# Batch Recipe Import

Import recipes in bulk via the Mealie API. The scraper extracts full recipe data (ingredients, steps, images, times) from any supported URL.

## Python Script

```python
import requests
import time

MEALIE = "http://127.0.0.1:9925"
EMAIL = "your@email.com"
PASSWORD = "your-password"

# Authenticate
resp = requests.post(
    f"{MEALIE}/api/auth/token",
    data={"username": EMAIL, "password": PASSWORD, "grant_type": ""},
    headers={"Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"}
)
token = resp.json()["access_token"]
headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}", "Content-Type": "application/json"}

# Recipe URLs (one per line)
urls = [
    "https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/classic-lasagne",
    "https://www.budgetbytes.com/one-pot-creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta/",
    "https://www.recipetineats.com/thai-green-curry/",
]

for url in urls:
    resp = requests.post(
        f"{MEALIE}/api/recipes/create/url",
        json={"url": url},
        headers=headers,
        timeout=60
    )
    if resp.status_code in (200, 201):
        print(f"  OK: {url.split('/')[-2]}")
    else:
        print(f"  FAIL: {url.split('/')[-2]} — {resp.status_code}")
    time.sleep(1.5)  # Be polite to recipe sites
```

## Bulk curl (no Python needed)

```bash
# Get token
TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:9925/api/auth/token" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
  -d "grant_type=&username=you@email.com&password=yourpass" \
  | grep -o '"access_token":"[^"]*"' | cut -d'"' -f4)

# Import a single recipe
curl -s -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:9925/api/recipes/create/url" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url": "https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/classic-lasagne"}'
```

## Notes

- URLs must be full recipe pages, not search results or category pages.
- If a site returns HTTP 400 consistently, it likely blocks automated scrapers — see `scraper-sites.md` for alternatives.
- First import may be slow (Mealie's scraper downloads the page, parses schema.org JSON-LD, and extracts structured data).
- **Real-world success rate:** ~50-60% across mixed URLs. Expect roughly half to fail on the first pass. Rerun failures from a reliable source (BBC Good Food, RecipeTin Eats) to fill gaps.
- **From Hermes:** use `execute_code` with `import requests` — the sandboxed Python environment can call `http://127.0.0.1:9925` directly. No need for curl or external scripts.