diff --git a/src/backend/repositories/RecipeRepository.ts b/src/backend/repositories/RecipeRepository.ts
index 0344a46..52adc9b 100644
--- a/src/backend/repositories/RecipeRepository.ts
+++ b/src/backend/repositories/RecipeRepository.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,17 @@ import type { Tag } from '../types/tag.js';
 export class RecipeRepository {
   constructor(private db: Database) {}
 
+  private toNullableSql(value: string | null | undefined): SqlValue {
+    return value ?? null;
+  }
+
+  private toRequiredSqlText(value: string | null | undefined, fieldName: string): string {
+    if (value === undefined || value === null || value.trim() === '') {
+      throw new Error(`${fieldName} is required`);
+    }
+    return value;
+  }
+
   findAll(filters: RecipeFilters = {}): Recipe[] {
     const { search, offset = 0, limit = 50 } = filters;
     let sql = 'SELECT * FROM recipes';
@@ -38,18 +49,20 @@ export class RecipeRepository {
     if (input.ingredients) {
       input.ingredients.forEach((ing, i) => {
         this.db.run('INSERT INTO ingredients (recipe_id, position, quantity, unit, item, notes) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)',
-          [id, i,
-            typeof ing.quantity === 'undefined' ? null : ing.quantity,
-            typeof ing.unit === 'undefined' ? null : ing.unit,
-            ing.item,
-            typeof ing.notes === 'undefined' ? null : ing.notes
+          [
+            id,
+            i,
+            this.toNullableSql(ing.quantity),
+            this.toNullableSql(ing.unit),
+            this.toRequiredSqlText(ing.item, 'ingredient.item'),
+            this.toNullableSql(ing.notes)
           ]);
       });
     }
     if (input.steps) {
       input.steps.forEach((step, i) => {
         this.db.run('INSERT INTO steps (recipe_id, position, instruction) VALUES (?, ?, ?)',
-          [id, i, step.instruction]);
+          [id, i, this.toRequiredSqlText(step.instruction, 'step.instruction')]);
       });
     }
     if (input.tagIds && input.tagIds.length > 0) {
@@ -79,18 +92,20 @@ export class RecipeRepository {
       this.db.run('DELETE FROM ingredients WHERE recipe_id = ?', [id]);
       input.ingredients.forEach((ing, i) => {
         this.db.run('INSERT INTO ingredients (recipe_id, position, quantity, unit, item, notes) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)',
-          [id, i,
-            typeof ing.quantity === 'undefined' ? null : ing.quantity,
-            typeof ing.unit === 'undefined' ? null : ing.unit,
-            ing.item,
-            typeof ing.notes === 'undefined' ? null : ing.notes
+          [
+            id,
+            i,
+            this.toNullableSql(ing.quantity),
+            this.toNullableSql(ing.unit),
+            this.toRequiredSqlText(ing.item, 'ingredient.item'),
+            this.toNullableSql(ing.notes)
           ]);
       });
     }
     if (input.steps !== undefined) {
       this.db.run('DELETE FROM steps WHERE recipe_id = ?', [id]);
       input.steps.forEach((step, i) => {
-        this.db.run('INSERT INTO steps (recipe_id, position, instruction) VALUES (?, ?, ?)', [id, i, step.instruction]);
+        this.db.run('INSERT INTO steps (recipe_id, position, instruction) VALUES (?, ?, ?)', [id, i, this.toRequiredSqlText(step.instruction, 'step.instruction')]);
       });
     }
     if (input.tagIds !== undefined) {
@@ -146,7 +161,7 @@ export class RecipeRepository {
         instruction: r[3] as string
       })) : [];
     const tagsRes = this.db.exec('SELECT t.* FROM tags t INNER JOIN recipe_tags rt ON rt.tag_id = t.id WHERE rt.recipe_id = ?', [id]);
-    const tags: Tag[] = tagsRes.length ? tagsRes[0].values.map(r => ({id: r[0] as number, name: r[1] as string })) : [];
+    const tags: Tag[] = tagsRes.length ? tagsRes[0].values.map(r => ({ id: r[0] as number, name: r[1] as string })) : [];
     return {
       id,
       title: map.title as string,