2. Your agent sends a natural language request (e.g., 'Find Italian pasta recipes'). 3. The system executes the appropriate tool, returning detailed recipe data directly back to your chat session. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I find a recipe for my specific leftover ingredients using search_by_ingredient?** Use `search_by_ingredient` and list all the items you have. The system finds matching recipes that incorporate every ingredient you listed. **What is the difference between list_collections and get_collection?** `list_collections` shows you a menu of available themes (e.g., 'Mexican Fiesta'). `get_collection` takes one of those names and pulls all the recipes inside that theme. **Can I check reviews for a recipe using get_recipe_reviews?** Yes, just provide the recipe ID. The system pulls common user comments and ratings so you know if the dish is worth trying before cooking it. **Do I need to use search_recipes for everything?** No. While `search_recipes` works for general keywords, using `list_collections` or `search_by_ingredient` will give you more focused and accurate results. **When should I use `get_recipe` if I already know a recipe's ID?** It returns comprehensive data for that single dish, including ingredients, instructions, and nutritional facts. Think of it as your full source file when you need every detail about one specific meal. **Before searching, do I need to run `list_categories` to see all valid filters?** Yes, running `list_categories` shows you every recognized recipe type. Use this list first so your AI agent can filter search results accurately and quickly. **If I need visuals for a dish, how does `get_recipe_photos` help me plan a meal?** This tool fetches visual guides and photos linked to the recipe ID. It lets your AI client build out a complete plan that includes media, which is great for presentation or printing. **If my agent makes many calls, are there rate limits when using this MCP?** Vinkius manages general usage throttling for the entire catalog. If you hit a limit, watch the API error codes; they tell you exactly when your agent needs to pause and try again later. **Can I search for recipes based on ingredients I have in my fridge?** Yes! Use the `search_by_ingredient` tool and provide the ingredients you have (e.g., 'chicken, broccoli'). The agent will return recipes you can make. **How do I get the step-by-step instructions for a recipe?** First, find the Recipe ID using the search tools. Then, ask the agent to `get_recipe` with that ID. It will retrieve the full ingredient list and step-by-step instructions. **Does the integration allow me to add recipes to a grocery list?** Currently, the toolset is focused on public discovery and searching (Read-Only). Managing personal grocery lists requires user-specific OAuth which is managed directly on the BigOven app.