diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/App.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/App.tsx
index ba03ed6dc5..8a9d1fcdd8 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/App.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/App.tsx
@@ -84,17 +84,23 @@ const PairRouteWrapper = ({
 
   const resumeSessionId = searchParams.get('resumeSessionId') ?? undefined;
   const recipeDeeplinkFromConfig = window.appConfig?.get('recipeDeeplink') as string | undefined;
+  const recipeIdFromConfig = window.appConfig?.get('recipeId') as string | undefined;
   const initialMessage = routeState.initialMessage;
 
-  // Create session if we have an initialMessage or recipeDeeplink but no sessionId
+  // Create session if we have an initialMessage, recipeDeeplink, or recipeId but no sessionId
   useEffect(() => {
-    if ((initialMessage || recipeDeeplinkFromConfig) && !resumeSessionId && !isCreatingSession) {
+    if (
+      (initialMessage || recipeDeeplinkFromConfig || recipeIdFromConfig) &&
+      !resumeSessionId &&
+      !isCreatingSession
+    ) {
       setIsCreatingSession(true);
 
       (async () => {
         try {
           const newSession = await createSession(getInitialWorkingDir(), {
             recipeDeeplink: recipeDeeplinkFromConfig,
+            recipeId: recipeIdFromConfig,
             allExtensions: extensionsList,
           });
 
@@ -126,7 +132,14 @@ const PairRouteWrapper = ({
     // Note: isCreatingSession is intentionally NOT in the dependency array
     // It's only used as a guard to prevent concurrent session creation
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
-  }, [initialMessage, recipeDeeplinkFromConfig, resumeSessionId, setSearchParams, extensionsList]);
+  }, [
+    initialMessage,
+    recipeDeeplinkFromConfig,
+    recipeIdFromConfig,
+    resumeSessionId,
+    setSearchParams,
+    extensionsList,
+  ]);
 
   // Add resumed session to active sessions if not already there
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -450,7 +463,7 @@ export function AppInner() {
       if ((isMac ? event.metaKey : event.ctrlKey) && event.key === 'n') {
         event.preventDefault();
         try {
-          window.electron.createChatWindow(undefined, getInitialWorkingDir());
+          window.electron.createChatWindow({ dir: getInitialWorkingDir() });
         } catch (error) {
           console.error('Error creating new window:', error);
         }
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/LauncherView.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/LauncherView.tsx
index fbebb2afe0..a09a9f8ac7 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/LauncherView.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/LauncherView.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export default function LauncherView() {
     if (query.trim()) {
       const initialMessage = query;
       setQuery('');
-      window.electron.createChatWindow(initialMessage, getInitialWorkingDir());
+      window.electron.createChatWindow({ query: initialMessage, dir: getInitialWorkingDir() });
       setTimeout(() => {
         window.electron.closeWindow();
       }, 200);
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/Layout/AppLayout.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/Layout/AppLayout.tsx
index ef2fb2ae7c..ddd7fc2c73 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/Layout/AppLayout.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/Layout/AppLayout.tsx
@@ -84,10 +84,9 @@ const AppLayoutContent: React.FC<AppLayoutContentProps> = ({ activeSessions }) =
   };
 
   const handleNewWindow = () => {
-    window.electron.createChatWindow(
-      undefined,
-      window.appConfig.get('GOOSE_WORKING_DIR') as string | undefined
-    );
+    window.electron.createChatWindow({
+      dir: window.appConfig.get('GOOSE_WORKING_DIR') as string | undefined,
+    });
   };
 
