Manage, edit and share your Broccoli recipes in the browser.
Brassica is a web app for your recipes – fully compatible with the Broccoli mobile app. You can import individual recipes as .broccoli files or backups as .broccoli-archive, edit them, organize them, and export them again. If you prefer, you can host the web app entirely on your own server.
What the web app does for you
Brassica focuses on one clear goal: comfortably managing Broccoli recipes in the browser. No social features, no ads, no bloated system.
- Import recipes as .broccoli
- Import backups as .broccoli-archive
- Edit recipe content in the browser (text, ingredients, notes, etc.)
- Export recipes and collections back to the Broccoli format
- Create public links to share collections
- Manage multiple users via login (server-side)
Data sovereignty
You decide where your recipe data lives: on your NAS or a server you control.
The web app uses a SQLite database and stores recipes in a local file.
You can create backups at any time by saving the database file and uploaded recipe images (folder: project_root/data).
Compatible with the Broccoli mobile app
The web app is designed to work seamlessly with the Broccoli mobile app. The shared foundation is the .broccoli file format used by the app.
- Import existing .broccoli recipes
- Import backups and selectively restore individual recipes
- Edit recipe data in the browser
- Export recipes back into the Broccoli format to use them again in the app
- Support for collections (multiple recipes in one package)
This lets you structure recipes on your computer and then use them in the Broccoli app on your phone.
Likewise, you can export recipes from the Broccoli app, import them into the web app, and continue editing them there.
Your recipe collection is not tied to a single device and can move freely between browser and phone.
Broccoli is a free recipe app that lets you build your own personal recipe collection and helps you cook in a more eco-friendly way. Recipes with seasonal ingredients are highlighted and if you’re looking for inspiration, you can find seasonal ingredients from your region in the seasonal calendar.
You can get Broccoli on
Self-hosting the web app
You can run Brassica on your own server or webspace. This gives you full control over:
- Storage and access to your recipe data
- Number of users and logins
- Backups, updates and integration into your own environment
The web app is built in PHP and uses a SQLite database as well as functionality to create and read Broccoli archives (ZIP-based format).
This makes it easy to host on standard web servers that support PHP.
Technical requirements for self-hosting
Downloads
Youtube
Server / Webspace
- A web server capable of running PHP (shared hosting or your own server)
- PHP with support for:
- SQLite (e.g. pdo_sqlite / sqlite3)
- ZIP functions (e.g. ZipArchive)
- Write access to the database directory and the upload folder for images/files
- HTTPS access is recommended for security
Installation
- Download the latest release from GitHub
- Upload the folder brassica from the ZIP on your server/webspace
- Give write permissions (for PHP) to the SQLite database directory and upload directory (folderdata)
- Configure the web server so the brassica folder is used as the webroot
- Open the website in your browser and set the admin password to create the first login
- If the same page keeps loading in a loop after setting the password, adjust the write permissions (for PHP) for the entire brassica folder or delete the set_admin_password.php file.
Your setup, your data
Brassica is intentionally lightweight: a PHP web app with a SQLite database, fully compatible with Broccoli recipe files. You can host it yourself and use it directly in the browser – with no dependency on external platforms.
Disclaimer
The web app is used at your own risk. No liability is assumed for damage, data loss, malfunctions, or any other disadvantages.