diff --git a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
index 8d3ae2bb..da9e4f5b 100644
--- a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
+++ b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
@@ -53,9 +53,14 @@ func Get(recipeName string) (Recipe, error) {
 		return Recipe{}, err
 	}
 
+	envSamplePath := path.Join(config.ABRA_DIR, "apps", recipeName, ".env.sample")
+	sampleEnv, err := config.ReadEnv(envSamplePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	opts := stack.Deploy{Composefiles: composeFiles}
-	emptyEnv := make(map[string]string)
-	config, err := loader.LoadComposefile(opts, emptyEnv)
+	config, err := loader.LoadComposefile(opts, sampleEnv)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Recipe{}, err
 	}