   return (
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/ParameterInputModal.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/ParameterInputModal.tsx
index afb7b86e00..bd0ea6787b 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/ParameterInputModal.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/ParameterInputModal.tsx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ const ParameterInputModal: React.FC<ParameterInputModalProps> = ({
     if (option === 'new-chat') {
       try {
         const workingDir = getInitialWorkingDir();
-        window.electron.createChatWindow(undefined, workingDir);
+        window.electron.createChatWindow({ dir: workingDir });
         window.electron.hideWindow();
       } catch (error) {
         console.error('Error creating new window:', error);
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateEditRecipeModal.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateEditRecipeModal.tsx
index b98c3fa3fc..695deba12c 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateEditRecipeModal.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateEditRecipeModal.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useForm } from '@tanstack/react-form';
-import {
-  Recipe,
-  generateDeepLink,
-  Parameter,
-  encodeRecipe,
-  stripEmptyExtensions,
-} from '../../recipe';
+import { Recipe, generateDeepLink, Parameter } from '../../recipe';
 import { Check, ExternalLink, Play, Save, X } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Geese } from '../icons/Geese';
 import Copy from '../icons/Copy';
@@ -333,21 +327,12 @@ export default function CreateEditRecipeModal({
     try {
       const recipe = getCurrentRecipe();
 
-      await saveRecipe(recipe, recipeId);
+      const savedId = await saveRecipe(recipe, recipeId);
 
       // Close modal first
       onClose(true);
 
-      // Encode the recipe as a deeplink before passing to the new window
-      const encodedRecipe = await encodeRecipe(stripEmptyExtensions(recipe));
-      window.electron.createChatWindow(
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        encodedRecipe
-      );
+      window.electron.createChatWindow({ recipeId: savedId });
 
       toastSuccess({
         title: recipe.title,
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateRecipeFromSessionModal.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateRecipeFromSessionModal.tsx
index 3760850322..4151427c88 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateRecipeFromSessionModal.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/CreateRecipeFromSessionModal.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { useForm } from '@tanstack/react-form';
-import { Recipe, encodeRecipe, stripEmptyExtensions } from '../../recipe';
+import { Recipe } from '../../recipe';
 import { Geese } from '../icons/Geese';
 import { X, Save, Play, Loader2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button } from '../ui/button';
@@ -182,21 +182,13 @@ export default function CreateRecipeFromSessionModal({
             : undefined,
       };
 
-      await saveRecipe(recipe, null);
+      const recipeId = await saveRecipe(recipe, null);
 
       onRecipeCreated?.(recipe);
       onClose();
 
       if (runAfterSave) {
-        const encodedRecipe = await encodeRecipe(stripEmptyExtensions(recipe));
-        window.electron.createChatWindow(
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          encodedRecipe
-        );
+        window.electron.createChatWindow({ recipeId });
       }
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to create recipe:', error);
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/RecipesView.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/RecipesView.tsx
index b7c2a81380..7773dd92f4 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/RecipesView.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/recipes/RecipesView.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../api';
 import ImportRecipeForm, { ImportRecipeButton } from './ImportRecipeForm';
 import CreateEditRecipeModal from './CreateEditRecipeModal';
-import { generateDeepLink, encodeRecipe, Recipe, stripEmptyExtensions } from '../../recipe';
+import { generateDeepLink } from '../../recipe';
 import { useNavigation } from '../../hooks/useNavigation';
 import { CronPicker } from '../schedule/CronPicker';
 import { Dialog, DialogContent, DialogHeader, DialogTitle } from '../ui/dialog';
@@ -139,12 +139,12 @@ export default function RecipesView() {
     }
   };
 
-  const handleStartRecipeChat = async (recipe: Recipe) => {
+  const handleStartRecipeChat = async (recipeId: string) => {
     try {
       const newAgent = await startAgent({
         body: {
           working_dir: getInitialWorkingDir(),
-          recipe: stripEmptyExtensions(recipe) as Recipe,
+          recipe_id: recipeId,
         },
         throwOnError: true,
       });
@@ -165,17 +165,13 @@ export default function RecipesView() {
     }
   };
 
-  const handleStartRecipeChatInNewWindow = async (recipe: Recipe) => {
+  const handleStartRecipeChatInNewWindow = async (recipeId: string) => {
     try {
-      const encodedRecipe = await encodeRecipe(stripEmptyExtensions(recipe) as Recipe);
-      window.electron.createChatWindow(
-        undefined,
-        getInitialWorkingDir(),
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        'pair',
-        encodedRecipe
-      );
+      window.electron.createChatWindow({
+        dir: getInitialWorkingDir(),
+        viewType: 'pair',
+        recipeId,
+      });
       trackRecipeStarted(true, undefined, true);
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to open recipe in new window:', error);
@@ -509,9 +505,9 @@ export default function RecipesView() {
 
