by During MasterChef India Season 9 Episode 16, the 77th Republic Day of India was celebrated inside the MasterChef kitchen through a special cooking challenge titled Har Plate Mein India. All 11 remaining pairs were given the opportunity to showcase different regions of India on their plates with their innovative dishes. The pair that cooked the best dish was awarded immunity from this week’s elimination.
The 16th episode of MasterChef India aired on January 26, 2026. All three judges (Ranveer Brar, Vikas Khanna, and Kunal Kapur) were seen dressed in traditional Indian attire to mark the celebration of Republic Day. Contestants were informed that their presentation in this Republic Day Special challenge, Har Plate Mein India, would play a significant role in the final judgment.
Episode 16 began with all 11 remaining pairs entering the MasterChef kitchen, where they were welcomed by the judges and host Paritosh Tripathi. The judges then introduced them to The Great Indian Pantry (specially designed for the Republic Day celebration), after which the Har Plate Mein India challenge was officially announced.
Rules for the Har Plate Mein India Challenge
- Each pair had to prepare a dish using ingredients collected from The Great Indian Pantry.
- Pairs needed to collect at least one ingredient from each section of the pantry (North, East, West, and South), as each section represented a different part of India.
- The time limit to prepare the dish was 2 hours, including 5 minutes for ingredient collection.
- Each dish had to display a unique flair in presentation while telling a story inspired by different Indian regions.
- The pair that cooked the best dish would earn immunity from this week’s elimination.
Dishes Served by Each Pair
After the cooking time ended, each pair presented their dishes to the judges. The following were the dishes made by each team:
- Simran and Himanshi – Bachpan Ke Rang
- Anshmeet Singh and Prabhdeep Kaur – Baked Alaska
- SaiSri Rachakonda and Chandana Rachakonda – Hyderabadi Veg Haleem
- Deepali Bihani and Jamuna Somani – Dadi Nani Ki Yaadein
- Vishnu Purohit and Harshani Purohit – Bundelkhandi Sizzlers
- Yasmin Ansari and Mehfooz Ansari – Maati Se Nikla Swaad
- Archana Dhotre and Rupali Jadhav – Malwani Bhisk
- Avni Sharma and Venu Sharma – Karada Ki Ekthali
- Ajinkya Gandhe and Vikram Gandhe – Bharat Ki Meethi Hawa
Note: The dishes prepared by Parvati Soni & Himang Soni and Anju Pradhan & Manju Ohja were not tasted by the judges as they failed to complete their dishes within the allotted time.
Top Two Dishes and Best Dish
- Top Two: Avni Sharma & Venu Sharma, and Ajinkya Gandhe & Vikram Gandhe
- Best Dish: Ajinkya Gandhe & Vikram Gandhe
Ajinkya and Vikram’s spectacular creation, Bharat Ki Meethi Hawa, impressed the judges with its taste, innovation, and presentation. Chef Kunal gave them a spoon drop, while Chef Ranveer gave them a spoon tap as a mark of appreciation.
By winning the Har Plate Mein India challenge, the duo (Ajinkya Gandhe and Vikram Gandhe) secured immunity from this week’s elimination on MasterChef India Season 9.
Next Episode Precap: In Episode 17 of MasterChef India Season 9, Bollywood icon Karisma Kapoor will enter the MasterChef kitchen as the contestants prepare dishes representing the famous Kapoor family’s culinary heritage.
Stay connected with us for the latest updates on MasterChef India Season 9. If you have any queries regarding Episode 16, feel free to drop a comment below.
