Nikki gets the first chance to choose her teammate.
Okay. Team challenges always scare me.
I've never won a team challenge.
And I have Faisu beside me, who's the other captain.
I have to win today, no matter what.
I'll choose Gaurav.
- What? - Huh!
What is happening?
In Nikki's language, three, two, one,
- what? - What?
Tom and Jerry together?
What is happening?
What just happened?
Because I cook really well.
And Gaurav is also cooking well right now.
If it's a team challenge,
Gaurav and I can cook fantastic food.
[laughing]
I think I'm going to faint.
She's playing safe by selecting me.
Since we're team members now,
now that I am on her team,
I won't let this team lose.
Faisu, who will you choose and why?
I will choose
Rajiv.
He always taunts me that
I never choose him for team challenges.
That I forget him.
So today is the day.
Why would you say that in front of everyone?
What is happening today? Everyone is acting strange.
I mean, Faisu chose Rajiv!
Alright, Nikki, who's next?
- You have Archana and Teja. - I will choose
Tejasswi is ready to come to Nikki.
No, I won't come even if she selects me now.
I'm not going to. Because I'm choosing my soul sister, Archana.
[screaming]
Very smart!
What is happening?
Did you take some medicine? What are you doing?
Teju, my sister, I won't choose you.
I will choose my soul sister, Archana.
Because Archana has also been cooking well recently.
Who am I to give second chances
when it's the Lord giving second chances?
Archana has made her way till here.
When Archana and I had a pair challenge,
we were tagged as soul sisters.
And that's why I chose my soul sister.
Nikki, I'm going to faint.
I can't take this. Wait a second.
Archana, today is Tejasswi is the last one to be chosen!
What's happening?
- Can you imagine? - What's happening?
I feel like the planets have aligned for you, Archana.
But one planet has broken apart here.
- Strife in your friendship? - Yes.
But I'd like to choose Teju.
You have no option. You'll have to choose Teju.
Alright, stand with your teams.
Absolutely.
Nikki, you have the red team.
Your team has Gaurav and Archana.
Faisu, you have the blue team.
Your team has Tejasswi and Rajiv.
Rajiv is quite entertaining.
Faisu is very calm.
And I'm the spice between them.
This team with three of us
is going to be quite interesting.
We're going to work with such ease. I'm very excited.
India has so many states.
Every state has their own food, their own charm,
their details and their culture.
Your challenge for today is from one such state.
A state that gave India its first tribal president.
A state where the moment you land on its soil,
the only calling your heart feels is towards Lord Jagannath.
Hail Lord Jagannath.
Your challenge for today comes straight from Odisha.
- Wow. - Oh.
We see two mystery boxes in front of us.
Odisha is India's hidden gem.
The best-kept secret of India.
Today's challenge is not just a competition, it's a tribute
to flavours that have enamoured many greats.
Let's see what we've got for you.
[dramatic music]
Ready?
- Yes. - Yes, chef.
Three, two, one. Hail Lord Jagannath.
- Hail Lord Jagannath. - Hail Lord Jagannath.
Ah.
- Temple food inspired platter. - Temple food inspired platter.
- Oh. - Wow.
- Faisu. - Yes, chef.
Your team has to make a pakhala platter.
And this is your menu.
Oh, wow.
For the pakhala platter we see four dishes written. Yoghurt pakhala,
chingudi chhecha, kakharu phula bhaja,
chhatu besara bhaja, macha bhaja,
and rasabali for dessert.
Looking at this menu, I was wondering how three people
can make all those dishes.
It's going to be so difficult for all of us.
Pakhala is a staple, signature food.
The vibe of entire Odisha is captured in pakhala.
You ferment rice in water
and you have it like that or with yoghurt.
With various different condiments,
you create such vibrant combinations
that are close to any Odia's heart.
Today, you have to cook
pakhala along with these accompanying condiments.
Okay.
Nikki, it's your team's turn.
Your menu, in celebration of Odia cuisine, is
temple food inspired platter.
The inspiration for your menu comes from Puri Dham.
As soon as Chef Vikas opens the scroll,
we see it has our menu.
Firstly, we have to make dalma.
Second is kanika, which is a sweet dessert.
It's made of rice and jaggery.
The third item is amba khatta.
Next is chhena tarkari, mohura,
and the last is kheera gaintha.
They say it's from one of the most sacred of places in India.
Absolutely.
Today, your inspiration is
to use those menus and recreate these dishes.
Okay.
I hope you will do full justice to this.
Yes, Chef.
Absolutely.
- Hail Lord Jagannath. - Hail Lord Jagannath.
Lord Vishu spent His time in various places doing various things.
He went to Puri Dham specifically to eat and rest.
Hence, the temple offerings in Puri
are iconic and celebratory in their own right.
It is one of the oldest culinary histories in India.
- Oh! - Wow.
We have two teams here.
You get 90 minutes for the team challenge.
- Wow! - Woah!
Are you guys ready?
- Yes, sir! - Yes, chef!
Masterchef's world-class pantry will be closed today.
- On your marks. Get, set, cook! - Get, set, cook!
Run, run, run!
[dramatic music]
Where are the bowls?
