diff --git a/apps/api/prisma/migrations/20260819210000_tech_step_catalog_key/migration.sql b/apps/api/prisma/migrations/20260819210000_tech_step_catalog_key/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28009bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/prisma/migrations/20260819210000_tech_step_catalog_key/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+-- Adds `TechStep.key` (`key String @unique`) and `TechStepMapping.locale` —
+-- same "stable English camelCase uid, French label lives only in apps/web's
+-- locales/fr/translation.json" convention as Diet/Category/Unit. `TechStep`
+-- was created in the initial migration with no way to identify a row other
+-- than its numeric id; this closes that gap so reference-seed-data.ts can
+-- upsert it by key like every other reference catalog. `locale` lets the
+-- same TechStep carry one matching rule set per language. Neither table has
+-- ever been seeded (no rows exist pre-launch), so plain NOT NULL columns
+-- with no backfill are safe.
+
+-- AlterTable
+ALTER TABLE "tech_step" ADD COLUMN "key" TEXT NOT NULL;
+
+-- CreateIndex
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX "tech_step_key_key" ON "tech_step"("key");
+
+-- AlterTable
+ALTER TABLE "tech_step_mapping" ADD COLUMN "locale" TEXT NOT NULL;
diff --git a/apps/api/prisma/schema.prisma b/apps/api/prisma/schema.prisma
index 23bfef3..fa8aa69 100644
--- a/apps/api/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/apps/api/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -556,8 +556,13 @@ model RecipeIngredient {
   @@map("recipe_ingredient")
 }
 
+/// `key` is `@unique` — same convention as `Diet`/`Unit`: a stable English
+/// camelCase uid (e.g. `"simmer"`), not the display label — the French
+/// label lives in `apps/web`'s `locales/fr/translation.json` under
+/// `catalog.techSteps.<key>` (see `reference-seed-data.ts`'s `TECH_STEPS`).
 model TechStep {
-  id Int @id @default(autoincrement())
+  id  Int    @id @default(autoincrement())
+  key String @unique
 
   steps    Step[]
   mappings TechStepMapping[]
@@ -565,11 +570,16 @@ model TechStep {
   @@map("tech_step")
 }
 
-/// Used by the recipe-import pipeline to auto-detect which technique a raw
-/// instruction step corresponds to (expression = text pattern, weight = match score).
+/// Used by `tech-step-matcher.ts` to auto-detect which technique a recipe
+/// step's description corresponds to (expression = regex pattern tested
+/// against the description, weight = tie-break score when several
+/// mappings match). `locale` (e.g. `"fr"`) lets the same TechStep carry
+/// one matching rule set per language — the matcher is always called with
+/// a target locale and only considers mappings for that locale.
 model TechStepMapping {
   id         Int    @id @default(autoincrement())
   techStepId Int    @map("tech_step_id")
+  locale     String
   expression String
   weight     Int
 
diff --git a/apps/api/src/db/reference-seed-data.ts b/apps/api/src/db/reference-seed-data.ts
index adb2998..4340894 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/db/reference-seed-data.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/db/reference-seed-data.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,147 @@ export const UNITS: Array<{ uid: string; type: UnitType; toBaseFactor: number }>
   { uid: "sprig", type: "COUNT", toBaseFactor: 1 },
 ];
 
