Raw egg sends MasterChef SA’s Spice King Keith Reddy home

Venecia Valentine

MasterChef South Africa contestant Keith Reddy saw his journey come to an emotional end after a raw poached egg cost him a place in the competition’s Top 8.

Known to fans as the “Spice King”, the Durban-born HR manager, now based in Boksburg, had consistently impressed judges with his bold, flavour-packed cooking throughout the season. But this week’s high-pressure egg-themed challenge proved to be his downfall.

MasterChef contestants faced intense egg challenge

The Top 9 contestants were first tasked with a technical egg challenge that tested precision, timing, and control rather than creativity.

Using only six eggs in ten minutes, contestants had to prepare:

• A perfectly poached egg
• A jammy boiled egg
• A classic two-fold omelette

The three strongest cooks would secure safety on the gantry and avoid elimination.

Contestants only discovered whether they had succeeded once the judges sliced into the eggs, increasing tension inside the kitchen.

Candice celebrates first gantry appearance

Candice, Jeshen and Nkululekho delivered the strongest performances and secured safety.

For Candice, it marked her first appearance on the gantry this season.

Meanwhile:

• Shoki struggled through the challenge
• Keith disappointed judges with an overcooked poached egg

Keith’s redemption attempt fails

During the elimination challenge, contestants had 60 minutes to create a dish celebrating eggs using a variety of options including:

• Chicken eggs
• Duck eggs
• Quail eggs
• Ostrich eggs

Keith attempted to redeem himself with a spicy South African Indian-inspired chutney dish featuring a poached egg and shakshuka-inspired flavours.

However, Judge Zola Nene grew concerned that Keith’s poached egg had swung too far in the opposite direction.

“There is a fine line between a beautifully oozy egg and a raw one,” Zola said during judging.

Unfortunately for Keith, his egg landed on the wrong side of that line.

Despite praise for:

• His richly flavoured tomato gravy
• His excellent flatbread

the raw egg sealed his elimination.

Shoki stages dramatic comeback

While Keith exited the competition, Shoki delivered one of the strongest comeback performances of the season.

After struggling in the first challenge and battling blender issues during elimination, she produced Japanese soufflé pancakes served with:

• White chocolate whipped cream
• Strawberry syrup

The dish impressed judges:

• Justine Drake
• Katlego Mlambo
• Zola Nene

Chef Katlego described the dish as a modern interpretation of scones with jam and cream.

The performance earned Shoki her first Dish of the Day title.

MasterChef South Africa Top 8 confirmed

The remaining contestants heading into next week’s tropical-themed challenge are:

• Ntobeko
• Simele
• Nkululekho
• Benjie
• Jeshen
• Calvin
• Candice
• Shoki

New episodes of MasterChef South Africa air:

• Sundays at 18:00 on e.tv
• Simultaneously on eVOD

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