Bowls are over there.
Today, we are making the pakhala platter.
Dishes of Odisha are quite colourful.
We must complete this in 90 minutes.
[dramatic music]
What are you making?
- I am making thecha. - What?
Prawn thecha.
Oh my God!
You need to stop with the thechas!
You are making thecha too!
This is MasterChef, not ThechChef!
We keep winning by making thechas,
- why would we stop making it? - Of course!
Alright, I'll also make a thecha.
Making thecha!
Rajiv, you can not laugh at me like that.
- Let's look at what you're making. - Okay then,
if thecha wins then I'll make thecha today.
- Where's your fish? - It's right here.
- Where? - Swimming in your stomach.
I'll have to fish it out.
Get the fish out.
[Laughing]
I'll start by cooking the lentils in a cooker.
I'll half-cook the lentil.
Then I'll start preparing to chop
the vegetables I will use.
I was saying, if I could just chop the vegetables here!
[comical music]
This is yam.
This vegetable is used a lot in Odia cuisine.
We only have 90 minutes.
We need to peel, cook,
and garnish the vegetables.
Don't you think that's a lot to do?
Today's challenge is Odisha temple food.
We will elevate it to MasterChef level.
The three of us have taken two aggregated elements each.
I'm making kanika and amba khatta.
Gaurav is making dalma and mohura.
- Archana, what are you making? - Kheera gaintha.
Kheera gaintha and?
- And chhena tarkari. - Chhena tarkari.
Today, I actively chose Gaurav because
as far as I've noticed,
I think he's developed into a great cook now.
I felt that if I chose him for my team,
the three of us could use that to our advantage.
For today's Odisha food platter challenge,
we're going to try to
add as many flavours as we can, along with
with our own touch and deliver a great platter.
We'll try to make our judges happy.
We'll try to make the people of Odisha happy.
Even with my outfit, you can see
I'm representing Odisha's colours.
I'm working with Rajiv and Tejasswi.
Tejasswi is making kakharu phula bhaja,
and chhatu besara bhaja.
Rajiv is cooking dahi pakhala and rasabali.
And I am going to make chingudi chhecha
and macha bhaja.
There will be six dishes in total on one platter.
Judges have quite high expectations from us now.
And we'll try our best.
If the work continues like this, we're definitely in trouble.
But we'll try to give our best and cook good food.
- Hopefully. - Rajiv, what is this?
What is this behaviour?
I have to make rasabali.
I add lemon to the milk so that it splits.
Then I made cottage cheese.
I put it in a muslin cloth and squeezed all the water out.
[tense music]
Firstly, I started making kheera gaintha.
For that, I used rice flour
and added milk to it. The kheer needs as much time as it can get.
My hands are paining now.
Please, get sticky!
I'm preparing my batter.
I get on to the tomatoes
that I will use to make the pickle.
It needs to reduce well
in order to turn into a mushy tomato pickle
that we need.
[tense music]
Yes, Captain. What are you making?
I am making kanika.
- It's like a sweet rice. - Yes.
It has jaggery along with cinnamon, which is the signature flavour.
- Okay. - It's a small grain rice.
Kanika. 'Kanak' means golden. Right.
Kanika is a rice which is golden.
When it cooks, you can see the golden colour here,
the golden rice has the sweetness of the rice and jaggery,
- the flavour of cinnamon and ghee. - Ghee, yes.
The smell of ghee immediately
takes you back to Ananda Bazaar.
Absolutely! I feel like the aroma transports me
to some festival
in Odisha.
What else are you making?
With that, I'm making amba khatta.
- Yes. - Spicy and sweet.
In Odia, 'khatta' doesn't just mean sour.
In Odia, 'khatta' means an accompaniment
which is sweet, spicy and sour.
That's what it means.
So you're making amba khatta.
I'm making amba khatta.
It's like a condiment on the side.
Yes. The temple inspired food platter that we're making,
I know that if we cook
with devotion and tranquillity in this kitchen,
without any fights,
if we keep aside the fights between Gaurav and I,
and we cook with utmost devotion,
I think we shall definitely win.
What are you making?
Sir, I'm making kheera gaintha.
What is it?
Sir, kheera gaintha means
after putting the milk to boil,
we add rice batter and
- sugar to some milk and - You make balls of it.
Small balls of the batter.
You make small balls of it.
The way I see it now, this needs more rice flour.
If you add this to milk and cook it, it will dissolve in milk.
It needs more rice flour.
For now, you can
add extra rice flour to a tiny bit of milk and cook it.
When you make the balls,
they should boil in the milk and not dissolve in it.
Okay, sir. I'll do it.
Wow. What are you making? Dalma?
Chef, I'm making dalma in this and mohura in this one.
- Okay. - I'm cooking mohura.
- Which is like a vegetable curry. - Yes.
It's a dry vegetable curry.
I have chopped all the vegetables.
I have also boiled the chickpeas.
After three whistles of the cooker, the lentils are almost cooked.
or outside any temple in Odisha,
the longest queue is for dalma.
If you eat dalma in Odisha,
every house has its own different version.
Right.
It's so comforting.
And I feel it's a whole comfort meal. It has vegetables,
lentils, proteins.