+// Cooking-technique catalog (French recipe-step normalization) — a static
+// list of common instructions, each carrying one or more text-matching
+// rules used by `tech-step-matcher.ts` to auto-detect which technique a
+// free-text `Step.description` corresponds to. Same "English camelCase
+// uid, no French label" authoring as DIETS/UNITS — the label lives in
+// apps/web's locales/fr/translation.json under `catalog.techSteps.<key>`.
+// `expression` is a regex source matched (case/accent-insensitive, via
+// `normalizeText`) against the step description; `weight` breaks ties when
+// a description matches more than one technique's expression (highest
+// weight wins) — see `tech-step-matcher.ts`'s `matchTechStep`. Specific,
+// multi-word phrases ("cuire au four", "faire revenir") are weighted
+// higher than the generic single-verb forms they overlap with ("cuire",
+// "sauter") so the more specific technique wins when both match. `locale`
+// lets the same technique carry one matching rule set per language — every
+// entry below is `"fr"` for now, the field exists so other languages can
+// be added later without a schema change.
+export const TECH_STEPS: Array<{
+  uid: string;
+  mappings: Array<{ locale: string; expression: string; weight: number }>;
+}> = [
+  {
+    uid: "cook",
+    mappings: [
+      { locale: "fr", expression: "\\bcui(re|sez|sant|sson)\\b|\\bcuit(e|es|s)?\\b", weight: 10 },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "fry",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bfri(re|t|te|ts|tes|ture)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "deglaze",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bd[ée]glac(er|ez|é|ée|age)\\b", weight: 20 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "simmer",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bmijot(er|ez|e|ant|é)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "boil",
+    mappings: [
+      { locale: "fr", expression: "\\bbouill(ir|ant|ie|ies)\\b|\\b[ée]bullition\\b", weight: 12 },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "roast",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\br[ôo]tir\\b|\\br[ôo]ti(e|es|s)?\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "grill",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bgrill(er|ez|é|ée|ées|ade)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "panFry",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bsaut(er|ez|é|ée|ées|ant)\\b", weight: 12 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "blanch",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bblanch(ir|issez|i|ie|ies|iment)\\b", weight: 18 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "marinate",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bmarin(er|ez|é|ée|ées|ade)\\b", weight: 18 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "chop",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bhach(er|ez|é|ée|ées|is)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "peel",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\b[ée]pluch(er|ez|é|ée|ées|age)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "mince",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\b[ée]minc(er|ez|é|ée|ées)\\b", weight: 18 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "mix",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bm[ée]lang(er|ez|é|ée|ées|e|es)\\b", weight: 10 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "whisk",
+    mappings: [
+      { locale: "fr", expression: "\\bfouett(er|ez|é|ée|ées)\\b|\\bau fouet\\b", weight: 15 },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "foldIn",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bincorpor(er|ez|é|ée|ées|ant)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "setAside",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\br[ée]serv(er|ez|é|ée|ées)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "season",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bassaisonn(er|ez|é|ée|ées|ement)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "drain",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\b[ée]goutt(er|ez|é|ée|ées)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "brown",
+    mappings: [
+      {
+        locale: "fr",
+        expression:
+          "\\bfaire revenir\\b|\\bfaites revenir\\b|\\bfais revenir\\b|\\bfaire dorer\\b|\\bfaites dorer\\b",
+        weight: 25,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "rest",
+    mappings: [
+      { locale: "fr", expression: "\\blaiss(er|ez|e) reposer\\b|\\breposer\\b", weight: 20 },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "preheat",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bpr[ée]chauff(er|ez|é|ée)\\b", weight: 20 }],
+  },
+  {
+    uid: "bake",
+    mappings: [
+      {
+        locale: "fr",
+        expression:
+          "\\bcuire au four\\b|\\bcuisson au four\\b|\\benfourn(er|ez|é|ée|ées)\\b|\\bau four\\b",
+        weight: 25,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+  { uid: "plate", mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bdress(er|ez|age)\\b", weight: 15 }] },
+  {
+    uid: "coat",
+    mappings: [{ locale: "fr", expression: "\\bnapp(er|ez|é|ée|ées|age)\\b", weight: 15 }],
+  },
+];
+
 // The 14 allergens EU Regulation 1169/2011 (Annex II) requires food
 // businesses to declare — a standard, defensible reference list rather than
 // an invented one. Split into ALLERGY (classic IgE-mediated immune
@@ -1125,6 +1266,39 @@ export async function seedReferenceData(prisma: PrismaClient): Promise<void> {
     });
   }
 
