What’s the Brocha? Pizza

Pizza – a staple in many homes on Motzei Shabbos. Comfort food, a quick supper, and it’s even nutritionally balanced!

Q: What’s the brocha on pizza? Does it matter when you eat it? Or how much you eat?

A: Good question! Let’s start with the base. How is it made? Pizza dough made from flour and water is Halachically considered bread and the correct brocha is hamotzi.¹ However, if the primary liquid in the dough is juice, then there is a Halachic discussion regarding whether the pizza is hamotzi or mezonos.² The Halachic conclusion is that one may rely on the lenient opinion and make the brocha of borei minei mezonos³; however, the Alter Rebbe says that it is praiseworthy to wash, make the brocha of hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz and eat some regular bread to eliminate any doubt.

The above only applies when eating a moderate amount of pizza (usually one slice).⁴ If one eats more than 230 cm³ of pizza crust (about the volume of 8 ounces of water), and one feels full after eating it, one has to make the brocha of hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz on the pizza. If one is not usually full after eating the above amount, one should eat some regular bread in order to make the brocha of hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz. Practically speaking, unless the pizza is just a snack, it is best to eat pizza with another type of bread.

Q: Do I have to say a separate brocha on the various toppings?
A: No. The toppings are secondary to the actual pizza and they are included in the brocha on the pizza.⁵

Q: If I’m eating more than one slice, which piece should I start with?
A: It is best to say the brocha on the piece that is visibly larger.⁶

סבר”ה פ”ב הלכה ה 1
שם הל’ ז’ 2
3 Some Rabbonim rule that adding juice or milk to a dough that is intended to be eaten as a meal (like bread) is not enough to render it mezonos.
שם הל’ א’ 4
שם פ’’ג הל’ א 5
שו”ע אדמו”ר סימן קסח סעיף ה’ 6