diff --git a/cook/ingredients/packages/core-explicit.ks b/cook/ingredients/packages/core-explicit.ks
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e5c7b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cook/ingredients/packages/core-explicit.ks
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#            __          ____                        ____  _____
+#     ____  / /_  __  __/ / /___  ____ ___  ___     / __ \/ ___/
+#    / __ \/ __ \/ / / / / / __ \/ __ `__ \/ _ \   / / / /\__ \
+#   / /_/ / / / /_/ / / / /_/ / / / / / /  __/  / /_/ /___/ /
+#  / .___/_/ /_/\__, /_/_/\____/_/ /_/ /_/\___/   \____//____/
+# /_/          /____/
+
+# Core packages, broken down explicitly instead of using the `@core` group.
+#
+# Why: dishes that keep the Fedora remix packages (generic-release,
+# generic-logos, fedora-remix-logos) cannot coexist with fedora-release /
+# fedora-logos — both pairs hard-conflict. Listing the core packages
+# explicitly deselects the Fedora release/branding packages while the
+# remix packages provide `system-release`, `system-release(44)`,
+# `fedora-release-identity` and `system-logos` in their place.
+#
+# Package list mirrors the Fedora 44 `core` comps group (mandatory +
+# default packages), plus `basesystem`, `kernel` and `dhcp-client` from
+# the hidden core group, plus `fedora-repos` (usually pulled in via
+# fedora-release-common, which is deselected here).
+
+%packages --exclude-weakdeps # Beginning of the packages section. Package description courtesy of the Fedora project
+
+## Mandatory packages found in `core` group (dnf group info --hidden core)
+audit # User space tools for kernel auditing
+basesystem # The skeleton package which defines a simple Fedora system
+bash # The Bourne Again SHell, a command-line interpreter.
+coreutils # A set of basic GNU tools commonly used in shell scripts
+curl # A utility for getting files from remote servers (FTP, HTTP, and others)
+dhcp-client # Provides the ISC DHCP client daemon and dhclient-script
+dnf5 # Command-line package manager
+e2fsprogs # Utilities for managing ext2, ext3, and ext4 file systems
+filesystem # The basic directory layout for a Linux system
+glibc # The GNU libc libraries
+hostname # Utility to set/show the host name or domain name
+iproute # Advanced IP routing and network device configuration tools
+iputils # Network monitoring tools including ping
+kbd # Tools for configuring the console (keyboard, virtual terminals, etc.)
+kernel # The Linux kernel
+less # A text file browser similar to more, but better. Can be excluded
+man-db # Tools for searching and reading man pages. Can be excluded
+ncurses # Ncurses support utilities
+openssh-clients # An open source SSH client applications. Can be excluded
+openssh-server # An open source SSH server daemon. Can be excluded
+parted # The GNU disk partition manipulation program
+policycoreutils # SELinux policy core utilities. Can be excluded
+procps-ng # System and process monitoring utilities
+rootfiles # The basic required files for the root user's directory
+rpm # The RPM package management system
+selinux-policy-targeted # SELinux targeted policy. Can be excluded
+setup # A set of system configuration and setup files
+shadow-utils # Utilities for managing accounts and shadow password files
+sssd-common # Common files for the SSSD. Can be excluded
+sssd-kcm # An implementation of a Kerberos KCM server. Can be excluded
+sudo # Allows restricted root access for specified users
+systemd # System and Service Manager
+util-linux # Collection of basic system utilities
+vim-minimal # A minimal version of the VIM editor
+
+## Default packages found in `core` group (dnf group info --hidden core)
+NetworkManager # Network connection manager and user applications
+dnf5-plugins # Plugins for dnf5
+dracut-config-rescue # dracut configuration to turn on rescue image generation
+firewalld # A firewall daemon with D-Bus interface providing a dynamic firewall
+fwupd # Firmware update daemon
+plymouth # Graphical Boot Animation and Logger
+prefixdevname # Udev helper utility that provides network interface naming using user defined prefix
+systemd-resolved # Network Name Resolution manager
+zram-generator-defaults # Default configuration for zram-generator
+
+## Repository definitions, pulled explicitly since fedora-release is deselected
+fedora-repos # Fedora package repositories
+
+## Deselect Fedora release/branding packages — the remix packages below
+## provide system-release, system-release(44), fedora-release-identity and
+## system-logos instead
+-fedora-release
+-fedora-release-common
+-fedora-release-identity-basic
+-fedora-logos
+
+%end # End of the packages section
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cook/recipe_templates.yaml b/cook/recipe_templates.yaml
index a0921a4..909af22 100644
--- a/cook/recipe_templates.yaml
+++ b/cook/recipe_templates.yaml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ base:
   - core/locale.ks
   - core/network.ks
   - core/services.ks
-  - packages/core.ks
+  - packages/core-explicit.ks
   - packages/fedora-remix.ks
   - packages/hand-picked.ks