How are you cooking mohura?
With mohura, I'll first saut*
vegetables in some ghee and cumin.
Let me tell you, you have
picked the two most important dishes for your team.
These are the comfort dishes.
- Have you ever been to Odisha? - I've never been to Odisha.
But a lot of viewers who watch my shows are from Odisha.
I receive quite a few letters and gifts from there.
Once I had a fan from Odisha who sent me
a sculpture of Lord Jagannath
which I'd kept in the makeup room of my last show.
It was there for three years and now it's with me in my home.
- All the best. - Thank you, chef.
As soon as the lentils are cooked,
I add the vegetables to it.
Do you like raw banana in your dalma?
I love it so I'll add some extra for myself.
Do you like yam?
I'll add two more for you.
Do you like eggplant?
[comical music]
This baba ganoush is uneatable.
I started liking them after the first episode.
[comical music]
I cook the prawns in a frying pan.
After cooking them, I take them out in the mortar and pestle.
The marination mixture I'd made in the mixer,
I grind that as well.
I grind the prawns.
I take it all out in a bowl.
Alright, Team Blue,
what are you making? How are you making it?
Today, we're cooking pakhala.
Yoghurt pakhala.
Pakhala, while spelt like 'p-a-k-h-a-l-a',
is a world-famous Odia dish.
It's very close to Odisha's heart.
Odisha is crazy about pakhala.
As soon as summer starts creeping in,
the rice makes its way into water.
And it benefits the body immensely.
They say even if you have nothing, you have pakhala.
And one who has pakhala, has everything.
Meaning, we have everything!
You guys are very lucky! If I had to choose a team to be on,
- I'd choose the pakhala team. - Wow!
Tell me, who has been to Odisha?
I went to Puri, Jagannath Dham to get the Lord's blessings.
Out of this world!
The offering there is made in seven layers.
- Steam based. - Yes.
From the bottom to the top,
the flame is at the bottom.
- Huh? - Yes.
And it's so magical that the top item gets cooked first.
And then the dishes cook accordingly line-wise.
The seventh pot,
nearest to the flame, cooks last.
Another thing about the Jagannath Dham temple is that
their offerings, till date, have never been wasted.
- Brilliant. - Never.
When the grand offering is made,
it comes through
a tunnel. And the cooks who bring it,
are, barring their eyes, covered completely.
Their face is masked with a cloth.
They say sunshine doesn't even enter the tunnel.
Because even the Sun God cannot touch the offerings first.
It goes straight to Lord Jagannath.
They say if sunlight touches the offering,
it's not considered sacred any more.
They bring it with such devotion
and offer it to the Lord.
But this will be fun. Hail Lord Jagannath!
- Hail Lord Jagannath! - Hail Lord Jagannath!
Hail Lord Jagannath!
Teju, come here.
- It's spicy. - And this?
- Is this close? - Yes.
Okay.
Now we'll make the spice mix for dalma.
For that, we need utensils.
For the spice mix, I mostly use whole spices,
I grind them to make the spice mix.
Once the vegetables are cooked in the cooker,
I add the spice mix,
along with some jaggery.
Then I cook it again
so that the spices and the vegetables
are cooked thoroughly.
And the lentils are cooked too.
I see that the rice is cooked nicely.
I get Archana to taste them.
Taste it if it's sweet. It should be sweet.
It's hot.
- Is the rice cooked? - The rice is uncooked.
And it's not as sweet.
Obviously, I listen to Archana and add some jaggery.
Then I mix the rice and cover it
so that it cooks through the steam.
I place the cottage cheese on a tray
and I add semolina and flour.
Then I keep on kneading it
to get a soft texture.
The balls you make shouldn't crack.
You're making this again?
He makes this every day!
He's again making gulabjamuns.
You're making gulabjamun?
Hey, I'm on your team! You should be on my side!
- He's making something different. - Move!
It's something different this time.
I am on his team!
What's this? Sondesh?
Whatever it is, you can taste it later.
Rasmalai? Nice.
Nice.
The milk is boiling while I am working on this.
So I think I'm on time.
Celebrity cooks, 30 minutes over.
Nikki, quickly tell me something.
Yes, ma'am?
- Is Teja your best friend? - Yes.
- She still is? - She's a good friend.
But, she said in the morning that it's not fair that...
I always make thecha.
So, she's not the best now, is she?
So, why didn't you take her in your team?
- No? - It's more fun to compete.
So that, our individual flavours can shine.
No, no.
[tense music playing]
Wow! A handsome and cultured boy.
He cooks well too.
He's a good actor, earns well too.
He's financially independent and manages the kitchen too.
Tell me, how didn't you faint today when Nikki chose you?
Ma'am, do you remember? I had said in initial episodes
that, after the interval...
This is the opposite of 'opposites attract'.
I was astonished!
Sister chose me today.
- She's your sister? - She always was.
- Sister got caught. Hmm. - Okay.
But, did you want to be a part of that team?
No, ma'am, I'm a team player, wherever you place me.
I had said, I'm like salt. I can be added to all dishes.
Okay, tell me, who is the best chef in your team?
