One may not eat Masa on Ereb Pesah. This restriction begins from dawn, but it is permitted the night before. Only Masa that is fit to fulfil the Misva of the Seder night is prohibited to eat. Therefore, one may eat a dish made with boiled Masa, since cooked Masa is not fit for the Misva. The Poskim debate whether fried Masa may be consumed on Ereb Pesah. Hacham Ovadia is lenient, based on the Hida who ruled that frying is considered cooking when it comes to the prohibiton of cooking meat and milk. Hacham Bension, on the other hand, prohibits it.
They also disagree whether one may eat Masa which was not made "Lishmah"-for the sake of the Misva. Again, Hacham Ovadia is lenient, and Hacham Bension is strict. There is no problem eating Masa on the first day of Yom Tob, even though it is the prelude for the second Seder. However, when it falls on Shabbat, the custom is to eat Seudah Shlishit early, to build an appetie for the Seder.
All agree that one may eat "Masa Ashira"-Egg Masa, since it is not fit for the Misva of the Seder. After the tenth hour of the day, corresponding to approximately 4PM, one may not have a meal of "Masa Ashira" to enhance one's appetite to eat Masa at the Seder. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia allows eating an amount smaller than a Besa (egg's bulk).
After the tenth hour, one may only eat fruit or meat and fish. Hacham Ovadia also allows eating rice or potatoes, whereas Hacham Bension prohibits doing so. The spirit of the Halacha strives to prevent a person from filling up before the Seder, and therefore every person should act according to his own disposition and avoid this problem. It is best to eat all the meals before the tenth hour and avoid all problems.
May one eat Maror on Ereb Pesah? Do we say that Maror is like Masa and should be eaten with a hearty appetite at the Seder? If so, one should avoid eating Iceberg and Romaine lettuce, which are types of Maror, on Ereb Pesah. Hacham Ovadia rules that there is no problem, since there is no Misva to eat Maror with an appetite. On the contrary, the Maror reminds us of the bitter slavery, which we do not relish. Similarly, there is no problem eating an egg or the fruits used to make Haroset on Ereb Pesah.
Maran rules that one may not drink a small amount of wine on Ereb Pesah because it satiates, whereas a large amount of wine is permitted because it opens the appetite.
