6. The Bracha on Legume soup [bean soup; rice soup; lentil]

This article is an excerpt from the above Sefer

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  1. Legume soup [bean soup; rice soup; lentil soup]:[1]

The previous Halacha dealt with the blessing over broth which had whole five grains of wheat, barley, spell, rye, or oats cooked in their liquid. This law will deal with the blessing that is to be said over the broth of soup that was cooked with legumes.

Blessing of the broth or liquid: The blessing on the broth of legume soup when eaten alone without the legume is Ha’adama according to all opinions.[2]

Law of Ikar and Tafel if desires to eat both together:[3] The above cases in which a separate blessing would be recited over the broth of the soup, only applies in the event that one desires to now eat only the broth and not the legume. However, if one desires to eat them together, then only one blessing of Ha’adama is to be recited, as it covers both the broth and the legume.

Intent to eat only liquid:[4] All the above law only applies when one cooked the legumes with intent to eat the legume with the soup. If however one cooks legumes with the intent to consume the soup alone[5] [and either discard or eat the legumes as a secondary product to the soup], then the blessing on the broth always remains Shehakol and Borei Nefashos.[6] Furthermore, in the above case, even if the legumes are eaten with the soup, nonetheless one only says Shehakol on the soup and is not to say a blessing over the legumes at all, as the legumes are secondary to the soup and are exempt with its blessing being that its main cooking was on its behalf.

Main intent is for the legume:[7] If the intent of the cooking is mainly for the sake of the legume, such as one who cooks legumes for the sake of preservation, then it is disputed as to what blessing should be recited over the liquid, the blessing of the grain[8] [i.e. Ha’adama], or the blessing of Shehakol.[9] [Accordingly, one is to initially recite over the liquid the blessing of Shehakol, although Bedived if he recited over it the blessing of the solid, then he fulfills his obligation.[10]]

Chicken or meat soup with legumes:[11] If one cooked [chicken or] meat soup with legumes, then if one consumes the broth of the soup alone [without the meat or legumes], then according to all the appropriate blessing to recite is Shehakol. See Halacha 7 for the full details of this matter!

 

 Summary:When eating only the broth of legume soup, the blessing recited is Ha’adama, but if the intention of the cooking was to consume only the liquid, Shehakol is said. If both broth and legumes are eaten together, one blessing of Ha’adama suffices for both. 

 

Type of SoupWhat is EatenIntent of CookingBlessing Over BrothBlessing Over LegumeNotes
Legume soupBroth aloneGeneralHa’adamaAccording to all opinions
Legume soupBroth and legume togetherDesires bothHa’adamaHa’adamaOne blessing covers both
Legume soupBroth aloneIntent is to consume soup aloneShehakolBorei Nefashos after; legumes are secondary
Legume soupBroth and legumes togetherIntent is to consume soup aloneShehakolNoneLegumes are secondary, exempt with soup blessing
Legume soupBroth aloneMain intent is for legume (preservation)Disputed: Ha’adama or ShehakolRecite Shehakol initially; Bedieved, Ha’adama fulfills
Chicken or meat soup with legumesBroth aloneShehakolSee Halacha 7 for details

[1] Seder 7:16; Luach 10:16; Admur 202:12 in parentheses; M”A 205:6

Other opinions: See Kaf Hachaim 205:11 90 soup can only receive the blessing of its food in the event that its food content has disintegrated into it and never receives the blessing of the food when simply eating the liquid, and so is the custom of the Sephardim.

[2] The reason: As it is common to eat legumes cooked, even when they are whole and retain their full stature. [Seder ibid]

[3] Seder 7:19 “and if he comes to eat them together there is no need to say any blessing over the liquid being that it is secondary to the food and exempt with its blessing”; Implication of Seder 7:12 “if one comes to drink it on its own,” [hence implying that when consumed together with the fruit than its blessing is always secondary to that of the fruit, and so explains Rav Elyashvili in footnote 87 and 92]; M”B 202:54; 205:9; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:25 footnote 149

[4] Seder ibid; Luach ibid; Admur ibid

[5] Seder 7:14 writes “to consume the liquid by itself,” although in 7:15-17 the wording is simply that the main intent is on the liquid

[6] Seder ibid; Luach ibid; Admur ibid; So rule regarding Mezonos soup: Seder 7:15 So rule regarding fruit soup: Seder 7:14; Luach 10:14; Admur 202:12; M”A 205:6; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 27b; Mordechai Brachos Remez 125; Ketzos Hashulchan 53:5

[7] Seder 7:18; Luach 10:18, Admur 202:12

[8] 2nd opinion in Seder 7:18, Luach 10:18, Admur 202:12; Based on 2nd opinion in Seder 7:12; Luach 10:12; Admur 202:11; Michaber 202:10; Rosh Brachos 4:15;

The reason: The reason is because the liquid was cooked with the fruits for the purpose of the fruits [Admur Seder 7:18] and contains a taste of the fruits. [Seder 7:12]

[9] 1st opinion in Seder 7:18, Luach 10:18, Admur 202:12; Taz 202:10; Based on 1st opinion in Seder 7:12, Luach 10:12, Admur 202:11, Michaber 202:10; Rashba Brachos 38a

The reason: The reason is because the water was not cooked for this purpose of receiving the taste of the fruit and to become enhanced as a result of it. In this regard is not similar to the cooking of vegetable soup in which case the intent is also on the soup that receive the taste of the vegetable and be considered significant like it. [Admur Seder 7:18]

[10] Ketzos Hashulchan 53:10; As rules Admur in Seder 7:12; Rav Avraham Alyashvili footnote 135

[11] Seder 7:20; Luach 10:20; Admur in 202:14; M”A 205:7; M”B 205:7

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