The best chef in my team? Right now, it's me.
- Thank god! Or, I would crown you with this. - But, I am.
I wasn't in the initial episodes. But now, I know I am working hard.
Which of your team members will reach the finals?
No, one more?
Uh, I think... Nikki may go.
Out, or, to the Finals?
- You can figure that out. - Oh!
You mimicked Shahrukh today, not Dev Anand.
[chuckling]
[dramatic music playing]
- Tell me, you chose this team. - Yes?
Was it friendship or because of their cooking talent?
Ma'am, because of their cooking talent.
As, he's good at dessert, so, I've assigned him to the dessert.
And, she's making savoury as she's an expert at them.
She has a very good sense of flavours and seasoning.
Gaurav's good at desserts too.
But, Nikki chose him, so...
She named him first, so, how could I take him?
If you had to make a barter of one team member
with the Red Team, who would it be?
I would exchange Nikki with Rajiv.
This is the real Faisu now.
I was going to crown you, but, I won't.
- Taste this once, ma'am. - What's the reason?
The reason for the barter is that...
Nikki makes excellent thecha
and, I'm making Chhecha today, so, I would like Nikki to taste it
but, she can't, because she's in the other team.
- What is this? - It's prawns with a spice paste.
I'll give my judgement later.
Okay, tell me, which of your team members will go to the Finale?
Me and Gaurav.
Which two people from your team will go to the Finals?
Everyone is deserving of it.
Okay, who will it be from that team?
Currently, Nikki and Gaurav.
- Archana! - Yes, ma'am?
Three people have not named you.
Oh my!
Ma'am, I am praying to god that
their belief is proven wrong.
There was a show where nobody had named me.
I had destroyed them! I was in the Top Three.
It's happening to me again.
I'll destroy them.
- Don't underestimate me, you'll see. - No, I'm just saying.
Just you wait! Wait and watch.
- Indian food is the best. - Your food is not tasty.
Only the deserving can reach the Finale, Archana.
We are cooking for 8 weeks. Did you ever prove yourself?
- Didn't I cook anything? - You never cooked anything good.
- No. - You have always been safe in groups, Archana.
Absolutely not.
And, your best dish with me was also because of me.
- Oh! - Of course.
Don't irritate me.
The idea of the spaghetti was mine.
- Shut up. - I named the dish too.
- You said pasta, I said, spaghetti. - The story...
is the same everywhere, you know.
I don't make only thecha, like you. Get it?
- Not just thecha... - I am good at everything.
Okay. At least, make thecha first.
I'll see you in the top two.
You'll be left watching when I get the trophy.
- That is impossible. - You'll be left stunned.
Hey, woah! That's enough! Quiet!
Okay, calm down. Both of you are doing very well.
- Faisu, did you cast an evil eye? - But...
The team was quietly working.
I told them to calm down, they are one team.
Let the result be announced, then, do as you wish.
Wait till the result.
- Rajiv. - Yes?
In a Rasabali...
the best quality is...
that it has a juiciness and sponginess in it like Ras Malai.
Right? What you've cooked is very flat.
It's very thin.
This won't soak up the liquid.
And, Rasabali can't be made without liquid in it.
Tell me what to do.
You do it. What is that?
So, I'm thinking of quickly making it again.
What is left to do for Chingudi Chhecha?
Chingudi Chhecha is done, Chef.
I have added the prawns and sauteed it.
[tense music playing]
If you will begin the Pakhala with Chingudi Chhecha
and, end it with Rasabali
the end is not good.
On hearing that, pressure has built up
because, Chef Ranveer understands its flavours.
We have to impress him anyhow
by making it well today.
- Come, we have to hurry. - Yes.
Only 30 minutes remain!
Only 30 minutes to go! Hurry up.
This is the time when the actual
flavours and finishing should start appearing in your food.
Because, you will need 15 minutes for plating. Come on.
- Give me four. Give me four. - I'm making it, wait.
You hold on, I'm doing that.
30 minutes left. The pressure in the challenge has risen.
Rajiv has started making his dish again.
- Quick. - It's really complicated.
- That one thing... - You made it wrong.
It wasn't wrong, it was just small.
Don't use that tone with me.
I... I'll give you a tight...
I quickly curdled the milk and made more cottage cheese.
I added a little baking powder too.
As, baking powder brings that fluffiness.
The flavours of Odia food
are very good and very balanced.
So, I want to make excellent Macha Bhaja today.
I used my own innovation by adding a few items too.
This is my style.
What do you say, Gaurav?
How is your team treating you?
If a player is good, his team is good to him too.
Gaurav, why are you quiet today? Tell me.
I have got very important vegetables today.
I'm cooking them with all my might to ensure they're good.
It is not easy to cook this food.
It has so many layers...
that if you mess up a single layer, your whole dish can go wrong.
So, I am cooking this Odisha food
with complete focus.
I think that this is a great opportunity
for all the celebrity cooks.
Today, they will view Odisha from a new perspective.
They will appreciate its simplicity.
But, Chefs, tell me about the teams.
Do you think the Red Team is stronger?
Yes, I think, the Red Team is a little more stable.
I think, this mature side to Nikki and Gaurav...