+  // TechStep: upsert by key (same idempotent-seed reasoning as everything
+  // above), then fully replace its mappings on every reseed. Mappings carry
+  // no natural per-row identity to upsert against, and expressions/weights
+  // are expected to be tuned over time — a straight "delete all, recreate
+  // from source" keeps the table an exact mirror of `TECH_STEPS` rather
+  // than accumulating stale/duplicate rows from earlier edits. Nothing else
+  // references `TechStepMapping.id` (`Step` only points at `TechStep`, not
+  // at a specific mapping), so this replace is safe.
+  for (const { uid: key } of TECH_STEPS) {
+    await prisma.techStep.upsert({ where: { key }, update: {}, create: { key } });
+  }
+  const techSteps = await prisma.techStep.findMany({
+    where: { key: { in: TECH_STEPS.map((t) => t.uid) } },
+  });
+  const techStepIdByKey = new Map(techSteps.map((t) => [t.key, t.id]));
+
+  await prisma.techStepMapping.deleteMany({
+    where: { techStepId: { in: [...techStepIdByKey.values()] } },
+  });
+  const techStepMappingRows = TECH_STEPS.flatMap(({ uid, mappings }) => {
+    const techStepId = techStepIdByKey.get(uid);
+    if (techStepId === undefined) return [];
+    return mappings.map(({ locale, expression, weight }) => ({
+      techStepId,
+      locale,
+      expression,
+      weight,
+    }));
+  });
+  if (techStepMappingRows.length > 0) {
+    await prisma.techStepMapping.createMany({ data: techStepMappingRows });
+  }
+
   // `Allergy` itself carries no `key` — it's the selectable instance of a
   // keyed `Category` (see schema.prisma) — so seeding an allergen means one
   // Category (upserted by key) plus exactly one Allergy row under it,
diff --git a/apps/api/src/lib/tech-step-matcher.ts b/apps/api/src/lib/tech-step-matcher.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c8ecdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/src/lib/tech-step-matcher.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import { prisma } from "../db/prisma.js";
+
+/**
+ * Auto-detects which cooking technique (`TechStep`) a free-text recipe
+ * step description corresponds to, using the static `TechStepMapping`
+ * catalog (see `reference-seed-data.ts`'s `TECH_STEPS`) — groundwork for a
+ * future batch-cooking optimization algorithm, not surfaced in the recipe
+ * UI yet (see `StepView` in `packages/shared`).
+ *
+ * `normalizeText`/`matchTechStep` are pure (no DB access) so they can be
+ * unit-tested in isolation (see `test/tech-step-matcher.test.ts`).
+ * `loadTechStepMappingRules` is the only DB-touching piece, kept separate
+ * so callers (`recipe.service.ts`) fetch the whole mapping list once per
+ * request and pass it to `matchTechStep` per step, rather than querying
+ * once per step.
+ */
+
+/** One `TechStepMapping` row, trimmed to what {@link matchTechStep} needs. */
+export interface TechStepMappingRule {
+  techStepId: number;
+  /**
+   * Regex source, matched against the normalized description (see
+   * {@link normalizeText}) — may itself contain accented characters,
+   * normalized the same way before compiling.
+   */
+  expression: string;
+  weight: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Lowercases and strips diacritics (NFD decomposition + removal of
+ * combining marks, e.g. "Déglacer" -> "deglacer") — recipe step text and
+ * mapping expressions are both run through this before matching, so
+ * expressions can be authored with natural French accents in
+ * `reference-seed-data.ts` while matching stays accent/case-insensitive.
+ */
+const COMBINING_DIACRITICS_PATTERN = /\p{Diacritic}/gu;
+
+export function normalizeText(text: string): string {
+  return text.normalize("NFD").replace(COMBINING_DIACRITICS_PATTERN, "").toLowerCase();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Picks the best-matching `TechStep` for a step `description` among
+ * `mappings` — every mapping whose (normalized) `expression` regex tests
+ * true against the (normalized) description is a candidate; the candidate
+ * with the highest `weight` wins, ties broken by lowest `techStepId`
+ * (equivalent to "first defined in `TECH_STEPS`", since ids are assigned
+ * in that array's order on first seed). Returns `null` if nothing matches.
+ *
+ * Pure — takes `mappings` as a plain argument rather than querying Prisma
+ * itself, so it's testable without a database (see
+ * `loadTechStepMappingRules` for the DB-backed loader). `mappings` should
+ * already be filtered to the locale the caller cares about — this function
+ * has no notion of locale, it just tests the rules it's given.
+ */
+export function matchTechStep(description: string, mappings: TechStepMappingRule[]): number | null {
+  const normalizedDescription = normalizeText(description);
+  let best: TechStepMappingRule | null = null;
+
+  for (const mapping of mappings) {
+    const pattern = new RegExp(normalizeText(mapping.expression), "i");
+    if (!pattern.test(normalizedDescription)) continue;
+    if (
+      best === null ||
+      mapping.weight > best.weight ||
+      (mapping.weight === best.weight && mapping.techStepId < best.techStepId)
+    ) {
+      best = mapping;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return best?.techStepId ?? null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Loads every `TechStepMapping` row for `locale` as
+ * {@link TechStepMappingRule}s — meant to be fetched once per request by
+ * `recipe.service.ts`'s `createRecipe`/`updateRecipe` and reused across
+ * every step of the recipe being saved, not re-queried per step.
+ *
+ * No user-language preference exists anywhere in the app yet (a single
+ * `"fr"` translation file, no locale field on `User`/`UserProfile`) —
+ * callers pass a hardcoded locale for now; this parameter exists so that
+ * plugging in a real user preference later doesn't require touching this
+ * module.
+ */
+export async function loadTechStepMappingRules(locale: string): Promise<TechStepMappingRule[]> {
+  return prisma.techStepMapping.findMany({
+    where: { locale },
+    select: { techStepId: true, expression: true, weight: true },
+  });
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/src/modules/recipe/recipe.service.ts b/apps/api/src/modules/recipe/recipe.service.ts
index 0dfe196..e5ba108 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/modules/recipe/recipe.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/modules/recipe/recipe.service.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ import {
 } from "@batch-cooking/shared";
 import type { Prisma } from "@prisma/client";
 import { prisma } from "../../db/prisma.js";
+import { loadTechStepMappingRules, matchTechStep } from "../../lib/tech-step-matcher.js";
+
+// No user-language preference exists anywhere in the app yet (a single
+// "fr" translation file, no locale field on User/UserProfile) — steps are
+// matched against this hardcoded locale for now. See
+// `tech-step-matcher.ts`'s `loadTechStepMappingRules` for why the locale is
+// a parameter rather than baked into that module.
+const DEFAULT_TECH_STEP_LOCALE = "fr";
 
