diff --git a/backend/app/api/recipes.py b/backend/app/api/recipes.py
index 070c876..06e4c56 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/recipes.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/recipes.py
@@ -1,14 +1,23 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import re
 from typing import List, Optional
 from uuid import UUID
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Query, Response, status
+from rapidfuzz import fuzz, process
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from app.database import get_db
 from app.models import Ingredient, Recipe
-from app.schemas.recipe import RecipeCreate, RecipeRead, RecipeUpdate
+from app.schemas.recipe import (
+    RecipeCreate,
+    RecipeRead,
+    RecipeUpdate,
+    ResolveIngredientCandidate,
+    ResolveIngredientRequest,
+    ResolveIngredientResponse,
+)
 from app.security import require_admin
 
 
@@ -127,3 +136,85 @@ def delete_recipe(recipe_id: UUID, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
     db.delete(row)
     db.commit()
     return Response(status_code=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT)
+
+
+_KNOWN_UNITS = {
+    "tsp", "tbsp", "cup", "cups", "oz", "ounce", "ounces",
+    "lb", "lbs", "pound", "pounds", "g", "kg", "ml", "l",
+    "clove", "cloves", "pinch", "dash", "ea", "each",
+}
+
+_QTY_UNIT_RE = re.compile(
+    r"^\s*(?P<qty>\d+(?:\.\d+)?(?:/\d+)?)\s*(?P<unit>[a-zA-Z]+)?\s+(?P<rest>.+)$"
+)
+
+
+def _parse_qty_unit(text: str) -> tuple[Optional[float], Optional[str], str]:
+    m = _QTY_UNIT_RE.match(text)
+    if not m:
+        return None, None, text.strip()
+    qty_raw = m.group("qty")
+    if "/" in qty_raw:
+        num, denom = qty_raw.split("/")
+        qty = float(num) / float(denom)
+    else:
+        qty = float(qty_raw)
+    unit = m.group("unit")
+    rest = m.group("rest").strip()
+    if unit and unit.lower() not in _KNOWN_UNITS:
+        rest = f"{unit} {rest}"
+        unit = None
+    return qty, unit.lower() if unit else None, rest
+
+
+@admin_router.post("/resolve-ingredient", response_model=ResolveIngredientResponse)
+def resolve_ingredient(
+    payload: ResolveIngredientRequest,
+    db: Session = Depends(get_db),
+) -> ResolveIngredientResponse:
+    qty, unit, rest = _parse_qty_unit(payload.text)
+    rows = db.query(Ingredient).all()
+    if not rows:
+        return ResolveIngredientResponse(
+            parsed_qty=qty,
+            parsed_unit=unit,
+            parsed_text=rest,
+            candidates=[],
+        )
+
+    pool: list[tuple[str, UUID, Optional[str]]] = []
+    for row in rows:
+        pool.append((row.name, row.id, row.aisle))
+        for alias in row.aliases or []:
+            pool.append((alias, row.id, row.aisle))
+
+    scored = process.extract(
+        rest,
+        [name for name, _, _ in pool],
+        scorer=fuzz.WRatio,
+        limit=10,
+    )
+    seen: set[UUID] = set()
+    candidates: list[ResolveIngredientCandidate] = []
+    for matched_name, score, idx in scored:
+        _, ing_id, aisle = pool[idx]
+        if ing_id in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(ing_id)
+        candidates.append(
+            ResolveIngredientCandidate(
+                ingredient_id=ing_id,
+                name=matched_name,
+                score=score / 100.0,
+                aisle=aisle,
+            )
+        )
+        if len(candidates) >= 3:
+            break
+
+    return ResolveIngredientResponse(
+        parsed_qty=qty,
+        parsed_unit=unit,
+        parsed_text=rest,
+        candidates=candidates,
+    )
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_resolve_ingredient.py b/backend/tests/test_resolve_ingredient.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13f4f5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_resolve_ingredient.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import pytest
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.requires_postgres
+
+
+def _admin() -> dict:
+    return {"Authorization": "Bearer test-admin-token"}
+
+
+def _seed_ingredient(client, name: str, aliases: list[str]) -> str:
+    r = client.post(
+        "/api/admin/ingredients",
+        json={"name": name, "aliases": aliases, "aisle": "pantry", "unit": "ea"},
+        headers=_admin(),
+    )
+    return r.json()["id"]
+
+
+def test_resolve_ingredient_returns_top_three_candidates(client):
+    chicken_id = _seed_ingredient(client, "Test Resolve Chicken Thighs", ["chicken thigh resolve"])
+    breast_id = _seed_ingredient(client, "Test Resolve Chicken Breast", ["chicken breasts resolve"])
+    pork_id = _seed_ingredient(client, "Test Resolve Pork Chop", ["pork chops resolve"])
+
+    r = client.post(
+        "/api/admin/recipes/resolve-ingredient",
+        json={"text": "1 lb chicken thigh resolve"},
+        headers=_admin(),
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200, r.text
+    data = r.json()
+    assert data["parsed_qty"] == 1.0
+    assert data["parsed_unit"] == "lb"
+    candidate_ids = [c["ingredient_id"] for c in data["candidates"]]
+    assert chicken_id in candidate_ids
+    assert candidate_ids[0] == chicken_id  # highest score should be exact match
+
+
+def test_resolve_ingredient_handles_no_unit(client):
+    _seed_ingredient(client, "Test Resolve Lemon Special", ["lemons resolve"])
+    r = client.post(
+        "/api/admin/recipes/resolve-ingredient",
+        json={"text": "2 lemons resolve"},
+        headers=_admin(),
+    )
+    data = r.json()
+    assert data["parsed_qty"] == 2.0
+    assert data["parsed_unit"] is None