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2 shrink-0">
           <Button
-            onClick={(e) => {
+            onClick={async (e) => {
               e.stopPropagation();
-              handleStartRecipeChat(recipe);
+              await handleStartRecipeChat(recipeManifestResponse.id);
             }}
             size="sm"
             className="h-8 w-8 p-0"
@@ -520,9 +516,9 @@ export default function RecipesView() {
             <Play className="w-4 h-4" />
           </Button>
           <Button
-            onClick={(e) => {
+            onClick={async (e) => {
               e.stopPropagation();
-              handleStartRecipeChatInNewWindow(recipe);
+              await handleStartRecipeChatInNewWindow(recipeManifestResponse.id);
             }}
             variant="outline"
             size="sm"
@@ -532,9 +528,9 @@ export default function RecipesView() {
             <ExternalLink className="w-4 h-4" />
           </Button>
           <Button
-            onClick={(e) => {
+            onClick={async (e) => {
               e.stopPropagation();
-              handleEditRecipe(recipeManifestResponse);
+              await handleEditRecipe(recipeManifestResponse);
             }}
             variant="outline"
             size="sm"
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/sessions/SessionListView.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/sessions/SessionListView.tsx
index ae6028dccb..9b40e626ce 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/sessions/SessionListView.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/sessions/SessionListView.tsx
@@ -536,13 +536,11 @@ const SessionListView: React.FC<SessionListViewProps> = React.memo(
 
     const handleOpenInNewWindow = useCallback((session: Session, e: React.MouseEvent) => {
       e.stopPropagation();
-      window.electron.createChatWindow(
-        undefined,
-        session.working_dir,
-        undefined,
-        session.id,
-        'pair'
-      );
+      window.electron.createChatWindow({
+        dir: session.working_dir,
+        resumeSessionId: session.id,
+        viewType: 'pair',
+      });
     }, []);
 
     const SessionItem = React.memo(function SessionItem({
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/main.ts b/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
index b17dff7a6c..5ea4444f64 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -158,17 +158,12 @@ if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
             const deeplinkData = parseRecipeDeeplink(protocolUrl);
             const scheduledJobId = parsedUrl.searchParams.get('scheduledJob');
 
-            createChat(
-              app,
-              undefined,
-              openDir || undefined,
-              undefined,
-              undefined,
-              undefined,
-              deeplinkData?.config,
-              scheduledJobId || undefined,
-              deeplinkData?.parameters
-            );
+            await createChat(app, {
+              dir: openDir || undefined,
+              recipeDeeplink: deeplinkData?.config,
+              scheduledJobId: scheduledJobId || undefined,
+              recipeParameters: deeplinkData?.parameters,
+            });
           });
           return; // Skip the rest of the handler
         }
@@ -217,7 +212,7 @@ async function handleProtocolUrl(url: string) {
     const targetWindow =
       existingWindows.length > 0
         ? existingWindows[0]
-        : await createChat(app, undefined, openDir || undefined);
+        : await createChat(app, { dir: openDir || undefined });
     await processProtocolUrl(parsedUrl, targetWindow);
   } else {
     // For other URL types, reuse existing window if available
@@ -229,7 +224,7 @@ async function handleProtocolUrl(url: string) {
       }
       firstOpenWindow.focus();
     } else {
-      firstOpenWindow = await createChat(app, undefined, openDir || undefined);
+      firstOpenWindow = await createChat(app, { dir: openDir || undefined });
     }
 
     if (firstOpenWindow) {
@@ -258,17 +253,12 @@ async function processProtocolUrl(parsedUrl: URL, window: BrowserWindow) {
     const scheduledJobId = parsedUrl.searchParams.get('scheduledJob');
 
