Dan Lee, 29, was named as the 2021 champion, making him the 15th winner of the BBC One series.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an overwhelming feeling. It\u2019s incredible. This competition has meant everything. It\u2019s built my confidence and now I really know what it means to back yourself,\u201d he said following his win.<\/p>\n
Marcus Wareing \u2013 who has been a long-standing judge on the series \u2013 commented: \u201cI think Dan is a fantastic chef. For me, he is a star in the making.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow judge Monica Galetti said:<\/em> \u201cHe has given exciting, innovative flavours on a plate.\u201d<\/p>\n Gregg Wallace added: \u201cDan found his style, he worked on it, he got stronger and better and better.\u201d<\/p>\n Dan was the first of 32 professionals through the doors of the MasterChef kitchen, battling it out for the gastronomic glory.<\/p>\n He managed to win the three judges over with his Asian and Modern European style of cooking. In the Critics Round during the Quarter Final, Jimi Famurewa loved his sauce, calling it \u201calmost delirious\u201d.<\/p>\n He also was congratulated by leading UK chefs during the competition including at the Chef\u2019s Table where Matt Ab\u00e9 described the chicken feet in his dish as \u201coutstanding\u201d and Nieves Barragan Mohacho told Dan they were on a \u201cdifferent level\u201d. Ollie Dabbous said his dim sum were \u201cdelicious across the board\u201d.<\/p>\n And during the final, Dan well and truly outdid himself with his three courses, which Marcus dubbed \u201ca final like no other\u201d.<\/p>\n For starters, the 29-year-old served his take on a classic \u2018Singapore Chilli Crab\u2019 \u2013 a Mantou deep-fried Bao Bun topped with Crab, Chilli Oil, Nashi Pear, Lime Juice, Salted Egg Yolk and Szechuan Pepper, topped with a Squid Ink Tuile, served with a Soft Shell Crab Tempura and Basil Cream with Crab and Chilli Oil.<\/p> The main course was \u2018Singapore Chicken Rice\u2019 \u2013 Chicken Breast stuffed with Chicken Thigh Mince, Sesame Oil, Spring Onion, Ginger and Thai Pandan Leaves, Choi Sum \u2013 a Chinese cabbage blanched in garlic, chilli and oyster sauce \u2013 a Red Chilli Sambal Sauce, Chicken-Infused Steamed Rice with Garlic and Ginger, and a Chicken and Pandan Leaf Broth.<\/p>\n To finish, Dan delivered a dessert of Smoked Hay Treacle Tart, filled with Yuzu Curd-toasted Breadcrumbs, Pickled Ginger, Clotted Cream Ice Cream, Japanese Shiso Leaves, Shiso Crumb and Smoked Hay Butter Tuiles. Monica reacted with: \u201cIt\u2019s just a wonderful dessert.\u201d<\/p>\n Talking about his MasterChef: The Professionals experience, Dan said: \u201cIt\u2019s been such an incredible time on MasterChef \u2013 intense, stressful and so exhilarating. I feel over the moon and so proud to have reached this point. I love what I do, but sometimes struggle to completely back myself and have full confidence in my food, so to get here is mind-blowing.\u201d<\/p>\n MasterChef: The Professionals is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer. Want something else to watch? Check out our full TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0or visit our\u00a0Entertainment<\/a>\u00a0hub for the latest news.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\""MasterChef:\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/MasterChef-The-Professionals-2021-winner-be4ffa3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"MasterChef-The-Professionals-2021-winner\"\\"\/")
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