Masterchef Australia made its triumphant return to screens on Monday night.
During the season 16 premiere, twenty-two contestants were introduced and tasked with preparing their first dish of the season.
One contestant, Nat Thaipun, stole the show by putting together a ‘kangaroo larb with soy cured egg yolk and toasted rice wafer’.
‘This is as good, if not better than any dish I’ve had in a restaurant in Australia in the last six months,’ judge Sofia Levin told Nat.
The dish won her the coveted immunity pin and a chance to work with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in London.
Masterchef Australia fans have called out Nat Thaipun for winning the season premiere task with a dish that wasn’t cooked. (Pictured: The MasterChef Australia judges)
Fans flooded social media with compliments for the contestant.
‘Huge congratulations to Nat for that well-deserved immunity win. What a creative, beautiful, delicious looking dish. A fabulous fusion of her Thai and Australian heritage. I’m excited to see more of her,’ one fan wrote.
‘Woohoo well done Nat!!!… I would pay good money to eat Nat’s dish!’
However, some fans were quick to point out an issue – the meal was not cooked.
Nat Thaipun, stole the show by putting together a ‘kangaroo larb with soy cured egg yolk and toasted rice wafer’
‘I will never accept a cooking competition rewarding people for not cooking,’ one fan commented.
‘With one minute left, Nat suddenly realises she’s forgotten to cook anything,’ another wrote.
‘It looked beautiful but the dish also looked raw!? Is it even safe to eat wild kangaroo cooked in that way?’ a user questioned.
It comes as Andy Allen has returned to the Channel Ten cooking show alongside some new faces in a panel shake-up.
Some fans were quick to point out an issue – the meal was not cooked
He is joined by French celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, Melbourne-based food critic Sofia Levin, and MasterChef season one runner-up Poh Ling Yeow.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver is also set to join the 2024 series as a guest judge for a handful of episodes in an exciting twist.
His two-week stint on the coming season will be the longest appearance by any guest judge in the show’s 14-year history.
Jamie first appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef during season four back in 2012.
‘This is as good, if not better than any dish I’ve had in a restaurant in Australia in the last six months,’ judge Sofia Levin (pictured) told Nat
Poh has replaced Melissa Leong on the 2024 series of MasterChef in a major shake-up as the former judge plans to focus on her show Dessert Masters instead.
Twenty-two contestants are set to take to the screen on Monday to compete for the coveted title and the $250,000 cash prize.
Ten have also teased a mysterious ‘priceless prize’ for the lucky winner as they will be given as yet-unnamed opportunity of a lifetime.
MasterChef Australia continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on 10 and 10 Play.
