diff --git a/app/models/schemas/recipe.py b/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7227d77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Pydantic schemas for the recipe engine API."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+
+
+class SwapCandidate(BaseModel):
+    original_name: str
+    substitute_name: str
+    constraint_label: str
+    explanation: str
+    compensation_hints: list[dict] = Field(default_factory=list)
+
+
+class RecipeSuggestion(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    title: str
+    match_count: int
+    element_coverage: dict[str, float] = Field(default_factory=dict)
+    swap_candidates: list[SwapCandidate] = Field(default_factory=list)
+    missing_ingredients: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
+    level: int = 1
+    is_wildcard: bool = False
+
+
+class RecipeResult(BaseModel):
+    suggestions: list[RecipeSuggestion]
+    element_gaps: list[str]
+    grocery_list: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
+    rate_limited: bool = False
+    rate_limit_count: int = 0
+
+
+class RecipeRequest(BaseModel):
+    pantry_items: list[str]
+    level: int = Field(default=1, ge=1, le=4)
+    constraints: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
+    expiry_first: bool = False
+    hard_day_mode: bool = False
+    max_missing: int | None = None
+    style_id: str | None = None
+    tier: str = "free"
+    has_byok: bool = False
+    wildcard_confirmed: bool = False
diff --git a/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py b/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d1a167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+"""
+RecipeEngine — orchestrates the four creativity levels.
+
+Level 1: corpus lookup ranked by ingredient match + expiry urgency
+Level 2: Level 1 + deterministic substitution swaps
+Level 3: element scaffold → LLM constrained prompt (see llm_recipe.py)
+Level 4: wildcard LLM (see llm_recipe.py)
+
+Amendments:
+- max_missing: filter to recipes missing ≤ N pantry items
+- hard_day_mode: filter to easy-method recipes only
+- grocery_list: aggregated missing ingredients across suggestions
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import re
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from app.db.store import Store
+
+from app.models.schemas.recipe import RecipeRequest, RecipeResult, RecipeSuggestion, SwapCandidate
+from app.services.recipe.element_classifier import ElementClassifier
+from app.services.recipe.substitution_engine import SubstitutionEngine
+
+_LEFTOVER_DAILY_MAX_FREE = 5
+
+# Method complexity classification patterns
+_EASY_METHODS = re.compile(
+    r"\b(microwave|mix|stir|blend|toast|assemble|heat)\b", re.IGNORECASE
+)
+_INVOLVED_METHODS = re.compile(
+    r"\b(braise|roast|knead|deep.?fry|fry|sauté|saute|bake|boil)\b", re.IGNORECASE
+)
+
+
+def _classify_method_complexity(
+    directions: list[str],
+    available_equipment: list[str] | None = None,
+) -> str:
+    """Classify recipe method complexity from direction strings.
+
+    Returns 'easy', 'moderate', or 'involved'.
+    available_equipment can expand the easy set (e.g. ['toaster', 'air fryer']).
+    """
+    text = " ".join(directions).lower()
+    equipment_set = {e.lower() for e in (available_equipment or [])}
+
+    if _INVOLVED_METHODS.search(text):
+        return "involved"
+
+    if _EASY_METHODS.search(text):
+        return "easy"
+
+    # Check equipment-specific easy methods
+    for equip in equipment_set:
+        if equip in text:
+            return "easy"
+
+    return "moderate"
+
+
+class RecipeEngine:
+    def __init__(self, store: "Store") -> None:
+        self._store = store
+        self._classifier = ElementClassifier(store)
+        self._substitution = SubstitutionEngine(store)
+
+    def suggest(
+        self,
+        req: RecipeRequest,
+        available_equipment: list[str] | None = None,
+    ) -> RecipeResult:
+        # Rate-limit leftover mode for free tier
+        if req.expiry_first and req.tier == "free":
+            allowed, count = self._store.check_and_increment_rate_limit(
+                "leftover_mode", _LEFTOVER_DAILY_MAX_FREE
+            )
+            if not allowed:
+                return RecipeResult(
+                    suggestions=[], element_gaps=[], rate_limited=True, rate_limit_count=count
+                )
+
+        profiles = self._classifier.classify_batch(req.pantry_items)
+        gaps = self._classifier.identify_gaps(profiles)
+        pantry_set = {item.lower().strip() for item in req.pantry_items}
+
+        if req.level >= 3:
+            from app.services.recipe.llm_recipe import LLMRecipeGenerator
+            gen = LLMRecipeGenerator(self._store)
+            return gen.generate(req, profiles, gaps)
+
+        # Level 1 & 2: deterministic path
+        rows = self._store.search_recipes_by_ingredients(req.pantry_items, limit=20)
+        suggestions = []
+
+        for row in rows:
+            ingredient_names: list[str] = row.get("ingredient_names") or []
+            if isinstance(ingredient_names, str):
+                try:
+                    ingredient_names = json.loads(ingredient_names)
+                except Exception:
+                    ingredient_names = []
+
+            # Compute missing ingredients
+            missing = [n for n in ingredient_names if n.lower() not in pantry_set]
+
+            # Filter by max_missing
+            if req.max_missing is not None and len(missing) > req.max_missing:
+                continue
+
+            # Filter by hard_day_mode
+            if req.hard_day_mode:
+                directions: list[str] = row.get("directions") or []
+                if isinstance(directions, str):
+                    try:
+                        directions = json.loads(directions)
+                    except Exception:
+                        directions = [directions]
+                complexity = _classify_method_complexity(directions, available_equipment)
+                if complexity == "involved":
+                    continue
+
+            # Build swap candidates for Level 2
+            swap_candidates: list[SwapCandidate] = []
+            if req.level == 2 and req.constraints:
+                for ing in ingredient_names:
