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MASTERCHEF fans were left doing a double take after a contestant served "goldfish dumplings" on Thursday's episode.

The amateur chefs battled it out in the semi-finals tonight, as judges John Torode and Greg Wallace challenged the group to an invention test.

Contestant Pookie got everyone talking with her 'goldfish dumplings'
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Contestant Pookie got everyone talking with her 'goldfish dumplings'Credit: BBC
Viewers were left doing a double take
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Viewers were left doing a double takeCredit: BBC

They were given 90 minutes to make a creative dish using a variety of eggs and chickens.

But it was contestant Pookie that got everyone talking with her rather quirky dish.

Before she started cooking, The beauty salon owner said: "I think I'm going to just carry on Pookie style, do something that they don't expect."

Hoping to pull something exceptional out of the bag, Pookie revealed that she was making a Chinese chicken dumplings in the shape of a goldfish.

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"I'm making fish, so the brief is chicken and egg and I'm just thinking what else I can do with it that's not going to come out that looks like chicken and egg - so I thought I'd do fish," the 45-year-old contestant explained.

She made a chicken mixture with some spices and was dropped inside a hot spicy soup called Tom Yum.

Greg and John were blown away by Pookie's chicken filled chilli goldfish dumplings with salmon caviar and a chilli lemongrass broth.

Gregg said: "That is ridiculously clever, this soup is really bold - it's sharp and clean with loads of citrus and lime. It's absolutely delightful."

John also praised Pookie's think dumpling pastry and the flavours.

"The whole thing looks like fish in a pond - for invention I take my hat off to you," John added.

She was ecstatic with the feedback and made it through to the next round.

BBC viewers were freaked out by Pookie's adventurous but "super realistic" dish.

One wrote: "As a child I had a goldfish named Bobby who looked pretty similar to the fish creation on Pookie's plate. #MasterChef"

Another posted: "OMG is that a goldfish?! #MasterChef"

A third baffled viewer commented: "I've gone back and re-watched the opening sequence like eight times and I can still be a poached goldfish. #MasterChef. Please putt my mind at rest, did someone cook a goldfish?"

Other fans loved that Pookie though outside of the box, with one writing: "She deserves to win #MasterChef for using 'flying fish roe' with chicken dumplings shaped into goldfish. #MasterChef"

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Pookie continued to impress in the second challenge, as she teamed up with Eddie to make venison and potatoes for guests as they celebrated the centenary of the Royal British Legion.

The six remaining contestants will face one more challenge to land a place in finals week.

Fans compared the 'goldfish' to their childhood pet
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Fans compared the 'goldfish' to their childhood petCredit: BBC
Pookie impressed the judges and made it through to the next round
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Pookie impressed the judges and made it through to the next roundCredit: BBC

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