She also talks about her experience as a guest judge on MasterChef India and shares why the Australian version of the show is so popular among Indian fans.
Season 17 of MasterChef Australia has started on 10Play, featuring 24 returning contestants from across 16 seasons. Get ready for wild challenges and surprising flavour combos, with new episodes airing weekly! Viewers outside Australia can still watch all the episodes by using a VPN to access.
Returning to MasterChef this year was a tougher choice for Depinder Chhibber compared to her reality TV debut back in 2020, but she has no regrets about stepping back into the spotlight.
Now based in Newcastle, the talented cook is one of 24 returning contestants featured on the all-stars season, MasterChef Australia: Back To Win. Leaving her two children in the care of her husband, Depinder returned to the MasterChef kitchen with even more determination to leave a lasting impression — and in just two weeks since the season began airing on Channel 10, she’s already doing just that.
Famous for her exquisite desserts and love for Indian flavours, Depinder showcased both in the season’s very first episode. During a group service challenge, she joined team captain Sarah Todd and several fellow contestants, volunteering to create a carrot halwa parfait — a dessert that fused traditional flavours with a modern twist.
“It’s definitely really nice,” Depinder tells Draw Your Box, referring to the outpouring of support from viewers — especially South Asian fans who connected with her dish.
Gajar ka halwa for me – the carrot halwa – it’s like a warm hug to me, I grew up in the north of India. I was born in Delhi. So for me, carrot halwa is like a wintery, like a warm hug that you have… every wedding that you go to in winter, everyone’s house you go to in winter, there will be gajar ka halwa. You can’t have a dinner party and not have that over winter. It’s just like masala chai.
she says
Talking about how the menu came together, Depinder emphasizes that it wasn’t a solo effort. “It might sound like it was all me, but it wasn’t. It was a team effort,” she says.
Beyond the standout dessert, Depinder has showcased several other traditional Indian dishes this season. Her first solo cook featured Aslam Butter Chicken, which she describes as “a North Indian street style snack originating from the streets of old Delhi.”
Another highlight was a Thali — a platter of homestyle North Indian dishes — that held personal significance for her. “I grew up eating in a Thali, my grandfather always ate in a Thali…it was mesmerising,” she shared on Instagram. Her Thali included Rajma (kidney beans), Dhaba Chicken, Shahi Paneer, Raita, salad, papad, and cumin rice.
I do love cooking Indian food, obviously, because I really like the authenticity… you know that the unapologetic nature of Indian cuisine, And there’s so much to Indian food, so I’d like to showcase more [on the show] for sure. But without giving too much away, I think you’ll have to watch [more of this season] to find out,
she tells Draw Your Box, with a smile.
Since her MasterChef debut in 2020, Depinder Chhibber has worked with brands on social media, launched her own supper club series called Ghar, and even appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef India — an experience she describes as a true highlight.
Tasting the dishes was amazing, but meeting judges Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Garima Arora in person was the real thrill.
she says
“MasterChef Australia, for me, is like the godfather of all MasterChefs,” she says, adding that the judges’ humility stood out the most.
He literally grabbed my hand and said, ‘We are so proud of you. Thank you for putting Indian food [on the map].’ I couldn’t believe it—coming from a Michelin-star chef, that meant everything.
She recalls a touching moment with Vikas Khanna
One of the highlights of Depinder Chhibber’s MasterChef India experience was the warm reception. “The hospitality in India is unbeatable,” she says. When asked to compare the two versions of the show, she admits, “I can’t pick which one’s better – MasterChef Australia or MasterChef India – because they’re so different!”
She explains that while MasterChef India focuses on elevating traditional Indian cuisine, MasterChef Australia stands out for its multiculturalism. “We’ve got people from all over the subcontinent and the world. There’s no limit to the skill and techniques on display, and I think this season really shows that,” she says.
Depinder is among 24 returning contestants in MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, joining familiar faces from past seasons. The season is judged by Andy Allen, Poh Ling-Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli, and Sofia Levin.
MasterChef Australia: Back To Win continues at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10 Play.
Source: Drawyourbox