diff --git a/app/services/recipe_service.py b/app/services/recipe_service.py
index a81306b..760283e 100644
--- a/app/services/recipe_service.py
+++ b/app/services/recipe_service.py
@@ -42,6 +42,23 @@ class RecipeService:
             if ipfs_cid:
                 recipe_data["ipfs_cid"] = ipfs_cid
 
+            # Compute step_count from nodes
+            nodes = recipe_data.get("nodes", [])
+            if not nodes:
+                dag = recipe_data.get("dag", {})
+                nodes = dag.get("nodes", []) if isinstance(dag, dict) else []
+            if not nodes:
+                nodes = recipe_data.get("pipeline", [])
+            if not nodes:
+                nodes = recipe_data.get("steps", [])
+
+            if isinstance(nodes, list):
+                recipe_data["step_count"] = len(nodes)
+            elif isinstance(nodes, dict):
+                recipe_data["step_count"] = len(nodes)
+            else:
+                recipe_data["step_count"] = 0
+
         return recipe_data
 
     async def list_recipes(self, actor_id: str = None, offset: int = 0, limit: int = 20) -> list: