MasterChef SA: Proof was in the pudding

Cape Town - "This decision will change one of your lives. The winner of MasterChef South Africa is… Deena!”

Andrew Atkinson, who announced the winner, and the other two judges had earlier wined and dined finalists Deena (Naidoo) and Sue-Ann (Allen) at the MondoVino restaurant at the SunSquare Hotel at Montecasino in Johannesburg.

Deena won the restaurant as part of his prize.

Back in the MasterChef kitchen, all the Top 18 Contestants made an appearance to watch Sue-Ann and Deena in the final cook-off.

Judge Benny Masekwameng explained that the finalé would consist out of three rounds: a mystery box, an invention test and a pressure test.

The judges would score each round and at the end, they will add up the scores and the person with the most points will become South Africa's first MasterChef.

The mystery box revealed a selection of veggies, which the Deena and Sue-Ann had to make a starter with. Sue-Ann decided to go for beetroot and goats' cheese samoosas with crispy fried ribbons of vegetables and a herbed mayonnaise.

Deena made a medley of vegetables: sautéed Brussels sprouts, roasted root vegetables and a parsnip purée. For the first time in the MasterChef kitchen, both contestants were done with their plates with five minutes to spare.

For the invention test, which was the main course, Sue-Ann decided to make a poached fillet of beef with a jus and vegetables. Deena opted coriander crusted lamb loin with onion and spinach bhaji and roasted potatoes.

The dessert that was revealed for the pressure test: a deconstructed milk tart consisting of thin pastry layers with a base of cinnamon and apple gel and piped-out milk tart filling.

It was topped with crystallised fennel seeds and a spun sugar spiral and served with a baby basil and appelmoes.

Benny described it as "a South African classic recreated as a fine dining dessert".

The spun sugar turned out to be more of a challenge for both contestants and Sue-Ann had to leave it off her plate.