It's helping them.
Nikki and Gaurav have taken charge of both the important dishes.
In between, Archana is stable.
- They know that... - But, Archana's taking it very seriously.
I love it!
I mean, she's suddenly filled with some energy.
- I think, it's the Odisha vibe. - Oh!
She's imbibed the calm and quiet energy of Odisha.
Wow. And, there?
The Blue Team seems a little tricky to me.
You see, the Pakhala looks very simple
but, the combinations made in Pakhala
need a very good understanding of textures.
That's missing there right now.
I have removed the stem from inside of
all the pumpkin flowers
because, that can add a lot of bitterness to the flower.
These flavours are very new to us
so, this is very challenging, because, I don't know
how these dishes should exactly taste.
So, I'm following my own judgement.
Is your amba khatta ready?
[tense music playing]
- The Kanika Bhat is ready. - Yes.
- Yes? - Yes, sir?
This?
- This is... - Chhena Tarkari?
Chhena Tarkari.
Where's the cheese?
I forgot the cheese.
[chuckling]
What can be done? I cannot say that I forgot.
Till this is cooking with potatoes, I'll make fresh cheese and add it.
What did you put in this milk?
Sir, I've put bay leaves in this milk
with some coconut.
Some dry fruits too.
You are making Kheera Gaintha
which are rice balls cooked in milk.
The main flavour in the milk is cardamom.
- It's the only flavour missing. - It has cardamom.
- I can smell everything else. - I put three cardamoms.
Your bay leaf, coconut, everything is overpowering it.
Secondly, that team is making Rasabali, which needs fried cheese.
They are lagging the most in that.
And, you have left the fried cheese for the last.
Oh man! Sir came at the right moment.
So, I quickly ground cardamom and added it to the milk.
Then, I began making Chhena Tarkari.
I kneaded it so hard!
I kneaded the cheese well and made round balls.
My potatoes were ready too.
I added them to the gravy.
- Look, Gaurav. I have cut a square here. - Yes?
Tell me now, how shall I do this?
Should I roll it thinner?
Make it a little thinner. We'll make it straight.
- Straight, right? - Yes.
- Cut three thick ones this way. - Okay.
The crisp was not planned into our dish.
But, we added an element to elevate it.
It is completely Gaurav's idea.
Celebrity cooks, your today's beautiful challenge
has only 10 minutes left.
- Only ten minutes, put it in. - What? Ten minutes?
Yes, this is right. Just place them apart.
Archana, make them smaller. What is this?
Big ones will look good.
Hurry up, Archana, only 10 minutes left.
Ten minutes left. I'm working on the cheese.
I was afraid that it may curdle.
Do you get it? These are sweet cottage cheese balls.
Look, these are looking amazing!
[tense music playing]
You are making Chatu Besara Bhaja.
All the vegetables in this are high-water vegetables.
Bhaja should be stir-fried.
- So, it does not have a lot of water. - Hmm.
My suggestion is...
whenever we work with high-water vegetables, we saute them first
then, we wrap them in the banana leaf
so that, their texture does not turn mushy.
They should remain firm and al-dente like Bhaja is expected to be.
That will save your efforts
and improve the flavours and textures drastically.
Okay, Chef.
Oh god! I will have to do this again.
Luckily, I had chopped a lot of extra mushrooms.
So, I cooked the rest on the griddle. It has nicely softened.
All its water has dried up.
Now, I will wrap these again in banana leaf.
Did you put it in the oven, Nikki?
Yes. You roast the kasuri methi.
Is everything done?
Yes, 90-95% is done.
As we are a team, and, we have to win as a team
as a captain also, I want to taste the Dalma he has cooked.
You have made an excellent dish.
- Thank you. - What is this? I've never eaten this.
I think, Gaurav will lead this team to victory.
It's too good! Too good.
Yes, both flavours are different.
Earlier, people used to say that, maybe I don't belong here
or, that I should not be here
and today, see how life has come full circle.
I was a little amused too. And, I felt that...
I already know this
but now, others are realising it too, so, it's a good thing.
Last one minute.
[dramatic music playing]
My blood pressure's rising.
But, I have faith in my Blue Team. We have made very good food.
Today, we have been given the responsibility
to recreate Odia food in our own way
and, we have tried our best
to fulfil those expectations.
Put it, Nikki...Put it, Teju!
We feel like it is very good.
But, there's a little stress that the other team may win.
Ten!
Hey, Chef started the countdown!
- Hurry! - Nine!
- Not like that. - Enough.
Eight!
Seven!
- Teju, move! You can do nothing! - Six! Five!
Four!
Faisu, wait.
- Two! - One!
Time's up, step back!
- Time's up. - Done!
Let's see which team's stardom gives up.
It is now time for the beautiful tasting of the beautiful food
of this beautiful state.
We have prepared Odia dishes today with flavours of Odisha.
We have cooked much better than what some people may have thought.
And, there is an excellent balance of flavours.
We were facing some hurdles with the dessert
but, Rajiv balanced it very well.
- Yes, had to do it. - He did well.
I hope this dish transports the judges to Odisha.
The three of us have together prepared six dishes today.