     // Create a new window and ignore the passed-in window
-    createChat(
-      app,
-      undefined,
-      openDir || undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      deeplinkData?.config,
-      scheduledJobId || undefined,
-      deeplinkData?.parameters
-    );
+    await createChat(app, {
+      dir: openDir || undefined,
+      recipeDeeplink: deeplinkData?.config,
+      scheduledJobId: scheduledJobId || undefined,
+      recipeParameters: deeplinkData?.parameters,
+    });
     pendingDeepLink = null;
   }
 }
@@ -296,17 +286,12 @@ app.on('open-url', async (_event, url) => {
       }
       const scheduledJobId = parsedUrl.searchParams.get('scheduledJob');
 
-      await createChat(
-        app,
-        undefined,
-        openDir || undefined,
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        undefined,
-        deeplinkData?.config,
-        scheduledJobId || undefined,
-        deeplinkData?.parameters
-      );
+      await createChat(app, {
+        dir: openDir || undefined,
+        recipeDeeplink: deeplinkData?.config,
+        scheduledJobId: scheduledJobId || undefined,
+        recipeParameters: deeplinkData?.parameters,
+      });
       windowDeeplinkURL = null;
       return;
     }
@@ -329,7 +314,7 @@ app.on('open-url', async (_event, url) => {
       }
     } else {
       openUrlHandledLaunch = true;
-      firstOpenWindow = await createChat(app, undefined, openDir || undefined);
+      firstOpenWindow = await createChat(app, { dir: openDir || undefined });
     }
   }
 });
@@ -380,7 +365,7 @@ async function handleFileOpen(filePath: string) {
     addRecentDir(targetDir);
 
     // Create new window for the directory
-    const newWindow = await createChat(app, undefined, targetDir);
+    const newWindow = await createChat(app, { dir: targetDir });
 
     // Focus the new window
     if (newWindow) {
@@ -478,17 +463,28 @@ const windowPowerSaveBlockers = new Map<number, number>(); // windowId -> blocke
 // Track pending initial messages per window
 const pendingInitialMessages = new Map<number, string>(); // windowId -> initialMessage
 
-const createChat = async (
-  app: App,
-  initialMessage?: string,
-  dir?: string,
-  _version?: string,
-  resumeSessionId?: string,
-  viewType?: string,
-  recipeDeeplink?: string, // Raw deeplink decoded on server
-  scheduledJobId?: string, // Scheduled job ID if applicable
-  recipeParameters?: Record<string, string> // Recipe parameter values from deeplink URL
-) => {
+interface CreateChatOptions {
+  initialMessage?: string;
+  dir?: string;
+  resumeSessionId?: string;
+  viewType?: string;
+  recipeDeeplink?: string;
+  recipeId?: string;
+  scheduledJobId?: string;
+  recipeParameters?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+const createChat = async (app: App, options: CreateChatOptions = {}) => {
+  const {
+    initialMessage,
+    dir,
+    resumeSessionId,
+    viewType,
+    recipeDeeplink,
+    recipeId,
+    scheduledJobId,
+    recipeParameters,
+  } = options;
   const settings = getSettings();
   const serverSecret = getServerSecret(settings);
 
@@ -548,6 +544,7 @@ const createChat = async (
           GOOSE_BASE_URL_SHARE: baseUrlShare,
           GOOSE_VERSION: version,
           recipeDeeplink: recipeDeeplink,
+          recipeId: recipeId,
           recipeParameters: recipeParameters,
           scheduledJobId: scheduledJobId,
           SECURITY_ML_MODEL_MAPPING: process.env.SECURITY_ML_MODEL_MAPPING,
@@ -590,7 +587,7 @@ const createChat = async (
           }
         });
         mainWindow.destroy();
-        return createChat(app, initialMessage, dir);
+        return createChat(app, { initialMessage, dir });
       }
     } else {
       dialog.showMessageBoxSync({
@@ -720,7 +717,10 @@ const createChat = async (
   if (viewType) {
     appPath = routeMap[viewType] || '/';
   }
-  if (appPath === '/' && (recipeDeeplink !== undefined || initialMessage)) {
+  if (
+    appPath === '/' &&
+    (recipeDeeplink !== undefined || recipeId !== undefined || initialMessage)
+  ) {
     appPath = '/pair';
   }
 
