MasterChef Week 7 Recap & Graham Elliot's Grilled Asparagus with Nutty Brown Butter and Sunny-Side Up Egg

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.

However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

Whitney Miller won the first season of MasterChef and is sharing her insider knowledge with us!

This is the idea that went through my mind when the contestants found out what the challenge was.

While both of the items are working, trim the fiberous bottom 1/4 inch of the asparagus off.

Once the water is at a boil, prepare an ice bath.

Next submerge the asparagus in the boiling water for 30 seconds.

Remove the asparagus and shock them in the ice bath.

Once they are completely chilled remove the asparagus from the ice bath.

The cooking time will be approximately 5 minutes.

Finally, crack the egg in a well oiled non stick pan.

Put on medium heat and cook for 5-7 minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, move the egg around the pan to help it release from the cooking surface.

Meanwhile, toss the asparagus with salt and olive oil and place on hot grill.

Cook on each side for 1 minute till they have a nice char.

By permission of Rodale, Inc.

Available wherever books are sold.

Photograph by Vanessa Stump.____

Whitney’s Recap__ Wow!

I have never seen a mystery box that big!

Whose dish is the best?

Derrick, Alejandra, and Jennifer’s dishes are top three.

The winner always receives a huge advantage in the elimination challenge–what will it be this time?

Choose from three aphrodisiacs: oysters, artichokes, and black truffles.

Hmmm…oysters could be difficult, with the process of extracting them from the shell.

Will truffles challenge the contestants?

She is given the ultimatum: watch the contestants cook or participate.

She chooses to cook.

Bonus: The Aphrodisiac Smoothie

Tracy’s truffle and corn soup looked delicious!

Joe descriptions was “earthy and sensuous.”

Cooking with passion and heart, to me, is the secret to a flavorful dish.

With love for his wife in mind, Giuseppe prepared tagliolini.

Graham remarked that his dish was “from-the-heart cooking.”

Bonus: What’s the Best Kind of Pasta For You?

Some less composed and flavorful dishes came from Erryn, Adrien and Jennifer.

Yes, I did say Jennifer, the one who could have chosen not to compete!

She served a half-cooked egg dish; another half-cooked dish came from Erryn.

His dish looked bare, with only a few slices of beef and raw vegetables.

Erryn maintained his dignity by stepping forward truthfully, saving Adrien.

He certainly got my respect, and I think Gordon’s as well.

As Erryn left, Gordon encouraged him to keep cooking.

Gordon reveals that the contestants will have to cook for the toughest critics: the judges' moms.

“These aren’t normal moms, but super moms!”

Lidia announced the carbonara to be a very good rendition.

And surprisingly, Gordon’s mom loved the fish dish.

The moms voted, and the Blue team won for serving the best entree and dessert.

Ben and Suzy’s dishes had the best presentation and flavor; they’re safe.

Disaster hits with Giuseppe’s raw egg, Derrick’s lack of sauce and Alejandra’s over-cooked eggs.

Raw eggs and the heavy-handed presentation of Giuseppe’s dish forced the judges to declare his dish the worst.

His warm personality will be missed.