MasterChef Professional tries to pass off carrot as steak

A MasterChef: The Professionals contestant left viewers blinking at their television screens after he served up half a fried carrot as a ‘steak’.

Carnivores united on Twitter to rail against the idea that the orange legume could ever be presented as a steak – even if you chop it in half and pan-fry it with butter. 

Last night’s episode of the show saw semi-finalist Jamie presenting ‘carrot steak’ to the judges in the invention test section of the show.

Carrot steak: Pro chef Jamie’s dish didn’t impress viewers watching MasterChef: The Professionals at home last night with many regaling against the idea that the orange legume could be called a ‘steak’

A tense-looking Jamie had failed to make the final originally

His vegetarian dish wowed judges Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing - and he's through to the show finale

A tense-looking Jamie had failed to make the final originally…but his vegetarian dish wowed judges Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing – and he’s through to the show finale

Would you like carrot with your carrot, sir? The dish also served up carrot slaw and carrot puree alongside crispy wild rice, ricotta and orange segments

Would you like carrot with your carrot, sir? The dish also served up carrot slaw and carrot puree alongside crispy wild rice, ricotta and orange segments

It works for us! The judges (from left: Marcus Wareing, Gregg Wallace and Monica Galetti) were impressed with the creativity of the vegetarian dish

It works for us! The judges (from left: Marcus Wareing, Gregg Wallace and Monica Galetti) were impressed with the creativity of the vegetarian dish

The professional chef presented Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing with the lively-looking ‘steak’ which also included carrot slaw, orange segments, carrot puree, fresh ricotta, ricotta fritters and crispy wild rice.

While the judges marvelled at what Jamie had managed to do with the vegetable; Gregg Wallace said it had ‘cleverness, creativity and bags of flavour’, viewers baulked at the idea that a carrot could ever be described as a steak.

On Twitter, a tirade against Jamie’s dish was quickly unleashed.  

'It's not a steak, it's half a carrot' Twitter was awash with carrot steak rage after the show aired on BBC2 yesterday evening

‘It’s not a steak, it’s half a carrot’ Twitter was awash with carrot steak rage after the show aired on BBC2 yesterday evening

Marcus Wareing said he was 'surprised' the dish was so delicious - and promptly put Jamie through to the final 

Marcus Wareing said he was ‘surprised’ the dish was so delicious – and promptly put Jamie through to the final 

@polsuth raged: ‘A guy on MasterChef has just presented half a carrot as a ‘carrot steak’ and been praised for his incredible invention, you’re having a laugh.’

@megaplums clearly wasn’t impressed either. They wrote: ‘Chap cooks a “carrot steak with carrot puree & carrot slaw. Plus a “ricotta fritter”. What a time to be alive.’ 

@bigajm added: ‘”Carrot steak”. Go home, now. #MasterChef’

Louisa, second from left, Tom, second from right, and Jamie, far right will now join three other professional chefs in the show's final

Louisa, second from left, Tom, second from right, and Jamie, far right will now join three other professional chefs in the show’s final

The criticism is unlikely to worry Jamie, who told viewers that he regularly cooks vegetarian cuisine at home because his girlfriend isn’t a meat-eater.  

The affable pro booked himself a place among the six remaining semi finalists of the show with the dish, after originally failing to make the grade in the first semi final challenge.

A tense cook-off saw Jamie, Louisa and Tom win through to the next semi final programme, on tonight at 8pm, BBC Two.



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