 /** Prisma `include` for every query that needs a full {@link RecipeView} — ingredients resolved to their reference data + allergens, steps in order, diet tags, and whether `viewerId` has favorited it. Parameterized by viewer since `favoritedBy` is per-viewer, not a static shape. */
 function recipeInclude(viewerId: number) {
@@ -312,6 +320,7 @@ export async function createRecipe(
   await assertIngredientsExist(input.ingredients.map((i) => i.ingredientId));
   await assertUnitsExist(input.ingredients.map((i) => i.unitId));
   await assertDietsExist(input.dietIds);
+  const techStepMappings = await loadTechStepMappingRules(DEFAULT_TECH_STEP_LOCALE);
 
   const created = await prisma.recipe.create({
     data: {
@@ -334,6 +343,7 @@ export async function createRecipe(
           description: step.description,
           picture: step.picture ?? null,
           order: index,
+          techStepId: matchTechStep(step.description, techStepMappings),
         })),
       },
       diets: { create: input.dietIds.map((dietId) => ({ dietId })) },
@@ -366,6 +376,7 @@ export async function updateRecipe(
   await assertIngredientsExist(input.ingredients.map((i) => i.ingredientId));
   await assertUnitsExist(input.ingredients.map((i) => i.unitId));
   await assertDietsExist(input.dietIds);
+  const techStepMappings = await loadTechStepMappingRules(DEFAULT_TECH_STEP_LOCALE);
 