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ const showWindow = async () => {
     log.info('No windows are open, creating a new one...');
     const recentDirs = loadRecentDirs();
     const openDir = recentDirs.length > 0 ? recentDirs[0] : null;
-    await createChat(app, undefined, openDir || undefined);
+    await createChat(app, { dir: openDir || undefined });
     return;
   }
 
@@ -963,8 +963,8 @@ const buildRecentFilesMenu = () => {
   const recentDirs = loadRecentDirs();
   return recentDirs.map((dir) => ({
     label: dir,
-    click: () => {
-      createChat(app, undefined, dir);
+    click: async () => {
+      await createChat(app, { dir });
     },
   }));
 };
@@ -1052,18 +1052,11 @@ const openDirectoryDialog = async (): Promise<OpenDialogReturnValue> => {
     if (windowDeeplinkURL) {
       deeplinkData = parseRecipeDeeplink(windowDeeplinkURL);
     }
-    // Create a new window with the selected directory
-    await createChat(
-      app,
-      undefined,
-      dirToAdd,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      deeplinkData?.config,
-      undefined,
-      deeplinkData?.parameters
-    );
+    await createChat(app, {
+      dir: dirToAdd,
+      recipeDeeplink: deeplinkData?.config,
+      recipeParameters: deeplinkData?.parameters,
+    });
   }
   return result;
 };
@@ -1615,7 +1608,7 @@ ipcMain.handle('get-allowed-extensions', async () => {
 const createNewWindow = async (app: App, dir?: string | null) => {
   const recentDirs = loadRecentDirs();
   const openDir = dir || (recentDirs.length > 0 ? recentDirs[0] : undefined);
-  return await createChat(app, undefined, openDir);
+  return await createChat(app, { dir: openDir });
 };
 
 const focusWindow = () => {
@@ -2032,48 +2025,43 @@ async function appMain() {
     }
   });
 
-  ipcMain.on(
-    'create-chat-window',
-    (event, query, dir, version, resumeSessionId, viewType, recipeDeeplink) => {
-      if (!dir?.trim()) {
-        const recentDirs = loadRecentDirs();
-        dir = recentDirs.length > 0 ? recentDirs[0] : undefined;
-      }
+  ipcMain.on('create-chat-window', (event, options = {}) => {
+    const { query, dir, resumeSessionId, viewType, recipeId } = options;
 
-      const isFromLauncher = query && !resumeSessionId && !viewType && !recipeDeeplink;
-
-      if (isFromLauncher) {
-        const senderWindow = BrowserWindow.fromWebContents(event.sender);
-        const launcherWindowId = senderWindow?.id;
-        const allWindows = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
-
-        const existingWindows = allWindows.filter(
-          (win) => !win.isDestroyed() && win.id !== launcherWindowId
-        );
-
-        if (existingWindows.length > 0) {
-          const targetWindow = existingWindows[0];
-          targetWindow.show();
-          targetWindow.focus();
-          targetWindow.webContents.send('set-initial-message', query);
-          return;
-        }
-      }
-
-      // Otherwise, create a new window
-      createChat(
-        app,
-        query,
-        dir,
-        version,
-        resumeSessionId,
-        viewType,
-        recipeDeeplink,
-        undefined,
-        undefined
-      );
+    let resolvedDir = dir;
+    if (!resolvedDir?.trim()) {
+      const recentDirs = loadRecentDirs();
+      resolvedDir = recentDirs.length > 0 ? recentDirs[0] : undefined;
     }
-  );
+
+    const isFromLauncher = query && !resumeSessionId && !viewType && !recipeId;
+
+    if (isFromLauncher) {
+      const senderWindow = BrowserWindow.fromWebContents(event.sender);
+      const launcherWindowId = senderWindow?.id;
+      const allWindows = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
+
+      const existingWindows = allWindows.filter(
+        (win) => !win.isDestroyed() && win.id !== launcherWindowId
+      );
+
+      if (existingWindows.length > 0) {
+        const targetWindow = existingWindows[0];
+        targetWindow.show();
+        targetWindow.focus();
+        targetWindow.webContents.send('set-initial-message', query);
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+
+    createChat(app, {
+      initialMessage: query,
+      dir: resolvedDir,
+      resumeSessionId,
+      viewType,
+      recipeId,
+    });
+  });
 
   ipcMain.on('close-window', (event) => {
     const window = BrowserWindow.fromWebContents(event.sender);
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts b/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts
index 95a9dbf9df..0dc7c4368d 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ interface UpdaterEvent {
   data?: unknown;
 }
 
