The Smart Recipe Finder Component enables OutSystems developers to easily integrate intelligent recipe search functionality into their applications. It leverages the Spoonacular Food API to provide access to thousands of recipes with detailed metadata, allowing users to explore dishes by ingredients, cuisine, or preparation time.

This component is perfect for food-related, health, or lifestyle applications that require dynamic recipe discovery, filtering, and presentation features.

 Key Features

• Comprehensive Recipe Search – Search for recipes by keyword, cuisine, or included ingredients.

• Time-Based Filtering – Limit results based on maximum preparation time, helping users find quick or elaborate meals.

• Customizable Results – Control how many recipes are returned in each query.

• Detailed Recipe Information – Automatically fetch recipe titles, summaries, images, and other metadata for display.

• Easy Integration – Fully compatible with OutSystems’ built-in Consume REST API feature.

• Reusable UI Component – Can be integrated across multiple apps or screens with minimal configuration.

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 Use Cases

• Recipe Finder – Allow users to search for meals based on available ingredients in their kitchen.

• Meal Planning App – Help users plan their weekly menu by cuisine type or total cooking time.

• Diet & Nutrition Platform – Display healthy recipes filtered by dietary preferences or ingredients.

• Cooking Assistant – Power chatbots or interactive cooking guides that recommend dishes dynamically.

• Educational / Food Blog – Provide users with recipe recommendations directly from a global recipe database.

•  Setup Instructions

1. Obtain a free API key from the Spoonacular Food API portal.

2. In OutSystems Service Studio, use the Consume REST API feature to connect to the Spoonacular API.

3. Configure the required input parameters such as query, included ingredients, cuisine, result count, and preparation time.

4. Map the output fields to your data structures and use them in your app’s UI.

5.  Benefits

   • Saves time by providing a ready-to-use connector for a robust recipe database.

   • Offers flexibility for developers to customize search parameters and UI layouts.

   • Enhances app engagement by allowing users to discover new meals and cuisines interactively.

   • Can be integrated as a standalone block or combined with other Forge components to create a complete food or meal-planning solution.