Chapter 52: 4-6
Laws of Ho'eitz,Hadomoh and Shehakol

4. The blessings borey pri ho'eitz and borey pri hadomoh are recited only on [raw produce] when the produce tastes good raw and is normally eaten raw. However, if such produce is not normally eaten raw - even though it is tasty in this state - it is not considered important when eaten in this state. Thus, the appropriate blessing is recited only when it is eaten cooked. When it is eaten raw, the blessing shehakol is recited for it.

Produce that is pickled is considered as "cooked" in this regard. Therefore, borey pri hadomoh is recited for sauerkraut. Produce preserved in salt is also considered as "cooked" in this regard.

5. The blessing borey pri hadomoh is recited for radishes and also for garlic and onions, when the latter are soft and normally eaten raw. Even though they are generally eaten only together with bread, should one eat them without bread, borey pri hadomoh is recited for them. However, if they are aged, and thus have become very pungent, they are not generally eaten raw. Hence, if one eats them raw in this condition, the blessing shehakol is recited.

6. If foods taste better raw than cooked - i.e., cooking diminishes their flavor - the blessing shehakol is recited when they are eaten cooked.

The above applies even when they are cooked together with meat, and the meat causes their taste to improve; still, the meat is considered the more important element of the food, and they are still covered by the blessing shehakol. However, if the fruits are cooked in a manner in which their flavor is improved and they remain the most important element of the food - e.g., they were cooked in fat or honey and the like - the blessing appropriate to them is recited. What difference does it make if they were cooked in water or in honey or fat?

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