The flavours of the temple food of Odisha
are reflecting on our plates.
They will stand out.
And, I'm very confident that
the judges will love
the dishes on our platter today!
Your today's challenge was...
to celebrate Odisha with Odia food.
You got two menus, and, you translated both menus
into a tasting menu and a platter.
And now, it is time for tasting.
We are hopeful that...
the simplicity of Odisha and its food...
the techniques and combinations that are usually in front of us
but, we can't see them, will have appeared to you today.
We hope those windows have opened up to you. Let's taste.
Red Team, please come up with your dish.
[applause]
In the back of my mind, I am thinking...
that we have cooked with complete faith and devotion today
and, with that confidence, we approach the judges
and present our plates to them.
Red Team, let me first say, your plating is beautiful.
- Thank you. - The colours!
- Beautiful! - Thank you.
[applause]
- The flavours of Odisha lie in its simplicity. - Yes.
In it earthiness.
And, your plating and its colours are wonderfully reflecting
that simplicity and earthiness.
They say, food is something that can please you at sight.
You have used such colours.
I already feel happy just by looking at these dishes.
Choice of dishes, and, the food.
Tell me, Gaurav, what did you cook?
I have cooked Dalma.
I have also made Mohura.
There's a coconut crisp for you in the centre too
because, we wanted to give a MasterChef touch to this.
Nikki, what did you make?
I made Amba Khatta...
and, Kanika Bhat.
Ma'am, I've made Kheera Gaintha
and, Chhena Tarkari.
- So, everyone's made two items each. - Yes.
Wow!
Which shall we taste first? What is the norm?
I want to eat the Dalma first
because it's one of my favourite Odia dishes.
[suspenseful music playing]
I think, the vegetables in the Dalma
are delicious, but, a little overcooked.
The overcooking has almost turned it into a mash.
But, it tastes delicious!
So subtle, so powerful.
- I love it! - Thank you.
It's my kind of comfort food.
- It is. - Thank you.
Comforting like a hug from a grandmom.
Thank you.
Gaurav, the best thing about Dalma is the ghee tempering on top.
That tempering is shining.
The warmth and comfort, the hug that we are talking about
is rising from that final tempering.
Yes, I agree that the vegetables
should have been a little firmer, so that
- the feel of Dalma... - Yes, okay.
could have been maintained. It's a little overcooked.
But, for me, the tempering and the comfort are still the stars!
Okay, thank you, Chef.
I was very happy
because, this was the first time I made Dalma
and, I felt like...
it was because of Lord Jagannath's blessings that
the dish was so good in my first attempt and they liked it.
Mohura.
[suspenseful music playing]
Who gave the idea for the coconut crisp?
- I did. - Hmm.
Because, we could not find the wadi, nor could we make it in 90 minutes.
So, we thought, to elevate the coconut
we'll add a crisp element to provide a crunch to the Mohura.
Sometimes, it so happens that we are
traditionally used to eating such things with rice.
But, I am enjoying eating it with the crisp today.
Nobody can taste this and say that you've never been to Odisha.
Or, that he's cooked this for the first time.
The balance you created with fennel!
And, jaggery complements fennel.
- It adds a little sweetness. - Black pepper.
Black pepper, jaggery and fennel make a good combination.
It has excellent balance.
And, I love the fact that you...
respectfully maintained the flavours as they should be
but, you added your own touch too.
You made an addition with the crisp to convey...
that you won't tamper with the authentic flavours, but
- you are making a humble addition - Adding to it.
which will taste good with this.
And, this is an excellent way to elevate traditional food.
That was the technical aspect.
I would say, it was delicious, Gaurav.
- What has happened to you? - Thank you.
You're cooking great Odia food too.
Ma'am, I was making too many desserts, so, I thought
- now that I've got this chance... - But, this savoury is excellent.
Actually, both of those were very important dishes
and, when I got them, I felt...
very unsure that they may be very tough
but then, I decided to give it a go.
But, I think, you have honoured both these dishes very well.
Thank you.
I cooked savoury today because I wanted to
prove to everyone that I can do this too.
Look, ladies and gentlemen, we want to say, beware of Gaurav.
[laughing]
With this food that he has cooked...
this Kanpur boy is still in the race.
I was very happy to hear that.
Uh... I'm very happy, but, it's Archana's turn now.
- Chhena Tarkari. - Chhena Tarkari.
Chhena Tarkari.
Chhena is cottage cheese curry.
What vegetables have you put? I can see potatoes.
There's potato and the kofta.
- Kofta? Okay. - The cottage cheese kofta.
[suspenseful music playing]
- Archana. - Yes, ma'am?
Anyone who says that you are surviving here only on luck
- needs to come and taste this dish. - Yes.
It's outstanding.
[applause]
- This dish has the required flavours. - Thank you, sir.
Come, Nikki. What have you cooked?
Amba Khatta, and, the other dish is Kanika Bhat.
Sweetened rice.
[suspenseful music playing]
Woah!
He gave an expression.
- No, it is tangy. It is good. - It's good. It's good.
That's how our face reacts to eating something tangy.
What are you doing, madam?
We used to eat mango candy like this.
This is mango candy, then.