+export interface CreateChatWindowOptions {
+  query?: string;
+  dir?: string;
+  version?: string;
+  resumeSessionId?: string;
+  viewType?: string;
+  recipeId?: string;
+}
+
 // Define the API types in a single place
 type ElectronAPI = {
   platform: string;
@@ -96,14 +105,7 @@ type ElectronAPI = {
   getConfig: () => Record<string, unknown>;
   hideWindow: () => void;
   directoryChooser: () => Promise<Electron.OpenDialogReturnValue>;
-  createChatWindow: (
-    query?: string,
-    dir?: string,
-    version?: string,
-    resumeSessionId?: string,
-    viewType?: string,
-    recipeDeeplink?: string
-  ) => void;
+  createChatWindow: (options?: CreateChatWindowOptions) => void;
   logInfo: (txt: string) => void;
   showNotification: (data: NotificationData) => void;
   showMessageBox: (options: MessageBoxOptions) => Promise<MessageBoxResponse>;
@@ -188,23 +190,8 @@ const electronAPI: ElectronAPI = {
   },
   hideWindow: () => ipcRenderer.send('hide-window'),
   directoryChooser: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('directory-chooser'),
-  createChatWindow: (
-    query?: string,
-    dir?: string,
-    version?: string,
-    resumeSessionId?: string,
-    viewType?: string,
-    recipeDeeplink?: string
-  ) =>
-    ipcRenderer.send(
-      'create-chat-window',
-      query,
-      dir,
-      version,
-      resumeSessionId,
-      viewType,
-      recipeDeeplink
-    ),
+  createChatWindow: (options?: CreateChatWindowOptions) =>
+    ipcRenderer.send('create-chat-window', options || {}),
   logInfo: (txt: string) => ipcRenderer.send('logInfo', txt),
   showNotification: (data: NotificationData) => ipcRenderer.send('notify', data),
   showMessageBox: (options: MessageBoxOptions) => ipcRenderer.invoke('show-message-box', options),
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/recipe/recipe_management.ts b/ui/desktop/src/recipe/recipe_management.ts
index 8129a119a4..75cfc5a104 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/recipe/recipe_management.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/recipe/recipe_management.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import { Recipe, saveRecipe as saveRecipeApi, listRecipes, RecipeManifest } from '../api';
+import { stripEmptyExtensions } from '.';
 
 export const saveRecipe = async (recipe: Recipe, recipeId?: string | null): Promise<string> => {
   try {
     let response = await saveRecipeApi({
       body: {
-        recipe,
+        recipe: stripEmptyExtensions(recipe),
         id: recipeId,
       },
       throwOnError: true,
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/sessions.ts b/ui/desktop/src/sessions.ts
index 9d9dcf98de..ac787bc6b6 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/sessions.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/sessions.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export async function createSession(
   workingDir: string,
   options?: {
     recipeDeeplink?: string;
+    recipeId?: string;
     extensionConfigs?: ExtensionConfig[];
     allExtensions?: FixedExtensionEntry[];
   }
@@ -45,12 +46,15 @@ export async function createSession(
   const body: {
     working_dir: string;
     recipe?: Recipe;
+    recipe_id?: string;
     extension_overrides?: ExtensionConfig[];
   } = {
     working_dir: workingDir,
   };
 
-  if (options?.recipeDeeplink) {
+  if (options?.recipeId) {
+    body.recipe_id = options.recipeId;
+  } else if (options?.recipeDeeplink) {
     body.recipe = await decodeRecipe(options.recipeDeeplink);
   }
 
@@ -79,6 +83,7 @@ export async function startNewSession(
   workingDir: string,
   options?: {
     recipeDeeplink?: string;
+    recipeId?: string;
     allExtensions?: FixedExtensionEntry[];
   }
 ): Promise<Session> {