Depinder scores immunity for mango and chilli fried chicken dish

A number of odd ingredient pairings were thrown at the contestants last night, but one managed to come out on top with a stunning dish.

This week’s immunity challenge is all about having to work with surprise ingredients.

On Thursday night, it was a mystery box challenge with one ingredient on display and one hidden under a cloche.

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No matter what the pairs of ingredients are, I’m sure they’ll all manage to turn them into an ice cream #MasterchefAU

— Michelle 🐿💨 (@MichelleMackey1) May 6, 2021

The lesson was, “you don’t always get what you want,” unless, of course, you’re Depinder, who chose mango and got chilli, and was extremely happy with her choice.

She decided to make fried chicken with a mango chilli glaze. Just give her immunity already.

But not everyone in the MasterChef kitchen was quite so lucky. Dan chose figs and got licorice, which was definitely not what he wanted.

Therese chose blue cheese and got corn along with it, but it wasn’t enough to stop her from making a dessert.

At this rate Therese could be given prawns and she’d still make dessert #MasterChefAU

— Lynn K. (@_lynnnnk) May 6, 2021

Conor ended up with cherries and coffee, which he turned into a cherry chiboust with coffee granita. Before you Google it, a chiboust is a crème pâtissière lightened with meringue or whipped cream.

Kishwar demonstrated her culinary range yet again, with Middle Eastern grilled prawns with mint pilaf and roasted beetroot salsa.

Out of the 75 minute cook, Dan spent around 70 minutes slagging off the licorice, but in the end, managed to put together a licorice pannacotta with poached figs with peppercorn tuilles. Although, getting it out of the mould and into the plate proved challenging.

Dan, why didn't you turn the pannacotta onto the plate in the first place!? #MasterChefAU

— Maya (@tweetmayatweet) May 6, 2021

The judges loved it, calling it “beautifully executed. Not only have you hit the brief, but you’ve cooked it perfectly.”

Dan should probably get the win for making a strange combo work *but* ... Fried. Chicken 🤤 #MasterChefAU

— anonymissjane (@anonymissjane) May 6, 2021

But it’s Depinder who took home the win because fried chicken beats licorice every time, leaving us with really specific cravings for mango chilli fried chicken and we can’t find it on Uber Eats.

Erina Starkey is restaurant and news editor for delicious.com.au and will be recapping all the action from the MasterChef kitchen