The Bracha on Rice Cakes

What is the bracha for rice cakes (made with puffed rice)?

The Gemara (Berachos 37a) writes that the beracha on raw “orez” is ha’adama, and on cooked “orez” which partially disintegrates or sticks together is mezonos. There is a dispute in the poskim as to whether orez refers to rice or to millet. The accepted opinion is that orez refers to rice (see Mishnah Berurah 208:25). However, raw or toasted rice kernels are borei pri ha’adama (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 208:4,7). Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim 4:45) writes that puffed kernels are ha’adama as well. Because rice cakes are made from puffed rice, based on the aforementioned, some recite a borei pri ha’adama. However, Rav Belsky zt”l said in the name of Rav Moshe zt”l that the correct beracha for rice cakes is mezonos. Although individual puffed rice is ha’adama, in this case, the rice fuses together and forms a cake. Therefore, it is like cooked rice that sticks together whose beracha is mezonos.

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.