Chapter 48: 7-10
The Five Species of Grain
7. Bread which was cooked or fried in butter or the like, even if it no
longer has the appearance of bread - e.g. it was coated with eggs - is
governed by all the laws pertaining to bread, provided the piece of bread
is at least a k'zayis in size.
However, if each piece is less than a k'zayis in size, the laws pertaining
to bread do not apply to it, even if one eats to the point of satisfaction.
This applies even if the process of cooking caused the pieces to swell and,
at present, they are a k'zayis in size; similarly, if a number of small
pieces became stuck together and formed a large mass. Furthermore, this
ruling applies even if these pieces still have the appearance of bread.*
* {The Mishnoh B'rurah 168:56 explains that more stringent rules apply to
bread which is fried. If it still has the appearance of bread, hamotzi and
grace must be recited even though the pieces are less than a k'zayis in
size. Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Piskei Siddur) renders a similar
decision. Furthermore, he urges a person who is precise in his observance
not to eat even small pieces of bread that have been cooked and still have
the appearance of bread except while eating a meal in which he has eaten
bread.}
If the pieces of bread were not cooked, but rather, one poured a boiling
sauce over them, there is a doubt which blessing should be recited. It is
questionable whether or not pouring hot water is considered to be cooking
in this regard. Therefore, one should eat such pieces of bread only in the
midst of a meal [in which bread has been eaten].
If pieces of bread were not cooked, but merely soaked in liquids or in soup
or the like, the following rules apply:
[If the pieces are a k'zayis in size, they are considered to be bread.] If
they are less than a k'zayis, the law depends on whether they retain the
appearance of bread or not. If they still look like bread, they are
governed by the rules pertaining to bread; if not, they are not. In the
latter case, even when one partakes of them to the point of satisfaction,
it is necessary to recite only borey minei mezonos before partaking of them
and al hamichyoh afterwards.
If the appearance of the liquid has changed because of the pieces of bread
soaked within, it is certain that they have lost the appearance of bread.
Similarly, bread that has been soaked in red wine has lost the appearance
of bread.
8. Dough, even if kneaded with water alone, if it is cooked [and not
baked], requires the blessing borey minei mezonos before one partakes of
it, and al hamichyoh afterwards. This applies even if one eats to the point
of satisfaction.*
* { The Shulchon Oruch, Orach Chayim 168:13 states that if the texture of
the dough is thick, a G-d fearing person should partake of such foods only
within a meal where bread was eaten. See also Shulchon Oruch HoRav 168:15
and Mishnoh B'rurah 168:76,77.}
If one eats such kernels together with soup and, similarly, should one eat
other foods made from dough that have been cooked in soup or in milk, one
need not recite a blessing over the soup or milk, for it is considered
secondary to the grains or dough cooked in it and insignificant because of
them.
However, if one cooked only a small amount of noodles or grain and one's
main intention was for the soup or milk, the latter is not considered
insignificant, and only should recite the blessing shehakol before
partaking of it. Even though one also partakes of the noodles or grain,
since one's intention is primarily for the soup or the milk, it is not
considered insignificant [and requires a blessing].
Nevertheless, the most desirable way of acting in such circumstances is to
recite the blessing shehakol over the soup or the milk alone first, drink
some of it, and then recite the blessing borey minei mezonos over the
noodles or the grain.* Although one's primary intention was not to eat the
latter, since it comes from grain, it is considered significant and is not
considered secondary, as long as it adds taste to the food.
* {Others suggest reciting shehakol first on another food, with the
intention of also including the soup or milk. }
([The above applies only when the grain products were cooked in the soup.]
The rules pertaining to soup into which grain products were placed without
cooking them together are explained in Chapter 54, Law 6.)
9. Foods which are made by mixing matzah meal or bread crumbs together with
fat, eggs, or milk and cooking or frying the mixture - e.g. doughballs
(kneidlach) and pancakes (kremzel) - require the blessing borey minei
mezonos before partaking of them and al hamichyoh afterwards.
10. When grain products are cooked with other types of food - e.g., bits of
dough (farfel) are cooked with beans or legumes - even if there is a
majority of one type of food, since each food is a separate entity, two
blessings must be recited.* First, one recites the blessing borey minei
mezonos over the pieces of dough and partakes of them. Afterwards, one may
eat them together. Any sauce [eaten with them] is secondary and does not
require a blessing. (Furthermore, it is covered by the blessing borey pri
ho'adomoh, as well be explained in Chapter 54, Law 2.)
* {The Misgeres Hashulchon (15) writes that if the two types of food are
stuck together, one need recite blessings over only the grain. It appears
from the Mishnoh B'rurah 212:1 that even if the two types of food are
cooked as separate entities, it is only necessary to recite borey minei
mezonos and al hamichyoh.}
However, if both the dough and the other type of food are crushed and mixed
together - e.g., food that is made from mixing flour, eggs, and cheese and
then frying or cooking the mixture - even though the flour is not the
majority, since it comes from the five species of grain, it is considered
important. Hence, borey minei mezonos is recited [before partaking of the
food], and al hamichyoh afterwards.
The above applies only when the flour is added to contribute to the taste
of the food. However, if only a little bit of flour is added to cause the
food to stick together, as is common with some foods, the flour is
considered insignificant, and a blessing is recited only for the primary
food. The same principle applies when pastry is made from almonds, sugar
and eggs, and the flour is added only to cause the mixture to stick together.
Similarly, when sauce is cooked and thickened by adding some flour that has
been roasted and fried in butter, the blessing shehakol is recited for the
sauce. However, if one selects the fried pieces of flour and eats them
alone, one should recite borey minei mezonos before partaking of them. If
one eats a k'zayis, one should recite al hamichyoh afterwards.