Oh my god!
It burst in my mouth.
We felt the same way when we tasted it.
[upbeat music]
Wow!
What is going on?
You made Khatta.
No Odia dish will be complete without this.
One element is doing two things.
It is working out as a chutney and a pickle.
When we make this
we make the chutney first.
First, we balance the spicy, sweet and tangy flavours.
And then we give a 'tadka' to it in a pickle style.
Again...
It appears simple but it is layered.
It is not easy to understand and execute its layers.
You executed it very well.
Nikki, you came here as a good chef. You will leave as an excellent chef.
Wow!
- Thank you. - Well done.
Thank you.
All I see here is
a proper finalist.
Thank you.
[clapping]
What was this called?
Kanika Bhaat.
- This is a sweet. - This is a sweet.
It has cinnamon and jaggery.
- Did you taste it? - I really liked it a lot.
[tense music]
Nikki, I am trying this for the first time.
I feel that I am eating god's offering.
It is too good.
You added nuts to this.
It is giving it a crunch. It has a nutty flavour.
I loved it.
People stand in line to eat this at Ananda bazaar.
I was surprised when I went there in 2008 for the first time.
This is just sweetened rice.
But it reminded me of the time
when my grandma used to make sweetened rice for Diwali.
She made it with jaggery and saffron.
She used to add nuts, too.
I am ready to stand in line for Nikki's dish.
Come on, Miss Archana.
Yes, madam.
What is this, sir?
Kheera Gaintha.
The dish that Archana made
is very good. I have tasted it.
I really liked it.
I am sure the chefs would like it too.
However, I'm not entirely certain. Archana does random things out of nowhere.
[tense music]
Archana.
There's an issue.
What did she do now? Oh god!
If we make a mistake today, we might lose.
The problem is I am being forced to pick up the spoon.
[cheers]
Hey! Hey! Wait! Wait!
[laughs]
He is picking it up to eat.
He might be picking it up to eat.
You fell for no reason.
- I broke my shoe. - I picked it up to eat more.
No. No. No.
- It was delicious. I tried it. - Archana, I am being honest.
[spoon clanking]
Wow!
Oh my god! I have been waiting for this.
It has finally happened.
I chose Archana to be in my team today.
I am proud of my decision.
I feel very happy for Archana.
She got a spoon tap from Chef Ranveer.
Well done, Archana. You got the spoon tap.
Do you still want a kiss?
- No, madam. I want it. - Or are you satisfied with that?
[laughs]
- Thank you, madam. Thank you. - It is good.
[clapping]
No one can find fault in this.
- Not a chance. - Not even a small one.
Sweetness is perfect.
Elaichi's flavour is perfect.
The best part is the rice balls.
The softness of those balls is perfect.
Perfect!
Archana, this dish represents your
progress and your patience.
The first thing
I have to tell you today is very important.
You are talented.
Don't take yourself lightly.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Whoever said you came here by luck should try this.
- Eat it. Eat it. - Feed her.
She already tried it.
Thank you so much. Well done, Red Team.
- Jai Jagannath! - Jai Jagannath!
They were praised.
They were praised so much. I was beginning to cry.
How do we go up next?
I am not so sure about what would happen anymore.
Will the judges like our dishes?
My heart is racing at this point.
All the best.
[upbeat music]
We just witnessed Red Team
shine through while representing Odia cuisine.
I think the three of you also worked very hard.
There's one thing about food. Energy.
The energy that you put the plate on the table with
- it makes everything clear to us. - Yes.
Are you proud of what you have created or not?
- Yes, chef. - Yes, chef. We are very proud.
- You worked very hard to be here. - Very hard.
- Yes, chef. - You deserve this place.
Yes, chef.
Right? You deserve to celebrate what you create.
100 percent, chef.
- Right? Absolutely. - Let's do it. Bring in the energy.
To celebrate what you made today
we want the three of you to close your eyes.
Bring that energy.
Bring that moment back of your journey.
How long has it been to put a dish here?
[cheers]
This season's knife...
[song playing]
Thank you, chef. Oh my god.
Oh my god!
Feel the Odia food that you made today.
[cameras clicking]
You are an inspiration to youth.
You learnt so quickly in the MasterChef kitchen.
- It is an inspiration for people. - Thank you, sir.
People take years to make a perfect macaroon like this.
For me, this is like a mic drop of cooking world.
[cheers]
[clapping]
All your journey is to be here.
How many people... How many family members...
A lot has happened in your life before you made it here.
The entire world is watching you and celebrating you.
Rajiv, this is outstanding.
[cheers]
Forget about 1800.
I am willing to give you double the amount for this.
Thank you so much.
We are really proud to have you on MasterChef.
Thank you so much. Thank you so much.
All of you have the blessings of your families with you.
Mom!
[crying]
Mrs Adatia, welcome to Celebrity MasterChef.
It's great to have you here.
Let me tell you that Rajiv's mom just landed here from London.
She came here directly.
How long has it been since you last met?
- After two and a half months. - After two and a half months?
[chuckles]
[sad music]
When my husband passed away,
I had to take on full-time jobs.
I used to cook for everyone after I get home.
