Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 16 aired on 17 February 2025, at 8 PM on Sony TV and was streamed live on Sony LIV. This episode brought an exciting Festival Challenge, where the remaining nine celebrity contestants had to prepare dishes symbolizing different Indian festivals.
The episode was filled with surprises, including a twist halfway through the challenge that forced contestants to add an unexpected element to their dishes. While some contestants impressed the judges with their creativity, others struggled under pressure. Let’s dive into the full episode update, dishes cooked, and the winner of the challenge!
Festival Challenge Announced
At the start of the episode, the contestants entered the MasterChef Kitchen, where they were greeted by the three judges:
👨🍳 Chef Vikas Khanna
🎬 Farah Khan
👨🍳 Chef Ranveer Brar
It was revealed that Dipika Kakar Ibrahim would not be participating in today’s challenge due to medical issues.
Farah Khan then announced the Festival Challenge, setting the rules for the competition:
📌 Challenge Rules:
✅ Each contestant must prepare a dish that represents a specific festival (e.g., Holi, Eid, Diwali, etc.).
✅ Time Limit: 60 minutes.
✅ Extra Time: 5 minutes at the start to collect ingredients from the pantry.
✅ Advantage: The best dish of the day will receive a huge advantage in the next challenge.
Once the challenge began, all nine contestants rushed to the pantry, collected their ingredients, and started cooking.
Midway Twist – The Sweet & Savory Challenge!
After 30 minutes, the judges introduced a shocking twist:
🔥 Contestants making desserts had to add a savory element to their dish.
🔥 Contestants making savory dishes had to add a sweet element to their dish.
The contestants were given 2 extra minutes to collect additional ingredients from the pantry before continuing their challenge.
Dishes Cooked & Festivals Represented
After 60 minutes, the contestants completed their dishes, and the judges began tasting. Here’s what each contestant prepared:
- Kabita Singh celebrated Chhath Puja with a traditional spread of Spicy Chikki, Thekua, and Kheer, capturing the festive essence beautifully.
- Gaurav Khanna brought the flavours of Holi to life with Paan & Kesar Pista Ice Cream and Panjeeri Bonbons, adding a creative twist to festive sweets.
- Tejasswi Prakash showcased the flavours of Diwali with a delicious combination of Shirode and Chakli, both deep-rooted in festive traditions.
- Ayesha Jhulka paid homage to Karva Chauth with a platter of Dahi Bhalle, Gud Ki Matki, and Suji Puri, ensuring a delightful balance of taste and tradition.
- Nikki Tamboli attempted to represent Navratri with Chickpea Mashed Stuffed Cannoli, but her execution fell short.
- Usha Nadkarni took inspiration from the Ganpati Festival, preparing a flavoursome plate of Khatkhate and Rava Idli, which received high praise.
- Rajiv Adatia embraced the spirit of Christmas with an elaborate dessert platter featuring Rum Cake, Ginger Ice Cream, Butter Vanilla Sauce, and Potato Crisp, capturing the festive warmth.
- Faisal Shaikh honoured Eid with a beautifully layered Mille-feuille Pastry, impressing with his precision and technique.
- Archana Gautam represented Janmashtami with Sindhara and Jeera Biscuit, but her approach lacked the depth expected by the judges.
Judges’ Reactions – Bottom 2 & Best Dish!
After tasting all the dishes, the judges decided that many contestants had taken the challenge too lightly. As a result, they not only announced the best dish but also revealed the bottom two contestants who would face a major disadvantage in the next challenge.
Bottom 2 Dishes
🚨 Nikki Tamboli – Her dish was so poorly presented that the judges refused to taste it.
🚨 Archana Gautam – Instead of incorporating a savoury element properly, she simply placed a biscuit on top of her dessert, showing a lack of effort.
📌 Consequence: Both Nikki and Archana will face a big disadvantage in tomorrow’s challenge.
Best Dish of the Day – Usha Nadkarni Wins!
🏆 Winner: Usha Nadkarni 🎉
✅ Dish: Khatkhate and Rava Idli (Ganpati Festival)
✅ Judges’ Verdict: Her flavours, presentation, and creativity made her dish stand out.
📌 Advantage: Usha Nadkarni will receive a huge advantage in the next challenge!
Final Thoughts on Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 16
🔥 The Festival Challenge brought out the best and worst in the contestants!
🔥 Usha Nadkarni shined with her Ganpati-inspired dish, while Nikki Tamboli and Archana Gautam struggled with execution.
🔥 With big advantages and disadvantages at stake, tomorrow’s episode promises even more drama and excitement!
Will Usha use her advantage wisely, and can Nikki and Archana recover from their mistakes? Stay tuned to Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 17 for more culinary action!