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Donate- Solids cooked in Non plain water liquids:[1]
All the previous scenarios of soups under discussion referred to solids that were cooked in plain water in which case at times the water of the soup receives the blessing of the solid. This law will address the case in which a non-water liquid was used for the soup.
The blessing on the broth: Vegetables which are cooked in liquids other than water, such as vinegar or Borsht[2], are debated whether their liquids are Shehakol[3] or Ha’adama[4], in the event one plans to eat the liquid on its own without the vegetables. [Practically, one is to say Shehakol over the liquid, although if Ha’adama was said, one is Yotzei Bedieved if the liquid contains the taste of the solid.[5]]
- Example – Milk porridge made with oatmeal: The blessing of cooked milk oatmeal porridge is Mezonos. In the event that the porridge contains a lot of milk, and one desires to currently only drink the overflowing milk and not eat the actual oats, then its blessing would be subject to debate and hence the blessing of Shehakol is to be recited.
Eating both together:[6] Foods, other than Mezonos, which were cooked in liquids other than water (e.g., pears in wine), then if one ingredient is primary, its blessing is to be recited. If both are primary, then one is to follow the majority. [Thus, if one cooked pears in wine and the wine is there to sweeten the pears, then the blessing is Haeitz and not Hagafen.]
| Scenario | Liquid Used | Blessing on Liquid | Blessing on Solid | Notes |
| Vegetables cooked in non-water liquids | Vinegar, Borsht | Shehakol (debated: Ha’adama possible if liquid contains taste of solid) | Not specified | If Ha’adama was said, one is Yotzei Bedieved if liquid contains taste of solid |
| Milk porridge made with oatmeal | Milk | Shehakol (if drinking milk only) | Mezonos (for cooked milk oatmeal porridge) | If porridge contains a lot of milk and only milk is consumed, blessing is subject to debate |
| Pears cooked in wine | Wine | Not specified | Haeitz (if wine sweetens pears) | If both ingredients are primary, follow the majority; if wine is for sweetening, blessing is Haeitz, not Hagafen |
[1] Seder 7:21; Luach 10:21; Admur 202:15; M”B 205: 12; Ketzos Hashulchan 53:11
[2] See Rav Alyashvili footnote 161 that nowadays all soups have the status of other liquids due to the many spices that are entered into them, and hence the liquid broth is disputed as to whether receives the blessing of the solid. Vetzaruch Iyun, is the purpose of the spices is simply to enhance the taste of the vegetables etc. which enters into the broth, and so concludes also Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:25 footnote 146 that a small amount of spices to enhance the flavoring of the soup does not change this law that the soup follows the blessing of the food, and so he proves from Admur 7:15 and M”B 205:12
Soup mix: If one added a large amount of soup mix to give flavor to the soup, then the broth of the soup always remains Shehakol being that it has its own independent taste and is not considered similar to water. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:6]
[3] 1st opinion in Seder 7:21, Luach ibid; Admur ibid, Taz 205:5, Based on 1st opinion in Seder 7:12, Luach 10:12, Admur 202:11, Michaber 202:10; Rashba Brachos 38a
The reason: As perhaps only water which does not have its own taste is considered as enhanced by the vegetables and hence can become the blessing of the vegetables, in contrast to other liquids which have their own taste and hence are not considered enhanced by the vegetables to the point that the taste of the vegetables becomes primary as their intrinsic taste remains the primary taste. [Seder 7:21]
[4] 2nd opinion in Seder 7:21, Luach 10:21, Admur 202:15; Based on 2nd opinion in Seder 7:12; Luach 10:12; Admur 202:11; Michaber 202:10; Rosh Brachos 4:15;
[5] Ketzos Hashulchan 53:11
[6] Seder 7:10; 207:17
