diff --git a/api/meals.py b/api/meals.py
index 59c7ac9..01519fb 100644
--- a/api/meals.py
+++ b/api/meals.py
@@ -233,6 +233,15 @@ async def create_meal_scoped(
     msg = meals.validate_meal(domain_meal)
     if msg:
         return error_response(request, 400, msg)
+    # Disallow empty extra ingredients (no product and no textual content)
+    for ing in domain_meal.extra_ingredients:
+        name = (ing.name or "").strip()
+        line = (ing.line or "").strip()
+        has_product = getattr(ing, "product", None) is not None or (
+            getattr(ing, "product_id", None) is not None and getattr(ing, "product_id") >= 0
+        )
+        if not has_product and name == "" and line == "":
+            return error_response(request, 400, "Ingredient must include a name or line or a product")
     # Proactive validation via repositories
     hid = household["id"]
     # Validate members exist as users (do not require household membership here to preserve existing behavior/tests)
@@ -368,6 +377,16 @@ async def update_meal_scoped(
                 400,
                 f"Invalid recipe id(s): {', '.join(map(str, sorted(set(invalid_recipes))))}",
             )
+    # Disallow empty extra ingredients on update as well
+    for ing in domain_meal.extra_ingredients:
+        name = (ing.name or "").strip()
+        line = (ing.line or "").strip()
+        has_product = getattr(ing, "product", None) is not None or (
+            getattr(ing, "product_id", None) is not None and getattr(ing, "product_id") >= 0
+        )
+        if not has_product and name == "" and line == "":
+            return error_response(request, 400, "Ingredient must include a name or line or a product")
+
     await meals.update_meal(conn, domain_meal)
     # Return updated state
     updated = await meals.find_meal_by_id_scoped(conn, meal_id, hid)
diff --git a/api/recipes.py b/api/recipes.py
index 017c95b..9c2d6ec 100644
--- a/api/recipes.py
+++ b/api/recipes.py
@@ -189,6 +189,15 @@ async def create_recipe(
 ):
     if not recipe.ingredients:
         return error_response(None, 400, "Recipe must have at least one ingredient")
+    # Disallow empty ingredients with neither product nor textual content
+    for ing in recipe.ingredients:
+        name = (ing.name or "").strip()
+        line = (ing.line or "").strip()
+        has_product = getattr(ing, "product", None) is not None or (
+            getattr(ing, "product_id", None) is not None and getattr(ing, "product_id") >= 0
+        )
+        if not has_product and name == "" and line == "":
+            return error_response(None, 400, "Ingredient must include a name or line or a product")
     hid = household["id"]
     # Build domain model and insert
     r = recipes.Recipe(
@@ -205,7 +214,10 @@ async def create_recipe(
         ingredient.recipe_id = r.id
         if ingredient.product:
             ingredient.product_id = ingredient.product.id
-        await ingredients_mod.insert_ingredient(conn, ingredient)
+        try:
+            await ingredients_mod.insert_ingredient(conn, ingredient)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            return error_response(None, 400, str(e))
     response.headers["Location"] = f"/api/v1/households/{household['slug']}/recipes/{r.id}"
     created = MemberRef(id=user.id, display_name=user.display_name)
     out = RecipeOut(
diff --git a/ingredients/repository.py b/ingredients/repository.py
index 6a88fec..bb120d0 100644
--- a/ingredients/repository.py
+++ b/ingredients/repository.py
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ async def insert_ingredient(conn, ingredient: Ingredient):
     if ingredient.product_id is None or ingredient.product_id < 0:
         ingredient.product_id = None
 
+    # Disallow empty ingredients (no product and no textual content)
+    name = (ingredient.name or "").strip()
+    line = (ingredient.line or "").strip()
+    has_product = ingredient.product_id is not None and ingredient.product_id >= 0
+    if not has_product and name == "" and line == "":
+        raise ValueError("Ingredient must include a name or line or a product")
+
     async with conn.execute(
         """
         INSERT INTO Ingredient (name, line, preparation, unit, quantity, product_id, recipe_id, meal_id)