diff --git a/mealie_mcp/server.py b/mealie_mcp/server.py
index 0729011..6ef44ce 100644
--- a/mealie_mcp/server.py
+++ b/mealie_mcp/server.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Small, confirmation-friendly MCP facade over the Mealie API."""
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 import html
 import json
 import os
@@ -38,16 +39,17 @@ RESOURCE_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "resources"
 
 mcp = MCPServer("mealie", version="0.1.0")
 
-WRITE_TOOL_NAMES = frozenset(
+READ_ONLY_TOOL_NAMES = frozenset(
     {
-        "import_recipe_url",
-        "import_recipe_text",
-        "import_recipe_image",
-        "patch_recipe",
-        "delete_recipe",
-        "parse_ingredients",
-        "set_cover_image",
-        "shopping_list_add",
+        "check_auth",
+        "find_by_source_url",
+        "get_recipe",
+        "list_organizers",
+        "resolve_foods",
+        "scale_ingredients",
+        "search_recipes",
+        "suggest_recipes",
+        "verify_recipe",
     }
 )
 
@@ -762,10 +764,11 @@ def main() -> None:
 
 def _configure_read_only(
     server: MCPServer,
-    write_tool_names: frozenset[str] = WRITE_TOOL_NAMES,
+    allowed_tool_names: frozenset[str] = READ_ONLY_TOOL_NAMES,
 ) -> None:
-    """Remove mutating tools before exposing the server to a read-only client."""
-    for name in sorted(write_tool_names):
+    """Expose only explicitly approved tools to a read-only client."""
+    registered_tool_names = {tool.name for tool in asyncio.run(server.list_tools())}
+    for name in sorted(registered_tool_names - allowed_tool_names):
         server.remove_tool(name)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_server_contracts.py b/tests/test_server_contracts.py
index 0406ec3..7ab5a80 100644
--- a/tests/test_server_contracts.py
+++ b/tests/test_server_contracts.py
@@ -31,19 +31,35 @@ def test_read_only_server_removes_all_mutating_tools():
     def search_recipes(query: str) -> list[str]:
         return [query]
 
-    def mutating_tool(value: str) -> str:
+    @test_server.tool()
+    def patch_recipe(value: str) -> str:
         return value
 
-    for name in server.WRITE_TOOL_NAMES:
-        test_server.tool(name=name)(mutating_tool)
+    @test_server.tool()
+    def future_mutating_tool(value: str) -> str:
+        return value
 
-    server._configure_read_only(test_server)
+    server._configure_read_only(test_server, frozenset({"search_recipes"}))
 
     tool_names = {tool.name for tool in asyncio.run(test_server.list_tools())}
 
     assert tool_names == {"search_recipes"}
 
 
+def test_read_only_tool_allowlist_is_explicit():
+    assert server.READ_ONLY_TOOL_NAMES == {
+        "check_auth",
+        "find_by_source_url",
+        "get_recipe",
+        "list_organizers",
+        "resolve_foods",
+        "scale_ingredients",
+        "search_recipes",
+        "suggest_recipes",
+        "verify_recipe",
+    }
+
+
 class TestUrlImportResponse:
     def test_slug_only_import_response_is_resolved_before_reporting(self, monkeypatch):
         recipe = {"slug": "lax-med-citron", "name": "Lax med citron", "recipeIngredient": []}