What primary function does a recipe serve?

A recipe serves the primary function of providing a structured guideline for cooking. This means that a recipe outlines the specific steps and instructions needed to prepare a dish successfully, including measurements, cooking times, and techniques. This structured approach ensures that anyone following the recipe can recreate the dish with consistency and accuracy, which is essential in cooking to achieve the desired flavors and textures.

While historical context and narratives can enhance a recipe's appeal, they are not the main purpose. The primary goal is to enable the cook to understand what to do at each stage of the cooking process. Additionally, simply listing ingredients without any accompanying instructions would not fulfill the purpose of a recipe, since it would leave the cook without a clear pathway to actually prepare the dish.