FOOD

BACK TO BANTING Four of the best recipes

The devotion to chef Yotam Ottolenghi, above, was clear on the faces of the contestants in last week’s Australian MasterChef — it was beyond rock-star status for them, as if a deity had appeared; even the suave, cool judges looked at the Sultan of Salad with awe and envy. If you have no idea who I’m talking about, you’ve probably been living under a rock in central Yemen without internet or Twitter. The sultan’s signature style is a blend of bold Middle Eastern flavours, zinging spices, fresh herbs and bright presentation. Since his Jerusalem cookbook, he inspires almost religious devotion.

It was going to be a week of delicious dishes involving Middle Eastern favourites like tahini, eggplant, pomegranate molasses, figs and sexy ancient grains, I thought.

The mystery box did nothing to hamper the confidence of the gushing contestants, star struck by the sultan. After 75 minutes, contestant Karlie won with her Chinese-inspired Middle Eastern dish, cooked with Ottolenghi’s favourite ingredients. Everyone was present for the elimination segment, except Matt, and the mood is sombre. A five-dish mezze has to be produced in 60 minutes — 12 minutes per dish and the kitchen quickly descends into the chaos of the Medina in Marrakech.

“I’ve mixed me yoghurt with me green chillis!” says a ruffled Pete. Those contestants in the gallery are tearing their hair out, their nerves on edge like they are watching a lamb to the slaughter as their fellow contestants attempt to make an Ottolenghi-perfect lamb kofta with pomegranate jam and myriad other things as the clock ticks. It’s pandemonium, and even affable Yotam is beginning to look stressed.

At the elimination everyone agrees Pete has to go back to driving his crane. As he stepped into the trademark black chauffeur-driven sedan, his parting shot is: “To the pub, mate.”

Ottolenghi’s 25-ingredient Moroccan pastilla is the springboard for the immunity pin challenge, which Karlie loses to an inspired tomato and chicken-skin dish by guest chef Blayne Bertoncello. It’s definitely something I want to eat.

Follow Yotam Ottolenghi @ottolenghi MasterChef Australia season 9 airs on M-Net channel 101 Mondays-Fridays at 17:45.