Mala Rodríguez departs MasterChef Celebrity Legends after butter sauce failure

First challenge and immunity pins

The fifth episode of MasterChef Celebrity Legends began with a food pong challenge, where contestants bounced table tennis balls into cups to unlock specific ingredients and kitchen equipment. General inaccuracy across the cast prompted judges Jordi Cruz, Marta Sanahuja, and Pepe Rodríguez to provide a box of basic pantry items alongside assigned proteins. Juan Betancourt challenged María Escoté for the transferable immunity pin, securing the badge after his prawn dish with mornay sauce was rated higher than Escoté's risotto.

Santiago Segura earned the main immunity pin by preparing a salmon quiche topped with a textured culinary foam, which he named in honor of Florentino Fernández. Cruz and Rodríguez praised the seasoning, moisture, and salmon texture, while David Bustamante also received positive marks for his preparation. Segura received the immunity pin and directed 4,000 euros to the Aladina Foundation, whereas Fernández and Mala Rodríguez received black aprons for submitting the weakest dishes.

Outdoor test at Pantano de San Juan

The competition moved to the Real Club Náutico de Madrid at the Pantano de San Juan reservoir for the outdoor team challenge. Contestants were required to replicate a menu designed by two-Michelin-star chef Ramón Freixa for 70 diners, including athlete Nico Adega, featuring dishes such as lobster with potato crisps. Segura captained the Red team, selecting Bustamante, Paz Vega, Rodríguez, and Betancourt, while Fernández headed the Blue team alongside Edu Soto, Escoté, Marina Rivers, Anabel Alonso, and Bibiana Fernández.

Fernández struggled to coordinate the Blue team kitchen and focused on disrupting the opposing station during the cook. Following an argument with judge Pepe Rodríguez, Fernández jumped into the reservoir waters.

If I cannot talk to Pepe, I am jumping.

The Blue team struggled with several courses, including an undercooked shrimp frying station managed by Alonso. The judges declared Segura's Red team the winners, sending the Blue team to the elimination round.

Masterclass and elimination test

The elimination phase opened with a multi-variety cheese tasting challenge covering cow, sheep, and goat selections from several countries. Soto, Fernández, and Escoté tied for the highest number of correct identifications. Escoté subsequently won an extra tiebreaker round, securing her safety and ascending to the gallery. Guest chef Gianni Pinto from Madrid restaurant Noi then presented a masterclass demonstrating two regional Italian filled pasta formats, culurgione and cappelletti.

The remaining cooks were tasked with making a stuffed pasta dish utilizing two identified cheese varieties. Midway through the allotted cooking time, the judges instructed all participants to rotate workstations and complete the preparation started by their neighbor. Alonso and Rivers produced well-received plates despite the kitchen rotation, while Fernández delivered an uneven combination.

Mala Rodríguez eliminated

Rodríguez struggled to manage her station after the rotation, delivering a stuffed pasta dish dominated by a broken butter sauce with excess grease. The judging panel classified the final preparation as inedible due to the failed sauce emulsion. Following deliberation, the judges eliminated Rodríguez, making her the fifth contestant to depart MasterChef Celebrity Legends after previously finishing ninth in MasterChef Celebrity 10.

I had a great time because all these people are fantasy, joy and humor, and that makes it a pleasure.

Before departing the kitchen, Rodríguez named Paz Vega and Marina Rivers as her preferred finalists and asked Segura to develop a murder mystery film featuring the season cast.