A section of MasterChef viewers are complaining the Indian-origin MasterChef Australia contestant Sandeep Pandit is cooking too many curries on the show.

The controversy kicked off online on the night MasterChef aired the episode where the Indian IT Project Manager turned MasterChef contestant scored a perfect 30/30 and won the coveted Immunity Pin for cooking typical desi khana (Indian food).

Sandeep had the judges in raptures with his platter of lemon pepper chicken with lemon rice and raita.

For Sandeep’s other dish on the show, the masala lobster, which was presented in a lobster shell, MasterChef Judge Gary Mehigan remarked, ‘There are angels singing somewhere’.

The dish revealed the traditional Indian smoking style where Sandeep smoked the dish with fenugreek and ghee.

The other Judge, George Calombaris yelled, ‘You the man! You the man!”

In his challenge against the Mystery Chef, Sandeep whipped up a platter of lemon pepper chicken with lemon rice and raita.

Sandeep couldn’t contain his joy when all the three Judges gave him the perfect score of 10/10 and the Immunity Pin.

But not everyone was thrilled with Sandeep’s culinary offerings.

Some viewers were quick to point out the fact, how Sandeep always cooked Indian food.

I know this is going to sound mean spirited but I want Sandeep to lose otherwise we are only encouraging his behaviour of only ever cooking one dish ... #masterchefau — Dave Sampson (@DaveSampson75) May 28, 2019

Question: how can you be a “Masterchef” if you just know one type of cuisine? Shouldn’t it be diverse? #masterchefau — Bella Yumiko (@bella_yumiko) May 28, 2019

I’m waiting to see Sandeep cook something other than Indian cuisine. Getting by too easily with these challenges just cooking Indian #MasterChefAU — Dave (@normallycomplex) May 28, 2019

But then, many stood up for him online and hit back at his detractors.

For everyone complaining that @sandeep_cooks cooks too many curries, It’s an IMMUNITY PIN!!! You go with what you know best!!!!! It’s your only chance!!! @masterchefau #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/0T7pwfDy9u — Gem Rose 🎼🎶🎵🎶🎵 (@GemRoseP) May 28, 2019

So a lot of people complaining about Sandeep cooking mostly curries or other versions of Indian food, just FYI, indian dishes are super diverse in itself. Just because someone uses spices, doesn't mean all the dishes are same. Not defending him, but that's the truth #MasterChefAU — Manisha (@mypoint_24) May 28, 2019

Funny that when an Indian contestant cooks exceptional Indian food on #MasterChefAU, he's accused of being 1-D. Yet, how often have we seen white contestants specialise in Asian cuisine? Or modern Australian? Either is considered just fine. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. — Amal Awad (@amalmawad) May 29, 2019

People complaining about #masterchefAU that Sandeep is making "too many curries" - um, there is no such thing as curry.

It's something white people call Indian food. Everything that you call curry are completely distinct entities. — Dr Vyom Sharma (@drvyom) May 28, 2019

Sandeep, a Kashmiri Pandit, an IT Project Manager and a relatively new migrant

Sandeep Pandit came to Australia in late 2016 as an IT project manager with a multinational company and is based in Melbourne.

“In 1989, I was eight years old when our big family had to flee overnight in a truck with whatever little we had from our home in Srinagar when militants hit Jammu and Kashmir. We didn’t have cooking equipment at home, not even a fridge and much of the food items.

"The first time I tried my hand in the kitchen, I made a cup of tea for my tired mother one day when she came back home from her full-time job, which she had to do to help our family make both ends meet. She had tears in her eyes and hugged me. This is when I thought, I have to cook. When you are able to serve food to someone, the look of satisfaction on their face gives you divine happiness,” says Mr Pandit whose family finally settled in Bengaluru, the IT hub of India.

Work brought him to Australia and his love for cooking made him apply for MasterChef.

Mr Pandit says his cooking is inspired by the idea of India and he often shares his recipes and cooking style on his Facebook, Instagram and blog.

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