Nedarim 6:10-7:1

Nedarim 6:10

If one vows prohibiting himself from cabbage, he may not have asparagus; if from asparagus, he may have cabbage. [Despite linguistic similarity, this appears not to be the vegetable we call asparagus but a member of the cabbage family.] If from ground beans, he may not have a porridge of beans, though Rabbi Yosi permits it; if from a porridge of beans, he may have ground beans. If from a porridge of beans, he may not have the garlic that was in it, though Rabbi Yosi permits it; if from garlic, he may have a porridge of beans. If from lentils, he may not have their residue, though Rabbi Yosi permits it; if from the residue, he may have lentils. If he says, “wheat, wheats I do not taste,” he is forbidden both flour and bread. “Bean, beans I do not taste,” he is forbidden both raw and cooked. Rabbi Yehuda says that if one says, “Konam I do not taste bean or wheat,” he may chew these raw.

Nedarim 7:1

If one vows prohibiting himself from vegetables, he may have gourds, though Rabbi Akiva prohibits this. The Sages said to Rabbi Akiva that if a person sends an agent to buy vegetables, if the agent only finds gourds, he would have to ask whether he should buy them (therefore gourds are not included under vegetables). Rabbi Akiva said that this is indeed the case but the agent would not ask if he should buy pulse. We see from this that gourds are therefore considered vegetables (since the agent would inquire) and pulse are not considered vegetables (since he wouldn’t even bother). Egyptian beans are considered a vegetable when they are fresh (and therefore forbidden under a vow prohibiting vegetables) but not when they are dried (and therefore permitted under such a vow).