I take back no metal (4)
I believe the answer is:
iron
'metal' is the definition.
(iron is a kind of metal)
'i take back no' is the wordplay.
'take' becomes 'r' (recipe is latin for take - r is abbreviation).
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'no' backwards is 'on'.
'i'+'r'+'on'='IRON'
(Other definitions for iron that I've seen before include "stern" , "Smooth - metal" , "Magnetic metallic element" , "medicinal preparation for the anaemic?" , "Metallic chemical element" .)