Filipino makes it to MasterChef NZ Top 4

If you haven't been watching the latest edition of MasterChef NZ, you still have time to catch up with the Top 5 competition.  And there is good reason to watch, for we have our own 32 year old Leo Fernandez who made it to top 5!

 We weren't actually able to catch the early episodes ourselves.  A friend alerted us about this and we have been tuning in ever since.  We would have loved the episode where he showcased maja blanca and adobo!

If your region allows it, you can still watch the more recent episodes on 3 Now.  On TV, MasterChef is on Sundays at 7pm and on Mondays at 7.30pm.

In the meantime, here is one of Leo's recipes.  The judges found the lettuce spring roll very flavoursome so I would like to try that!

Photos and recipe from the TV3 website (no copyright infringement intended, such TV-related articles disappear over time so I would like to keep a copy here for archiving purposes).



5 Spiced Pork Roast, Bean and Lettuce Spring Roll, with Apple and Oyster Sauce

Recipe by Leo Fernandez
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 60 min
Makes 1 Portions/Servings

Ingredients
Pork
 1 Pork Chop
 1Tsp. Five Spice Powder
Spring Roll Stuffing
 50g Minced Pork
 ½ Granny Smith Apple, cored and diced
 1Tbsp. Peanut Butter
 1Tsp. Fish Sauce
 2Tbsp. Oyster Sauce
 1 Onion, peeled and diced
 3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and diced
 1Cup Green beans (cut diagonally)
 Apple Sauce
 1 ½ Granny Smith Apples
 Oyster Sauce
 3Tbsp. Oyster Sauce
 1Tsp. Sugar
 1Tsp. Flour
Finishing Touches
 3 Iceberg Lettuce Leaves, trimmed and washed
 4 Coriander Leaves, picked
 1Tsp. Chives, finely sliced

Procedure

1. To make the Five-Spiced Roast Pork, start by blanching the pork in a pot of boiling water for 5mins. Remove from the pot and pat dry with paper towels. Rub with the five spice powder and place onto a lined baking tray. Put in the oven at 200° for 10mins. Then reduce the temperature in the oven to 180° and continue cooking the pork. Set to grill to achieve a nice crackle on the pork. Set aside. 
2. To make the Spring Roll Stuffing, start by sautéing garlic and onion in a large pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Cook over a high heat until soft. Season and add pork mince. Stir well and cook until the pork starts to caramelise. Add the beans. Then season with fish sauce and oyster sauce. Add peanut butter and diced apple. Stir well and lightly season. Take off the heat and cool. 
3. To make the Apple Sauce, place apples into a medium pot with just enough water to cover the base of the pot. Cook over a medium heat until tender. Lightly season and blend with a stick blender until smooth. Pass through a sieve and set aside. 
4. For the Oyster sauce, mix sugar, flour and oyster sauce in a pot and cook over a medium heat. Cook until it starts to thicken. Take off the heat and set aside. 
5. To plate, spoon 2Tbsp. of the spring roll stuffing into each lettuce leaf. Add coriander, chives and a good dollop of apple sauce. Serve with the pork chop drizzle with oyster sauce.

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