HowToCook-MCP Server for Windsurf: Setup & Config

What you can do with HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf

Useful when an assistant needs recipe details and restriction-aware weekly meal planning together.

• Browse recipes within a cooking category.
• Choose a meal combination for a group of one to ten people.

Before you start: HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf

• Node.js 16.0.0 or later
• npm or yarn
• An MCP-compatible client

For the Cursor npm configuration, the README instructs users to run npm i -g howtocook-mcp first to avoid client creation failures. Source builds and HTTP/SSE alternatives are also described. No required environment variables are stated.

HowToCook-MCP Windsurf configuration

1. Choose Windsurf configuration scope

   For HowToCook-MCP Server, open macOS/Linux: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json. Merge into mcpServers; remote endpoints use serverUrl.

2. Add HowToCook-MCP Server to Windsurf

   Use the HowToCook-mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep HowToCook-MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Windsurf entries.

3. Check HowToCook-MCP Server in Windsurf

   HowToCook-MCP Server: Refresh MCP in Windsurf settings and inspect Cascade’s tools.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "HowToCook-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "howtocook-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

HowToCook-MCP tools available to Windsurf

HowToCook-MCP's stored tool list documents 5 tools; compare it with Windsurf's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

mcp_howtocook_getAllRecipes

After refreshing HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for mcp_howtocook_getAllRecipes.

Return the full recipe collection; the README warns of large context usage.

mcp_howtocook_getRecipesByCategory

After refreshing HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for mcp_howtocook_getRecipesByCategory.

Find recipes within a selected food category.

mcp_howtocook_recommendMeals

After refreshing HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for mcp_howtocook_recommendMeals.

mcp_howtocook_whatToEat

After refreshing HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for mcp_howtocook_whatToEat.

mcp_howtocook_getRecipeById

After refreshing HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for mcp_howtocook_getRecipeById.

Look up a recipe by name or identifier, including ingredients and cooking steps.

HowToCook-MCP: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting HowToCook-MCP in Windsurf

• Check npx howtocook-mcp (Node.js/npm) on the machine running Windsurf's MCP integration for HowToCook-MCP Server; refresh MCP and inspect Cascade's tools.
• HowToCook-MCP Server uses stdio here: Windsurf must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Retrieving every recipe can use excessive assistant context.
• Known limitation: The documented recommendation range is limited to ten diners.
• General Windsurf troubleshooting lives in the /clients/windsurf guide.

Frequently asked questions