+                    for constraint in req.constraints:
+                        swaps = self._substitution.find_substitutes(ing, constraint)
+                        for swap in swaps[:1]:
+                            swap_candidates.append(SwapCandidate(
+                                original_name=swap.original_name,
+                                substitute_name=swap.substitute_name,
+                                constraint_label=swap.constraint_label,
+                                explanation=swap.explanation,
+                                compensation_hints=swap.compensation_hints,
+                            ))
+
+            coverage_raw = row.get("element_coverage") or {}
+            if isinstance(coverage_raw, str):
+                try:
+                    coverage_raw = json.loads(coverage_raw)
+                except Exception:
+                    coverage_raw = {}
+
+            suggestions.append(RecipeSuggestion(
+                id=row["id"],
+                title=row["title"],
+                match_count=int(row.get("match_count") or 0),
+                element_coverage=coverage_raw,
+                swap_candidates=swap_candidates,
+                missing_ingredients=missing,
+                level=req.level,
+            ))
+
+        # Build grocery list — deduplicated union of all missing ingredients
+        seen: set[str] = set()
+        grocery_list: list[str] = []
+        for s in suggestions:
+            for item in s.missing_ingredients:
+                if item not in seen:
+                    grocery_list.append(item)
+                    seen.add(item)
+
+        return RecipeResult(suggestions=suggestions, element_gaps=gaps, grocery_list=grocery_list)
diff --git a/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py b/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acd1fe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import pytest, json
+from tests.services.recipe.test_element_classifier import store_with_profiles
+from tests.db.test_store_recipes import store_with_recipes
+
+
+def test_level1_returns_ranked_suggestions(store_with_recipes):
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import RecipeEngine, RecipeRequest
+    engine = RecipeEngine(store_with_recipes)
+    req = RecipeRequest(
+        pantry_items=["butter", "parmesan"],
+        level=1,
+        constraints=[],
+    )
+    result = engine.suggest(req)
+    assert len(result.suggestions) > 0
+    assert result.suggestions[0].title == "Butter Pasta"
+
+
+def test_level1_expiry_first_requires_rate_limit_free(store_with_recipes):
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import RecipeEngine, RecipeRequest
+    engine = RecipeEngine(store_with_recipes)
+    for _ in range(5):
+        req = RecipeRequest(
+            pantry_items=["butter"],
+            level=1,
+            constraints=[],
+            expiry_first=True,
+            tier="free",
+        )
+        result = engine.suggest(req)
+        assert result.rate_limited is False
+    req = RecipeRequest(
+        pantry_items=["butter"],
+        level=1,
+        constraints=[],
+        expiry_first=True,
+        tier="free",
+    )
+    result = engine.suggest(req)
+    assert result.rate_limited is True
+
+
+def test_level2_returns_swap_candidates(store_with_recipes):
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import RecipeEngine, RecipeRequest
+    store_with_recipes.conn.execute("""
+        INSERT INTO substitution_pairs
+          (original_name, substitute_name, constraint_label, fat_delta, occurrence_count)
+        VALUES (?,?,?,?,?)
+    """, ("butter", "coconut oil", "vegan", -1.0, 12))
+    store_with_recipes.conn.commit()
+
+    engine = RecipeEngine(store_with_recipes)
+    req = RecipeRequest(
+        pantry_items=["butter", "parmesan"],
+        level=2,
+        constraints=["vegan"],
+    )
+    result = engine.suggest(req)
+    swapped = [s for s in result.suggestions if s.swap_candidates]
+    assert len(swapped) > 0
+
+
+def test_element_gaps_reported(store_with_recipes):
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import RecipeEngine, RecipeRequest
+    engine = RecipeEngine(store_with_recipes)
+    req = RecipeRequest(pantry_items=["butter"], level=1, constraints=[])
+    result = engine.suggest(req)
+    assert isinstance(result.element_gaps, list)
+
+
+def test_grocery_list_max_missing(store_with_recipes):
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import RecipeEngine, RecipeRequest
+    engine = RecipeEngine(store_with_recipes)
+    # Butter Pasta needs butter, pasta, parmesan. We have only butter → missing 2
+    req = RecipeRequest(
+        pantry_items=["butter"],
+        level=1,
+        constraints=[],
+        max_missing=2,
+    )
+    result = engine.suggest(req)
+    assert all(len(s.missing_ingredients) <= 2 for s in result.suggestions)
+    assert isinstance(result.grocery_list, list)
+
+
+def test_hard_day_mode_filters_complex_methods(store_with_recipes):
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import RecipeEngine, RecipeRequest, _classify_method_complexity
+    # Test the classifier directly
+    assert _classify_method_complexity(["mix all ingredients", "stir to combine"]) == "easy"
+    assert _classify_method_complexity(["sauté onions", "braise for 2 hours"]) == "involved"
+
+    # With hard_day_mode, involved recipes should be filtered out
+    # Seed a hard recipe into the store
+    store_with_recipes.conn.execute("""
+        INSERT INTO recipes (external_id, title, ingredients, ingredient_names,
+                             directions, category, keywords, element_coverage)
+        VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)
+    """, ("99", "Braised Short Ribs",
+          '["butter","beef ribs"]', '["butter","beef ribs"]',
+          '["braise short ribs for 3 hours","reduce sauce"]',
+          "Meat", '[]', '{"Richness":0.8}'))
+    store_with_recipes.conn.commit()
+
+    engine = RecipeEngine(store_with_recipes)
+    req_hard = RecipeRequest(pantry_items=["butter"], level=1, constraints=[], hard_day_mode=True)
+    result = engine.suggest(req_hard)
+    titles = [s.title for s in result.suggestions]
+    assert "Braised Short Ribs" not in titles