M’sian contestant, 27, wins MasterChef challenge with roti canai dish prepared in just 1 hour

A Malaysian representative on Season 16 of MasterChef: Global Gauntlet has won this week’s “World Cup Cookoff” challenge with a roti canai dish inspired by her family and culture.

Jamie Tan, who is representing Malaysia under Team Asia-Pacific, emerged as the overall winner of the challenge after preparing roti canai with Malaysian coconut curry, coconut rice, and cucumber and pineapple salad.

Best World Cup watch-party food challenge

The challenge required contestants to create the ultimate World Cup watch-party food.

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An Instagram post by the official MasterChef on Fox account shared on Jun. 5 showed Tan’s dish first being named the top dish in the Asia-Pacific region, before beating the winning dishes from Europe, Africa and the Americas to claim the overall challenge victory.

Her win earned her a US$2,500 Home Depot gift card and an Immunity Pin, which protects her from elimination in a future challenge.

Dish usually takes hours to make

During the episode, Tan said she had chosen to make “a roti canai with a Malaysian coconut curry”, along with rice and a pickled cucumber and pineapple salad.

Explaining the dish to the judges, she described roti canai as “a flaky flatbread” commonly eaten in Malaysia.

However, she acknowledged that it was a risky choice for the challenge, as the dish normally takes much longer to prepare.

“Usually takes a few hours to rest and make,” she said with a laugh.

Tan later also shared in an Instagram reel on Jun. 5 that she was “scared” to make the dish because it takes over eight hours, but she only had 60 minutes to complete it.

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She also reflected that cooking was “not about being perfect”, and that recreating what her father had given her allowed her to feel proud of herself.

Inspired by her father

The dish had a deeper personal meaning for Tan as well.

In the episode, Tan said the challenge reminded her of the large gatherings her father used to organise for the family.

She also said her father worked at Home Depot and used to make the curry for her before leaving for work.

“The curry cooks really fast, it’s something I’ve cooked a lot at home," she added.

Tan admitted that the dish carried extra pressure because of its personal significance and that she wanted to win the challenge for her father.

Tan later told First for Women that the challenge felt like a “full circle” moment, tying together her father’s sacrifices and the dish she grew up eating.

The win was made even more meaningful by the US$2,500 Home Depot gift card, which she said she could use with her father, and that she hopes to buy a house for her parents one day.

Judges praise dish

When Tan’s roti canai was named one of Team Asia-Pacific’s top dishes, she could be seen tearing up on the episode, saying she was surprised, happy and proud of herself.

“I cannot believe that the judges think my dish is a top dish,” she said.

“To win on a night where I’m honouring my parents for all their hard work… It's incredible. I’m confident that I made my mom and dad proud tonight.”

Judge Gordon Ramsay praised Tan for taking on an ambitious dish within the limited time.

“It looks beautiful. Jamie, what I’m most impressed with, is traditionally, that takes hours to make. The fact that you had the confidence to attempt it tonight, I’m just happy for you.”

After tasting the dish, Ramsay said the curry was “delicious”.

“It’s fragrant, it’s warm, it’s sour, it’s everything you want. I mean, it feels like you’ve been making it for the last six hours. Well done.”

Why the win mattered

Speaking to First for Women after the episode aired, Tan said the win was especially meaningful as the dish represented her family, culture and her father’s sacrifices.

She said roti and curry are a classic Malaysian staple, bringing together Malay, Indian and Chinese influences and reflecting Malaysia’s multicultural identity.

Growing up, she said, the dish was eaten often at family gatherings, whether for Sunday breakfast, celebrations or special occasions.

Tan added that her parents did not come from privilege, but their sacrifices allowed her to stand on a national stage and showcase a dish that represented her family’s story.

“There’s so much meaning in culture and family,” she said.

“My parents didn’t grow up with education, and our family certainly didn’t come from privilege. But because of their sacrifices, I was able to prove myself, stand on a national stage, and showcase a dish that represents my dad’s passion, our culture, and our story.”