The Brochos for Foods Eaten Together, part 2 vol.1 no.8

1. Being that the five grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye and spelt) are regarded as staple foods they occupy special significance concerning the rules of brocha. Therefore even if they comprise the minority of a mixture or are of secondary interest, one still recites the brocha of Mezonos over them. In fact, due to their significance in many cases they are regarded as the primary food and only the brocha of Mezonos is recited over the mixture.

   The following rules apply when the grain component is either thoroughly mixed, baked or cooked together with other foods.

   • If the grain component is placed in a solid mixture for taste, satisfaction, or sustenance and the taste is discernible the brocha of Mezonos is recited over the entire mixture. Examples of this are pies, blintzes and corn muffins or corn cereals containing grain. This rule applies even if the grain component is of secondary importance to him, e.g. one eating a potato knish for the potato filling. If, however, the taste of the grain is not discernible, e.g. in meat loaf, no brocha is recited over the grain.
   • If the grain component is cooked in a soup, e.g. barley or noodle soup, the following rules apply. If the soup constitutes the majority of the mixture or is one's main interest two brachos are recited, Shehakol over the soup and Mezonos over the barley or noodles. In this situation the brocha of Shehakol should be recited first , and it is even preferable that one recite Shehakol over a different food and intend to include the soup in that brocha. If, however, the grain constitutes the majority or is one's main interest, the brocha of Mezonos is recited over the entire mixture. If all of the foods mixed into the soup constitute the majority of the mixture, e.g. vegetable and barley soup, the rules of a solid mixture apply (see 1a).
2. If the grain component merely serves as a binder for the mixture, e.g. the matzo meal in gefilte fish, no brocha is recited over the grain product. Similarly, if the grain product serves any other subordinate purpose no brocha is recited over it. Therefore in cheesecake and the like where the crust merely serves as a means for one to grasp the cheese no brocha is recited over the crust. If, however, the crust also adds to the taste the brocha of Mezonos is recited over the entire mixture.

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