   await prisma.$transaction([
     prisma.recipeIngredient.deleteMany({ where: { recipeId: id } }),
@@ -391,6 +402,7 @@ export async function updateRecipe(
             description: step.description,
             picture: step.picture ?? null,
             order: index,
+            techStepId: matchTechStep(step.description, techStepMappings),
           })),
         },
         diets: { create: input.dietIds.map((dietId) => ({ dietId })) },
diff --git a/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.routes.ts b/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.routes.ts
index 46f3fe3..84948e3 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.routes.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.routes.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import { wrapAsyncHandler } from "@batch-cooking/express-tools";
 import { Router } from "express";
-import { getAllergies, getDiets, getIngredients, getUnits } from "./reference.service.js";
+import {
+  getAllergies,
+  getDiets,
+  getIngredients,
+  getTechSteps,
+  getUnits,
+} from "./reference.service.js";
 
 /**
  * Router mounted at `/reference` in app.ts. Every route is deliberately
@@ -40,3 +46,10 @@ referenceRouter.get(
     res.status(200).json(await getUnits());
   }),
 );
+
+referenceRouter.get(
+  "/tech-steps",
+  wrapAsyncHandler(async (_req, res) => {
+    res.status(200).json(await getTechSteps());
+  }),
+);
diff --git a/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.service.ts b/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.service.ts
index 3e212dd..78dadc9 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/modules/reference/reference.service.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-import type { AllergyView, DietView, IngredientView, UnitView } from "@batch-cooking/shared";
+import type {
+  AllergyView,
+  DietView,
+  IngredientView,
+  TechStepView,
+  UnitView,
+} from "@batch-cooking/shared";
 import { prisma } from "../../db/prisma.js";
 
 /**
@@ -49,6 +55,15 @@ export async function getUnits(): Promise<UnitView[]> {
   }));
 }
 
+/**
+ * All reference cooking techniques, ordered by key (see {@link getDiets}
+ * for why) — small, static list (see `reference-seed-data.ts`'s
+ * `TECH_STEPS`). Not consumed by the recipe UI yet — see {@link TechStepView}.
+ */
+export async function getTechSteps(): Promise<TechStepView[]> {
+  return prisma.techStep.findMany({ orderBy: { key: "asc" } });
+}
+
 /**
  * All reference ingredients, ordered by key (see {@link getDiets} for why),
  * each resolved to its allergens (see `IngredientAllergy` in schema.prisma)
diff --git a/apps/api/test/recipe.test.ts b/apps/api/test/recipe.test.ts
index 3528c10..0ed2192 100644
--- a/apps/api/test/recipe.test.ts
+++ b/apps/api/test/recipe.test.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ async function unitId(key: string): Promise<number> {
   return unit.id;
 }
 
+/** Resolves a reference tech step's id by its `reference-seed-data.ts` uid (also its DB `key`) — same reasoning as {@link ingredientId}. */
+async function techStepId(key: string): Promise<number> {
+  const techStep = await prisma.techStep.findFirstOrThrow({ where: { key } });
+  return techStep.id;
+}
+
 describe("Recipes", () => {
   const app = createApp();
 
@@ -233,6 +239,43 @@ describe("Recipes", () => {
       expect(houseRes.body.id).to.be.a("number"); // house exists, sanity check
     });
 
+    it("auto-detects a step's technique from its description and persists techStepId", async () => {
+      const { agent } = await signup();
+      const tomate = await ingredientId("tomato");
+      const piece = await unitId("piece");
+      const simmer = await techStepId("simmer");
+
+      const res = await agent.post("/recipes").send({
+        name: "Ragoût",
+        portions: 4,
+        dietIds: [],
+        ingredients: [{ ingredientId: tomate, quantity: 1, unitId: piece }],
+        steps: [{ description: "Faire mijoter à feu doux pendant 30 minutes" }],
+      });
+
+      expect(res.status).to.equal(201);
+      // techStepId isn't in the API response (see StepView) — check via Prisma directly.
+      const step = await prisma.step.findFirstOrThrow({ where: { recipeId: res.body.id } });
+      expect(step.techStepId).to.equal(simmer);
+    });
+
+    it("leaves techStepId null when a step's description matches no known technique", async () => {
+      const { agent } = await signup();
+      const tomate = await ingredientId("tomato");
+      const piece = await unitId("piece");
+
+      const res = await agent.post("/recipes").send({
+        name: "Test",
+        portions: 4,
+        dietIds: [],
+        ingredients: [{ ingredientId: tomate, quantity: 1, unitId: piece }],
+        steps: [{ description: "Servir immédiatement" }],
+      });
+
+      const step = await prisma.step.findFirstOrThrow({ where: { recipeId: res.body.id } });
+      expect(step.techStepId).to.be.null;
+    });
+
     it("rejects an unknown ingredientId with 404 INGREDIENT_NOT_FOUND", async () => {
       const { agent } = await signup();
       const piece = await unitId("piece");
@@ -445,6 +488,32 @@ describe("Recipes", () => {
       expect(res.body.steps).to.have.length(2);
     });
 
