MasterChef Australia E13 recap: Pantry staples

Learn how to turn those leftover pantry staples into weeknight classics like basil ice cream, rosemary ice-cream and thyme ice cream.

Erina Starkey and Delicious

less than 2 min read

May 6, 2021 - 9:35AM

Mel's heartwarming moment with Depinder (MasterChef)

While MasterChef waits for its budget to be approved, last night’s contestants needed to create a stunning dish using just pantry staples.

The challenge follows on from Tuesday night where the surprise guest chef was Jock Zonfrillo.

It was certainly one sad mystery box reveal, as contestants lifted the lid on their boxes to reveal flour and some more flour. Shockingly, there were no Captain’s Table water crackers or Sultana Bran. What kind of home pantry was this?

Canâ€™t believe that tonightâ€™s challenge is cooking using only pantry staples and not one person ordered Uber Eats. #MasterChefAU
— Katherine Allan (@kathrillhouse) May 5, 2021

The contestants had 75 minutes to create a dish using just the basics, as well as two additional ingredients from the garden, with the makers of the top five dishes going through to tonight’s immunity challenge.

It was pantry staples night on MasterChef last night.

Naturally, everyone decided to make ice cream, which is what everyone does with their pantry staples, right? There’s rosemary ice cream, basil ice cream, and thyme ice cream, and it was so great to finally see some practical recipes that we can make at home.

Thereâ€™s just So much you can do with those ingredients so Iâ€™m doing ice cream #MasterChefAU
— Mad (@Madstar42) May 5, 2021

Therese made basil ice cream, but she also made a crispy golden roti with chilli caramel, so we’ll overlook it this time. Jock pronounced it as one of the best rotis he’s ever eaten. “It was fantastic, it was crispy, buttery, and all the things we love in a roti.”

Contestants had 75 minutes to create a dish with only a small amount of ingredients.

Kishwar made pappardelle rolled out with basil leaves and topped with blow torched ricotta and a tomato broth, and that is not what pantry night looks like at our house (but we seriously wish it did).

Kishwar should win just on beautiful presentation and the fact that she didn't make ice cream #MasterChefAU
— leakelodeon (@Asamishair) May 5, 2021

Sabina rolled out some super fluffy ricotta doughnuts with lemon curd and thyme ice cream.

Do I need to buy an ice cream machine? I feel like I need to buy an ice cream machine. #MasterChefAU
— Dean Nye (@Dean_Nye) May 5, 2021

Judges Jock and Andy expressed their doubts about Depinder’s rosemary ice cream with poached apples, but they were soon eating their words. “Everything on that plate is textbook, the tuille is perfect… the rosemary ice cream is absolutely delicious.”