עברית
Halachot and Customs
When to Bless on Pastries: "Mezonot" or "Hamotzi"?
Question
Shalom
1) How do I know what blessing to recite before eating a certain type of dough? When is it "Hamotzi" and when is it "Mezonot"?
2) Is there a difference when the dough is fried or baked?
Answer
Shalom and blessings,
1. If the dough is baked you say Hamotzi unless one of these 3 conditions are met:
If the dough contains additional ingredients besides flour and water, such as sugar, honey, and so on, you recite "Mezonot," provided that these ingredients are present in significant amounts such that their taste is felt in the dough. Therefore, for sweet rolls, you would say "Mezonot."
Additionally, if something is filled inside the dough, such as nuts, almonds, potatoes, and the like, you bless it with "Mezonot."
Furthermore, if the dough is baked and becomes dry and hard, such that it crumbles in the mouth, like matzah (not during Pesach), crackers, pretzels, and the like, you bless it with "Mezonot." (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 168:7).
2. Dough that is fried in oil or boiled in water, in either case, you recite "Mezonot." Therefore, for noodles, macaroni, couscous, and the like, you bless with "Mezonot." (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 168:13).
Blessings,
Menashe Ben Porat