+    it("recomputes techStepId for the replaced steps", async () => {
+      const { agent } = await signup();
+      const tomate = await ingredientId("tomato");
+      const piece = await unitId("piece");
+      const mince = await techStepId("mince");
+      const created = await agent.post("/recipes").send({
+        name: "Salade",
+        portions: 4,
+        dietIds: [],
+        ingredients: [{ ingredientId: tomate, quantity: 1, unitId: piece }],
+        steps: [{ description: "Servir immédiatement" }],
+      });
+
+      const res = await agent.patch(`/recipes/${created.body.id}`).send({
+        name: "Salade",
+        portions: 4,
+        dietIds: [],
+        ingredients: [{ ingredientId: tomate, quantity: 1, unitId: piece }],
+        steps: [{ description: "Émincer les tomates" }],
+      });
+
+      expect(res.status).to.equal(200);
+      const step = await prisma.step.findFirstOrThrow({ where: { recipeId: created.body.id } });
+      expect(step.techStepId).to.equal(mince);
+    });
+
     it("returns 404 RECIPE_NOT_FOUND for an unknown id", async () => {
       const { agent } = await signup();
       const tomate = await ingredientId("tomato");
diff --git a/apps/api/test/reference.test.ts b/apps/api/test/reference.test.ts
index dd8bb46..e8dda4e 100644
--- a/apps/api/test/reference.test.ts
+++ b/apps/api/test/reference.test.ts
@@ -96,4 +96,15 @@ describe("Reference data", () => {
       expect(byKey("pinch")).to.include({ type: "COUNT", toBaseFactor: 1 });
     });
   });
+
+  describe("GET /reference/tech-steps", () => {
+    it("returns the seeded techniques, no session required", async () => {
+      const res = await request(app).get("/reference/tech-steps");
+
+      expect(res.status).to.equal(200);
+      expect(res.body).to.have.length(25);
+      expect(res.body.map((t: { key: string }) => t.key)).to.include("simmer");
+      expect(res.body[0]).to.have.keys(["id", "key"]);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/apps/api/test/tech-step-matcher.test.ts b/apps/api/test/tech-step-matcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b79de6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/test/tech-step-matcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { expect } from "chai";
+import {
+  type TechStepMappingRule,
+  matchTechStep,
+  normalizeText,
+} from "../src/lib/tech-step-matcher.js";
+
+describe("tech-step-matcher", () => {
+  describe("normalizeText", () => {
+    it("lowercases and strips accents", () => {
+      expect(normalizeText("Déglacer AU FOUR")).to.equal("deglacer au four");
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("matchTechStep", () => {
+    const simmer: TechStepMappingRule = {
+      techStepId: 1,
+      expression: "\\bmijot(er|ez|e|ant|é)\\b",
+      weight: 15,
+    };
+    const cook: TechStepMappingRule = {
+      techStepId: 2,
+      expression: "\\bcui(re|sez|sant|sson)\\b|\\bcuit(e|es|s)?\\b",
+      weight: 10,
+    };
+    const bake: TechStepMappingRule = {
+      techStepId: 3,
+      expression:
+        "\\bcuire au four\\b|\\bcuisson au four\\b|\\benfourn(er|ez|é|ée|ées)\\b|\\bau four\\b",
+      weight: 25,
+    };
+
+    it("matches an exact expression", () => {
+      expect(matchTechStep("Faire mijoter à feu doux", [simmer])).to.equal(1);
+    });
+
+    it("is case- and accent-insensitive", () => {
+      expect(matchTechStep("FAIRE MIJOTER", [simmer])).to.equal(1);
+      expect(matchTechStep("faire mijoter", [simmer])).to.equal(1);
