diff --git a/app/api/endpoints/recipes.py b/app/api/endpoints/recipes.py
index dd190f7..0ccfbe8 100644
--- a/app/api/endpoints/recipes.py
+++ b/app/api/endpoints/recipes.py
@@ -9,7 +9,19 @@ from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Query
 
 from app.cloud_session import CloudUser, get_session
 from app.db.store import Store
-from app.models.schemas.recipe import RecipeRequest, RecipeResult
+from app.models.schemas.recipe import (
+    AssemblyTemplateOut,
+    BuildRequest,
+    RecipeRequest,
+    RecipeResult,
+    RecipeSuggestion,
+    RoleCandidatesResponse,
+)
+from app.services.recipe.assembly_recipes import (
+    build_from_selection,
+    get_role_candidates,
+    get_templates_for_api,
+)
 from app.services.recipe.browser_domains import (
     DOMAINS,
     get_category_names,
@@ -143,6 +155,80 @@ async def browse_recipes(
     return await asyncio.to_thread(_browse, session.db)
 
 
+@router.get("/templates", response_model=list[AssemblyTemplateOut])
+async def list_assembly_templates() -> list[dict]:
+    """Return all 13 assembly templates with ordered role sequences.
+
+    Cache-friendly: static data, no per-user state.
+    """
+    return get_templates_for_api()
+
+
+@router.get("/template-candidates", response_model=RoleCandidatesResponse)
+async def get_template_role_candidates(
+    template_id: str = Query(..., description="Template slug, e.g. 'burrito_taco'"),
+    role: str = Query(..., description="Role display name, e.g. 'protein'"),
+    prior_picks: str = Query(default="", description="Comma-separated prior selections"),
+    session: CloudUser = Depends(get_session),
+) -> dict:
+    """Return pantry-matched candidates for one wizard step."""
+    def _get(db_path: Path) -> dict:
+        store = Store(db_path)
+        try:
+            items = store.list_inventory(status="available")
+            pantry_set = {
+                item["product_name"]
+                for item in items
+                if item.get("product_name")
+            }
+            pantry_list = list(pantry_set)
+            prior = [p.strip() for p in prior_picks.split(",") if p.strip()]
+            profile_index = store.get_element_profiles(pantry_list + prior)
+            return get_role_candidates(
+                template_slug=template_id,
+                role_display=role,
+                pantry_set=pantry_set,
+                prior_picks=prior,
+                profile_index=profile_index,
+            )
+        finally:
+            store.close()
+
+    return await asyncio.to_thread(_get, session.db)
+
+
+@router.post("/build", response_model=RecipeSuggestion)
+async def build_recipe(
+    req: BuildRequest,
+    session: CloudUser = Depends(get_session),
+) -> RecipeSuggestion:
+    """Build a recipe from explicit role selections."""
+    def _build(db_path: Path) -> RecipeSuggestion | None:
+        store = Store(db_path)
+        try:
+            items = store.list_inventory(status="available")
+            pantry_set = {
+                item["product_name"]
+                for item in items
+                if item.get("product_name")
+            }
+            return build_from_selection(
+                template_slug=req.template_id,
+                role_overrides=req.role_overrides,
+                pantry_set=pantry_set,
+            )
+        finally:
+            store.close()
+
+    result = await asyncio.to_thread(_build, session.db)
+    if result is None:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=404,
+            detail="Template not found or required ingredient missing.",
+        )
+    return result
+
+
 @router.get("/{recipe_id}")
 async def get_recipe(recipe_id: int, session: CloudUser = Depends(get_session)) -> dict:
     def _get(db_path: Path, rid: int) -> dict | None:
diff --git a/tests/api/test_recipe_build_endpoints.py b/tests/api/test_recipe_build_endpoints.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f40ed4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/api/test_recipe_build_endpoints.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+"""Tests for GET /templates, GET /template-candidates, POST /build endpoints."""
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client(tmp_path):
+    """FastAPI test client with a seeded in-memory DB."""
+    import os
+    os.environ["KIWI_DB_PATH"] = str(tmp_path / "test.db")
+    os.environ["CLOUD_MODE"] = "false"
+    from app.main import app
+    from app.db.store import Store
+    store = Store(tmp_path / "test.db")
+    store.conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO products (name, barcode) VALUES (?,?)", ("chicken breast", None)
+    )
+    store.conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO inventory_items (product_id, location, status) VALUES (1,'pantry','available')"
+    )
+    store.conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO products (name, barcode) VALUES (?,?)", ("flour tortilla", None)
+    )
+    store.conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO inventory_items (product_id, location, status) VALUES (2,'pantry','available')"
+    )
+    store.conn.commit()
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+
+def test_get_templates_returns_13(client):
+    resp = client.get("/api/v1/recipes/templates")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    data = resp.json()
+    assert len(data) == 13
+
+
+def test_get_templates_shape(client):
+    resp = client.get("/api/v1/recipes/templates")
+    t = next(t for t in resp.json() if t["id"] == "burrito_taco")
+    assert t["icon"] == "🌯"
+    assert len(t["role_sequence"]) >= 2
+    assert t["role_sequence"][0]["required"] is True
+
+
+def test_get_template_candidates_returns_shape(client):
+    resp = client.get(
+        "/api/v1/recipes/template-candidates",
+        params={"template_id": "burrito_taco", "role": "tortilla or wrap"}
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    data = resp.json()
+    assert "compatible" in data
+    assert "other" in data
+    assert "available_tags" in data
+
+
+def test_post_build_returns_recipe(client):
+    resp = client.post("/api/v1/recipes/build", json={
+        "template_id": "burrito_taco",
+        "role_overrides": {
+            "tortilla or wrap": "flour tortilla",
+            "protein": "chicken breast",
+        }
+    })
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    data = resp.json()
+    assert data["id"] == -1
+    assert len(data["directions"]) > 0
+
+
+def test_post_build_unknown_template_returns_404(client):
+    resp = client.post("/api/v1/recipes/build", json={
+        "template_id": "does_not_exist",
+        "role_overrides": {}
+    })
+    assert resp.status_code == 404