Raju cooked the food for everyone.
He learnt it by watching me.
He said, 'Don't worry, mom. I will cook for everyone.'
He used to cook for everyone.
When my dad passed away, I wasn't in this country.
I was in Dubai for a shoot.
I got a call from mom.
Mom was crying uncontrollably.
She said, 'Come back home. Your dad is very sick.'
[sad music]
He had already passed away.
And...
[sad music]
I am scared.
I...
[sad music]
Sorry.
Rajiv, don't have such fears. Everything will be good.
I am scared something might happen when I am not around.
[sad music]
I want to say one thing.
Pain is where endless love is.
We need to celebrate that love.
I am not...
This pain just shows in both of your eyes.
It is clear that someone who held you all together is gone.
Today, you are celebrating his love.
I know. I know.
You are celebrating this beautiful woman.
Thank you so much. I am so sorry about this.
You are making me cry.
Do you know what I feel when I look at you?
There's a cliche around soulmates.
It's about what soulmates should be.
You are soulmates.
Mom is every child's soulmate.
- Beautiful. - Mrs Adatia.
It is lovely to have you here.
- Thank you so much. - But now it's time.
We have to try his food now.
- See you after this. - See you after this.
I am glad his mom came.
He got nice moral support.
He lives here alone. His family lives in London.
Rajiv, are you happy?
- Very happy. - Rajiv, you won.
Time to make you sad now.
Please go ahead.
Rajiv, what did you make?
I made Rasabali.
- You made the sweet. - Rasabali.
I made Dahi Pakhala.
It is a rice-based dish.
I made Chingudi Chhecha.
This one?
- The one in green. - Oh, green. Okay.
I made a dish with fish named macha bhaja.
I made kakharu phula bhaja.
I made Odisha's tomato chutney along with that.
I made chatu besara bhaja.
It is a mushroom dish.
I saut*ed it in the pan.
I cooked it in a banana leaf.
I must say you have clearly understood the challenge.
You lived up to it, too.
Let's talk about presentation.
We celebrated common man's food.
We did it in different shapes and forms.
You added layers to it as your tribute to the cuisine.
It works out for me.
You presented shrimps in a different way.
It is such a good way to celebrate our regional cuisine of India.
- Shall we taste, chefs? - Absolutely.
[tense music]
The fun lies in eating it with hands.
- We should eat it with our hands. - This is a traditional village dish.
Oh!
[tense music]
- Teju, this is amazing. - Thank you, chef.
Try it with the tomato chutney.
It is spicy and good.
Thank you, chef.
Odisha is called India's best kept secret for a reason.
The secret is out, and all of your antennas are up.
- Hmm. - Isn't it?
This is the secret.
Your mom should try it too, right?
Why not? Come on, mom. Come on.
Come and have vegetarian food.
[upbeat music]
Is it nice?
My mom is just like you. She likes to mix everything.
- That was nice. - Was it?
Excellent.
Your son has cooked, after all.
[laughs]
- Thank you so much. - Thank you so much.
Very nice.
Now, think about this. A Gujarati man living in London.
Did you expect him to make amazing Odia food?
Not at all.
- Not at all. - He can do a lot of things.
- Thank you. - Thank you. - Let's go.
Let's break it down dish by dish.
You made Pakhala. Dahi Pakhala.
The 'tadka' you give it
shouldn't be overpowered. It cannot be overpowered.
It was balanced well. Let's come to fish.
It is slightly overcooked.
Chingudi Chhecha.
Very good. It is excellent.
Tejasswi, you made a mushroom dish.
Uh...
Outstanding. Thankfully, you listened to me.
Rasabali.
I think Chhecha has a little bit more rava in it.
It is a little bit tight.
The sponginess is missing.
But the milk you made is excellent. You get full marks for that.
You made pumpkin flowers.
They are to die for.
Best on the plate.
Thank you.
- Mrs Adatia, I want to ask you this. - Yes.
Ever since he started cooking here, his counter is very messy.
Chef scolded him and fixed his behaviour.
[laughs]
No one holds a gold medal for a dirty counter.
Is this the same way at home? Don't you say anything to him?
Farah madam, the problem is that in my house
this man scolds me for having a messy kitchen.
- I am an OCD freak. - What?
- I force her to keep it clean. - Come and see him cook here once.
I saw that. I was wondering what he was doing.
Why is his counter messy?
He always has a messy counter.
- Don't let this go. Record that. - I did. I did. I recorded it.
If you try to lecture me, I will have evidence in hand.
First, you learn and then lecture me.
[laughs]
This is such a lovely taste.
- Let's go, guys, - Thank you for a wonderful tasting.
And now it is time for results.
[clapping]
- It was very hard for us to judge. - Yes.
It was hard to decide which team did better.
There were high points and low points.
Both teams cooked a well-balanced cuisine.
There was one minus point for us.
There were one or two minus points for them.
But I still believe we will win.
We are moving towards the victory.
I think the result is clear.
Everyone did well.
Spoon tap and hand kiss were awarded to the Red Team.
- Red Team. - Yay!
Congratulations, Red Team.
You must be thinking that the episode ends here.
The party will begin now.
The episode does not end here.