‘MasterChef Australia’ 2016 recap and spoilers: For failing to bring her vibrant personality to her cauliflower dish, front-runner Nidhi gets booted off

Network Ten’s “MasterChef Australia” Season 8 closes the week with another intense pressure test, sending home one of this year’s favourite contestants. On its 15^th episode aired on May 19, the amateur chefs battled it out in another pressure test to convince Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston that they still deserve a spot in the competition. At the end of the challenge, Nidhi Mahajan wasn’t able to electrify her plate enough to save her from elimination.

Whilst the judges and the contestants were saddened by the 30-year-old home cook’s exit, they also can’t contain their excitement over next week’s guest star, famous chef and TV personality Nigella Lawson. She joins the competition as a special guest judge and mentor, promising a week of divine decadence and indulgence.

Spoiler Alert! This article contains "MasterChef Australia" Season 8 spoilers. Read only if you want to know more about it.

Network Ten posted a sneak peek of Sunday’s episode that George describes as “beyond huge.” International superstar Nigella brings her kitchen savvy to add spice and sweetness to the show. “I just can feel, I’m going to have a fantastic time,” she says on the preview video. Needless to say, the contestants – and even the judges – are star-struck and get too excited for words. This year’s amateur chefs push to impress Nigella to deliver their most decadent dish. Their efforts will not go unnoticed, and one plate even had the culinary goddess herself desperately craving for more.

“I expected the standards to be high so that didn’t surprise me,” she told Network Ten. “But what impressed me was the way that the contestants absorb information. They know when to make mistakes and know when to risk something. They all work so hard, they even do homework in the evening! They’re excited about what they learn and yes, there are moments of stress but I think that the boys [Gary, George and Matt] are very good at reminding them of why they’re in the competition: not to cook the food they think the judges like, but to cook the food they enjoy.”

"MasterChef Australia" Season 8 recap

The Blue Team, led by Karmen Lu, lost last episode’s challenge and sent them to another daunting pressure test. [READ: "‘MasterChef Australia’ 2016 recap and spoilers: Karmen loses her cool amid heated cook-off; siblings Theresa and Jimmy are about to go head to head"]

On the first round, the contestants were asked to choose one hero ingredient and prepare a raw dish. Those with the best dishes were safe for another episode, whilst the three home cooks with the worst plates will go through the elimination challenge. Con Vailas, Chloe Bowles, Heather Day, Karmen, Elise Franciskovic and Charlie Sartori all breezed in with their delicious dishes. However, Nidhi’s cauliflower salad with goat cheese and almonds, as well as Miles’ tuna sashimi with wasabi mayo fennel and nectarine salad failed to impress the judges, sending them to the next round. Siblings Theresa and Jimmy were also criticised for their dishes, but it was Theresa’s pear and bok choy salad with walnuts that brought her to the elimination test.

Nidhi, Miles and Theresa had to use their chosen hero ingredient to cook what could be their last dish in the “MasterChef Australia” kitchen. Whilst Theresa looked overwhelmed, it was her brother who was even more frazzled, nagging her about during the preparation. Unable to effectively manage her time, Theresa ended up forgetting about putting the sauce to her mulled wine poached pear with cardamom ice cream. It was, however, deemed good enough to save her from elimination. Miles’ tuna tataki with cucumber and seaweed salad and miso eggplant earned positive feedback from the judges, who raved about the dish’s presentation and taste.

Nidhi, who was praised previously by Chef Marco Pierre White for her cooking skills, fell short with her cauliflower paratha and bhasi with mint chutney. The jolly call centre employee wasn’t able to inject her dish with her personality, and was sent home. Before leaving the kitchen, she asked to bow and touch the feet of the judges out of respect, which she said is a common practice in her culture. As Nidhi made her way to the door, the contestants were clearly saddened, and even George was seen teary-eyed.

Find out what happens next week to “MasterChef Australia,” and stay tuned for episode spoilers. “MasterChef Australia” Season 8 airs every Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Ten.