+    });
+
+    it("returns null when nothing matches", () => {
+      expect(matchTechStep("Servir immédiatement", [simmer, cook, bake])).to.be.null;
+    });
+
+    it("picks the highest-weight match when several mappings match", () => {
+      // "Cuire au four" matches both `cook` (weight 10) and `bake` (weight 25).
+      expect(matchTechStep("Cuire au four pendant 30 minutes", [cook, bake])).to.equal(3);
+      // Order-independent.
+      expect(matchTechStep("Cuire au four pendant 30 minutes", [bake, cook])).to.equal(3);
+    });
+
+    it("breaks a weight tie by lowest techStepId", () => {
+      const a: TechStepMappingRule = { techStepId: 5, expression: "\\bmelanger\\b", weight: 10 };
+      const b: TechStepMappingRule = { techStepId: 2, expression: "\\bmelanger\\b", weight: 10 };
+      expect(matchTechStep("Mélanger les ingrédients", [a, b])).to.equal(2);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/web/src/locales/fr/translation.json b/apps/web/src/locales/fr/translation.json
index 6a444ac..abb0cb3 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/locales/fr/translation.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/locales/fr/translation.json
@@ -343,6 +343,33 @@
       "pescatarian": "Pescétarien",
       "glutenFree": "Sans gluten"
     },
+    "techSteps": {
+      "cook": "Cuire",
+      "fry": "Frire",
+      "deglaze": "Déglacer",
+      "simmer": "Mijoter",
+      "boil": "Bouillir",
+      "roast": "Rôtir",
+      "grill": "Griller",
+      "panFry": "Sauter",
+      "blanch": "Blanchir",
+      "marinate": "Mariner",
+      "chop": "Hacher",
+      "peel": "Éplucher",
+      "mince": "Émincer",
+      "mix": "Mélanger",
+      "whisk": "Fouetter",
+      "foldIn": "Incorporer",
+      "setAside": "Réserver",
+      "season": "Assaisonner",
+      "drain": "Égoutter",
+      "brown": "Faire revenir",
+      "rest": "Laisser reposer",
+      "preheat": "Préchauffer",
+      "bake": "Cuire au four",
+      "plate": "Dresser",
+      "coat": "Napper"
+    },
     "allergens": {
       "gluten": "Gluten",
       "crustaceans": "Crustacés",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/types/reference.ts b/packages/shared/src/types/reference.ts
index 5af48e3..4ae1968 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/types/reference.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/types/reference.ts
@@ -187,6 +187,28 @@ export interface UnitView {
   toBaseFactor: number;
 }
 
+/**
+ * A cooking technique, as returned by `GET /reference/tech-steps` —
+ * reference data (`TechStep`, seeded via `reference-seed-data.ts`'s
+ * `TECH_STEPS`), same static/non-administrable status as
+ * {@link DietView}/{@link UnitView}.
+ *
+ * Not currently surfaced in the recipe UI — `Step.techStepId` is computed
+ * server-side at save time (see `recipe.service.ts`'s `createRecipe`/
+ * `updateRecipe`, via `tech-step-matcher.ts`) but deliberately excluded
+ * from `StepView` (see its doc comment in `types/recipe.ts`). This
+ * endpoint exists for consistency with the other reference catalogs and
+ * for future admin/inspection tooling.
+ *
+ * `key` is a stable English camelCase uid (e.g. `"simmer"`), not a display
+ * label — resolved via `t(\`catalog.techSteps.${key}\`)`, same as
+ * {@link DietView.key}.
+ */
+export interface TechStepView {
+  id: number;
+  key: string;
+}
+
 /**
  * A selectable ingredient, as returned by `GET /reference/ingredients` —
  * reference data (`Ingredient`, seeded via `apps/api/src/db/