Cooking with a MasterChef

We have teamed up with NZ’s original MasterChef winner, Brett McGregor to take you on a tour of your taste buds. Each episode will take you through the featured recipes step-by-step so you can easily re-create them at home.

Whether you're a novice cook or know your way around the kitchen, there is something to inspire everyone to get cooking in this series.

Cooking with a MasterChef – Waste Not, Want Not: Pantry Staples & Leftovers

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset St Johns, this episode of our Cooking with a MasterChef series shows how everyday pantry staples and simple leftovers can be transformed into delicious dishes. MasterChef Brett McGregor shares practical recipes and clever tips to help reduce food waste while creating quick, tasty meals for one or two.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Classic Rue-Based Chicken Fricassee
— Mexican Chicken & Brown Rice Salad Stuffed Capsicums
— Mexican Brown Rice Salad

Air Fryer Series – Sunday Roast Dinners

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset at Heritage Park, Ellerslie, this episode of our Air Fryer series is all about creating a stunning Sunday meal. MasterChef Brett McGregor guides you step-by-step through hearty, flavour-packed dishes - think golden roasties, tender meats, and effortless technique.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Ultimate Roast Potatoes
— Chicken with Mexican Corn Salad
— Roasted Lamp Rump with Chimichurri
— Yams with Maple and Hazelnut Dukkah

Air Fryer Series – Breakfast

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset by the Park in Auckland, this episode of our Air Fryer series dives into the most important meal of the day, breakfast! MasterChef Brett McGregor takes you step-by-step through a range of delicious, mouthwatering breakfast creations that are easy to make from the comfort of your home. Watch now and discover how your air fryer can transform your morning routine.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Potato Rosti with Eggs, Mushroom & Tomato
— Spanish Tortilla with Prosciutto
— Brett’s Toasted Air Fryer Granola
— Garlic and Lemon Mushrooms

Air Fryer Series – Quick and Healthy Dinners

Filmed live at Summerset by the Dunes in Papamoa, this episode shows how easy healthy dinners can be. MasterChef Brett McGregor shares simple, delicious recipes ideal for one or two, using the air fryer to make mealtimes quick, nutritious, and stress-free. Watch now and get inspired for tonight’s dinner.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Fish Tacos
— Pork Chop with Blistered Greens
— Wagyu Burgers with Kumara Fries

Air Fryer Series - Baking and Desserts

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset at Wigram in Christchurch, in this episode of our Air Fryer series we explore the art of Baking and Desserts. MasterChef, Brett McGregor guides us step-by-step how to recreate delicious, mouthwatering sweet treats right from the comfort of your home.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Savoury Muffins
— Chocolate Molten Lava Cake and No-churn Ice-cream
— Banana Loaf

A Trip Around the Mediterranean

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset at Karaka, Brett takes us step-by-step through three Mediterranean-inspired recipes designed for one or two people to enjoy which are fresh, scrumptious and easy to recreate.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Spanish Style Chicken with Crisp Garlic
— Greek Fish Kebabs
— Pasta Puttanesca

Magic of the Air Fryer – Take Two

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset Cambridge. Brett McGregor, like many others, has fallen in love with his Air Fryer and once again takes on the challenge of creating dishes using it. He will take us step-by-step through delicious recipes designed for one or two people to enjoy which are simple to recreate.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Salmon with Brown Rice & Quinoa Salad
— Marinated Greek Lamb Skewers on Couscous Salad
— Crustless Bacon and Egg Quiche

Residents' Autumnal Favourites

Filmed live in front of an audience at Summerset Pohutukawa Place. Brett McGregor asked our residents to submit their favourite Autumnal Recipes and he has taken on the challenge to recreate these. He will take us step-by-step through four delicious seasonal dishes using residents’ very own favourite autumn recipes.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Rhubarb and Apple Crumble
— Savoury Scones
— Spaghetti Bolognaise
— Chicken Cashew Crockpot

Sweet and Savoury recipes with Pic’s Peanut Butter

Filmed in front of a live audience at Summerset Richmond Ranges. Brett demonstrates three delicious sweet and savoury dishes all using Nelson’s legendary Pic’s Peanut Butter.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Peanut Satay Sauce and Dip
— Peanut Crunch Biscuits
— Peanut Butter Tofu Ramen

Christmas Canapés

Brett prepares three unique and tasty dishes which are great for entertaining over the Christmas holidays.

Recipes — click to view or download:

— Prawn Cocktail
— Pink Peppercorn Salmon Rillette
— Gingerbread, Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Cremeux Trifle

Celebrating Spring

Filmed in front of a live audience at Summerset down the Lane in Hamilton. This episode is all about celebrating spring, with dishes showcasing all things fresh and seasonal.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Asparagus Risotto
— Pea and Leek Crostini
— Spiced Rhubarb with Vanilla Ice Cream

Ways With Eggs

In this episode, Brett takes on a true pantry staple, showing us some of his favourite ways to cook eggs. You'll see a baked egg meal that's so easy to make yet full of flavour, double-cooked eggs with tomatoes and bacon and a frittatine with mushrooms and pancetta.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Italian Style Omelette with Mushroom & Pancetta
— Spicy Baked Eggs with Feta
— Double Cooked Eggs with Tomato and Bacon

Winter Warmers

Filmed in front of a live audience at our Papamoa village, Brett prepares some unique dishes to warm the soul during the winter months — a delicious Moroccan chicken tagine and seared sumac lamb.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Seared Lamb with Parmesan Crisp
— Moroccan Chicken Tagine
— Herbed Couscous

Magic of the Air fryer

After much talk about this handy gadget in our 'Chat with the Chef' sessions Brett finally gave into peer pressure and bought an air fryer (much to his family’s delight!). He’s now in love with it, as many of us are, and in this episode he whips up some delicious dishes including crispy cauliflower bites and the ultimate chicken shawarma!

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Chicken Shawarma
— Crispy Cauliflower Bites Korean Style
— Crispy Asian Pork Belly Salad

Autumnal Favourites

Filmed in front of a live audience at our Whangarei village, Summerset Mount Denby. Brett cooks up three delicious seasonal meals that make the most of what Aotearoa has to offer at this time of year.

Click the video to watch the episode, and find the recipes below if you'd like to try them yourself.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Cauliflower & Parsnip Puree
— Seafood Linguini
— Feijoa and Apple Crumble Slice

Kiwi BBQ with a twist

In the hopes of a late summer, Brett gets out the BBQ and puts a unique twist to some lamb and chicken dishes, and even a dessert.

Click the video to watch this Kiwiana-BBQ special, it's definitely one you'll want to recreate at home.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Marinated BBQ chicken
— BBQ stone fruit with mascarpone & honey
— Seared BBQ lamb

Christmas Special

Easy, delicious and fresh Christmas fare — Brett makes miso glazed salmon, herb salad, green beans with hazelnuts, and for dessert, a wonderful financier with cream and berries.

Click the video to watch the episode, and find the recipes below if you'd like to try them yourself.

Recipes — click to view and download:

— Financier with Blueberries
— Miso glazed salmon
— Herb salad
— Buttered green beans
— Nashi, sage and walnut salad

Residents' Favourites

Brett has adapted four delicious recipes sent in by Summerset residents in this episode which was filmed in front of a live audience at our Hobsonville village. Click to view or download the recipes:
— Bacon & Blue Cheese Meatballs
— Nana's Sausages
— Quesadilla Stack
— Prize Pikelets